From last tutorial I was ask to find a technique that I'll be comfortable with. By then I discovered many techniques from a class where we learnt about 3D printing, laser cutting/engraving, the embroidery machine, printing on polyester cloth and sculpting a piece of wood or metal using a machine.
However because of Covid the campus was closed and it would have been tricky to do any of the following. The only technique I was confident of trying during that time was sculpting, I also already had some dry air clay at home. So I went to see if it would be possible to make pottery without using the machine, especially cuz if I'm doing it with the rotating device, I would have to buy it online and it might take a while to arrive here.
I found the following video which proved that the technique was indeed possible and quick easy:
I did my first experiment. I have no record of it but I actually tried to do it with only one piece of clay compared to the technique from the video. However, after flattening it, it's harder to get it in the desired shape and it was actually way much convenient to do it just like in the video, in 3 different pieces and assembling it and that how I obtain the above. The outcome wasn't as smooth but I believe with practice I can make it smoother.
While discussing with some friends who did work with clay before they gave me another tip of using aluminium foil to obtain the shape I'm seeking then wrap the clay around it. It was suppose to be easier.
I honestly made a random shape which turned out to look a bit like a diwali candle, but it was actually great.
I then wrapped the clay around it, it was indeed easier since it provided me with some support, else the clay wouldn't stay in shape. But it was actually harder to shape the sides, since the aluminium foil has an irregular edge.
I guess I'll have to practice to find the right combination of techniques to make it right.
By that time however I got the news that I would perhaps be able to get access to the devices of the school with a special permission so I started thinking of other possible techniques that could serve as an alternative in case the lecturer didn't like the idea with the clay.
I got the idea of using a Muslim praying mat which will be either printed on cloth or embroidered using computer. I thought of maybe doing it by hands before I sketch the idea, however, after looking at the sketch, knowing that I have zero experience in hand embroidery I realized it would be really hard to make these designs.
I did however look how it could possibly be done by hands though:
The data will be mapped on the design by the amount of space the color takes, like the hierarchy of the colors will show the percentage of happiness they people are. And the category will be of course mapped by the colors.
going back to the first idea from this post.....
As state from the previous posts, if I'm doing the vase it will be both representational and interactive.
Here to add a second technique to the pottery making instead of just using a random colored stick as the interactive piece which the people will have to insert in the vase, I've decided to go with a.... cuboid-ish wood strip or slat however you'd like to call it but with a totem engraved in it to represent the level of satisfaction.
Now for yet another alternative....
I was told to look at the designs of some simple incense holder and try to think of an easier to make idea from last tutorial and that's based on that.
Basically it's a simple series of incense holder. I did like the idea of a leaf from my references since it's peaceful and can be use for example to represent meditation. However I was thinking of maybe changing it to a feather just to modify the idea and make it more like my own design.
So therefore the categories will be represented by the shape of the design and each design will be made out of a different technique. I thought of using laser cutting, 3D printing and clay, since they're the ones I'm sure I can achieve.
Obviously the design of the others holders are less elaborated since it's still just a quick suggestion as an alternative if my primary idea gets rejected.
The data will be represented by the length of the incense in this design.
The 2 suggestion for the possible alternatives are just representational, I couldn't find a way to make it more interactive yet.
Anyway, my lecturer however, did like the idea of the pottery more, which I also prefer personally. He asked me to practice with the totem and see if I can make it and he also said that I should make the newly collected data more visible, either by painting the whole thing, part of it or reducing the length which I think I'll try first.
Furthermore, he told me to try and smoothen the pottery more and work on the design that will be painted on it to create display the information.
Comments