Reflection Field – Term 1

The reason I chose the Synergy between Materials and Technology is because I want to explore the relationship between my visual language with material & technology. A best and effective Illustration is when it speaks to the viewers. It tells them a narrative, brings life to an idea or concept visually, it contains a message, transfers information and offers a visual addition to a text. It also must be able to present the object in an interesting and engaging manner. It needs to be able to demonstrate the art technique to make the viewer experience what the artist wants them to experience. This field option has helped me in understanding material as metaphor as well as the production process of creating my visual language into three-dimensional object through variety of workshops.

We started the course with Litophane workshop. Originally from China, the technique uses stone or rock and panel of porcelain to create a ‘secret image’. The secret image is visible when lit up by light in the background. Nowadays, artists use wax; plaster mould and white polymer (HIPS) combined with the use of technology called 3D CNC Router (Computer Numerical Control). I believe the material can be shaped into form or even by adding some colour onto it as well. I’d be interesting to apply this technique to create a puppet show or diorama. The second workshop was the Slipware. Slipware creates possibilities of transferring images, stencil, applying colour and graphic line to create narrative as well as presenting it in form and shape. In the wirework workshop, I learned that it is suitable for artists such as illustrators who use line/graphic drawing in their artwork. The wirework gives possibilities and flexibility in transforming the line drawing into 3D. At the 2.5D CNC milling machine, I was introduced to operate the software that uses line drawing to create the object (Rhinoceros). On the Pewter Casting workshop, I found that the process technique is quite similar to woodcut but the image/design is created on plaster as a mould, which then liquid metal is poured into it. It is great for making jewellery when combined with wirework. The 3D printing with open source technology is great because it has changed my way in production process and how I use material. The last workshop was Augmented Reality. AR is a good way of linking digital object and physical object and it’s a bridge between reality & virtual world.

I’m looking forward to the production process of my design plan for the field outcome. The subject matter is a life story of Florence Cory of Dyffryn from Cory family (well-known family in coal mining and shipping business in South Wales). I will be combining the slipware, 3D printing and augmented reality techniques. I really hope that 3D outcome can help enhance the narrative and invite the viewers to experience Florence Cory’s world. The production process can influence the form and design as well as the materials I choose can also give atmosphere to the artwork.

Image transfer or printing onto variety of material

There’re different approaches to print or transfer an image onto various material. The ink for the printing should be oil based ink. Onglaze enamels usually used in printing image onto ceramic material. We can also use digital printer to print the image onto material such as ceramic tile.

Peter Castle – print workshop

Peter Castle – Print Workshop

Peter Castle – Print Workshop

Print outcome sometime depends on what materials and experiment that come up with instead of based on certain image. Therefore, process decide what the outcome would look like.