In the first week, we all did two types of works. Firstly, we were divided into different groups by the lecturer. In my group, we rolled the printing paper up, and then we used packaging tape to stick them together. In addition, we put a brick on the rollers, to make sure the brick would not fall down under this condition. Secondly, I did a mini flash flip book, the main material was a note pad attributed by the lecturer which had about 30 pages. After that, I used a rubber band to bind the pages together, and drew different process of the cell face on each page by pen. The first page was a cell, when we turned the pages very quickly, the cell would gradually become a face. And then, another cell would appear and become another face, the two faces collided. Afterwards, only one face existed. Finally, it turned back to one cell on the last page.
Shape of things：
For “Shape of things” first week,we were ask creating 3D paper model and I also made a “paper shelves”
Self directed:
In the second week, I used two processes in my work, the first one named wire, which was consisted of making lines and soldering. I used electrode holder to create the sense of movement in my work, which could be seen as an ebb from the shore. After that, I did three more exercises and things. Another process I used was wood, it was a wooden fish through cutting and sanding. At first, I found a long piece of wood, then I calculated the length and width that I needed to draw a fish shape. After that, I used the cutting machine to cut down the shape and sanded it by a sander. Finally, the wax oil was necessary to preserve the wooden fish.
Self directed:
In the third week, our subject was casting. We need to used a mould and cast with a range of substances, so that I used a piece of clay and two moulds to create many different types of things, such as a wine bottle, toothpaste and ring. For me, I feel really interesting in the creative process, as the works are vivid and lovely, and I just need to press the clay into the appropriate mould, and the moulds are very convenient to use.
More clay works (Self directed)
In the fourth week, I learned about the relationship between space and light, and my form was related to it. In my group, the materials we used were balloons, plastic bags, a packaing tape, scissors and knife, to make a beetle. Firstly, we cutted more than 20 plastic bags along the middle line and flatten them. Then, we wrapped the plastic pieces up and tied up tightly, to make the shape of a beetle. From the drape of plastic bags, it could show the vein of a beetle. After that, we cutted its arms and legs as well, and sticked them to the body. Finally, we drew some circles and lines to show its head and vein. Another work my group member did was a smile face balloon, he blowed about 9 plastic bags, then sticked them together, and drew some different types of emotional face, such as smily or sad face.
At last, in the fifth week, I did a chocolate ball by using Indian ink, a paper cutter and a white foam ball. Firstly, I used the Indian ink to dye the black color of the ball. And then, I poked many small holes on the ball by the paper cutter, so that it could look like a white chocolate ball inside with some nuts outside.
During the first mid-semester, I am really enjoying to learn the skills from this paper. In particular, my favorite work was making forms by clay in the third week and using plastic bags to make a beetle in the fourth week. For me, our whole class was active and interesting, it even did not like a classroom, the creative process was funny and the things we made were vivid and lovely, I really learned a lot.
Jason (Yihang, Li) 