Yes folks, I’m on my final block at college.  Just 10 more weeks left and I’ll be finished my NC (National Certificate).  I can’t believe it’s come round so fast!  Boy, I sure have learned and achieved a lot in 20 weeks, and there’s still a bit more to come.  It’s starting to get really exciting, not that it hasn’t been so far! I look at my work now and I can’t believe how far I’ve come since I started.  It’s incredible really, and there’s more exciting stuff ahead.

In a little over 3 weeks time I will have my FIRST exhibition!!! It runs from 1st-5th March and I’m in the process of choosing which pieces will go in. I’m still working on some pieces i.e. my canvasses from my personal project, and there will be new creations to add also.  We are to have business cards printed up for it, and I have to write a bio of about 500 words.  What on earth will I say about myself??? I’ve no idea.  Teacher said it can be as pretentious as we like! Haha.  Not sure that’s really me, but what do you say about yourself? Answers Help on a postcard please, as I’ve never done this before. I also have my portfolio surgery at art school in 2 weeks time…more nerves…eeks.

Going back to the final block, I have a couple of new subjects.  The first is 3D Art & Design and Developmental Drawing.  I have to choose a theme from the following:

• Space Invasion

• Sumptuous Structures

• Brilliant Balance

• Fabulous Facades

• Luminosity

I can interpret these how I wish.  I must compile a mood board of research visuals then write a brief stating the theme, usage, target market and overall potential materials.

From that I will produce initial developmental concept drawings for my theme.  Whatever I choose should be something relating to the words container or store.

After that I will produce 4 prototypes of my design in:

• Wire

• Paper i.e. papier maché

• Card

• Recycled materials

Then after that I will produce 4 further developmental drawing ideas using media of my choice, before finally producing a highly finished 3D art form.

I have lots of ideas in my head like a Fabergé egg that opens up in segments to produce a ballerina dancing to music, but I’m still thinking at this stage.

My next subject is Creative Textile Development. The brief for this unit is based on the following themes:

• Resplendent

• Revolution

• Rot

• Robust

• Rendezvous

I have to produce another mood board based on one of the themes above then I will produce textile experiments accompanied by technical notes with evaluative annotation.  I must develop a plan outlining my approach to the project, which will accompany my research.  This will include identifying the main requirements of the brief and identifying suitable textile media, materials and techniques.

After that I will develop my own concepts using a minimum of 3 techniques for 6 textile samples. These will be presented on A2 boards.  The main aim of this project is to review and critically evaluate the creative process, asking questions about what I’ve done, how something looks and where the next development will take me.

Although the subject is Creative Textiles, it will apply to the areas I’m interested in i.e. Fine Art, and not fashion textiles.  I can see lots of uses for textiles in my work and I have lots of ideas buzzing around in my head.

And finally, Digital Media.  This is basically use of digital media in art & design.  I don’t have the brief for this yet, but I do know that we will be working on photographs we have taken over the past few days of the artwork that will be displayed in the exhibition.  We will be making flyers,  posters, banners, etc. to promote ourselves.  This should be pretty easy for me as we will be using Photoshop. Thankfully, I’m a dab hand with the old program so hopefully it won’t be too much of a stretch for me! That’s about it…and it’s enough really! I’m going to be mad hectic over the coming weeks, so my apologies if I don’t respond as much to everyone’s blogs and comments quite as quickly as I normally do, but I’ll be reading all your posts when I get a moment or two to myself.

Oh, and a final note, wait until you see my gold canvasses.  I’ve done something rather different with them – for the better I think – but you’ll have to hold your breath for the moment. They’ll be coming soon.