Sketchbook Work

These are a selection of pages from my sketchbook. They illustrate the ideas and development for my website.                               

Filed under: Advanced Web

Bibliography

For all images and dates I used;  www.sculpture.org.uk conjunctures.blogspot.com www.hep.ucl.ac.uk www.monkeyvsrobot.com kcfac.kilgore.edu www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk www.zweitausendeins.de   For ‘Back’ icons I used; www.seishido.com For type fonts I used; www.abstractfonts.com    bibliograpy.doc

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Evaluation

I was assigned the task of producing a website, using a practitioner or artist as a refrence/focus/topic/influence.I chose to use Andy Goldsworthy as my artist. I have known of his work for a while now and have always described my style as organic and natural, whether it be 3D, graphics or just simple drawings. I like how the sculptor reacts to his surroundings, creating intricate pieces from very raw, unpredictable materials. I also like the idea of spending days in woodland documenting changes, the weather, the mud or the leaves and how this effects the work. The nature of his art depends heavily on the seasons and nature itself. I hoped to create a website that would give the viewer an experience. Originally I wanted to make it very dynamic, passing through hoops and holes similar to Andy Goldsworthy’s work. But due to lack software knowledge I decided get the basics first, using Dreamweaver. I found the software quite constricting so I developed more simple webpages in Photoshop, sliced them up then put them into Dreamweaver, which turned out to be quite easy. To compensate for the lack of motion.etc. I decided to create good quality backgrounds. I faded the edges to create a vague border and to draw the eye. This also made the view seem ‘first person’. This is also the case from the first page as the view is up through a hole. I wanted to retain an original navigation menu. I therefore kept the image through a hole and cut it into quarters. Each quarter then linked to new pages. I made a subtle reference to importance of the seasons to artists work by adding a colour overlay depicting the different seasons.I used a scrappy typeface to illustrate the site would be rough like Andy Goldsworthy’s diary notes, as documentation is part of his practice. A slightly less scrappy typeface was then used for the rest of the pages so the legibility would be a little better, yet still challenge the eye like a bunch of sketchbook notes would.A big issue when applying content to my backgrounds was aligning the two parts. As there is empty space and strong angles in the background photos these were disrupted when overlaying other images and text. I experimented with fades and extending the borders, and i am happy with the final result. I would however dull down the thumbnails on the ‘Photos’ page as the contrast is too great.In future i would do a number of things differently. I would allow far more time for the graphics and video editing as made myself rush to meet deadlines, so in future I’ll set my own ones to keep on track. I pondered over making a small installation piece to accompany the website, using sound and light (sketches can be seen in sketchbook) however this was a sideline to the brief and needed its own development, and money. I therefore decided to leave the idea out on this project. As mentioned from the beginning i hoped to make the site more dynamic, boosting the viewers experience. Next time I’ll have stronger software skills to back my ideas. Overall though i have gained more experience using Dreamweaver and Photoshop, and i am pleased with what I have made. And, unlike any previous projects, will be available to millions of viewers! 

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Progress

I have just started on Dreamweaver. Luckily my pages are quite simple, using basic navigation. I am pleased with my index page as i have managed to keep an earlier idea and toned it down. I originally wanted to have a shot looking up though a hole (the hole being a refrence to the ones the sculpture creates. Instead of passing through it which isn’t possible, now there are four segments. Each segment depicts a different link and have rollovers showing the colours of the different seasons. I think this ties strongly to how the artist works throughout the year.  

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Progress

I have now started collaborating images and text using photoshop. I was hoping to create a dynamic website however i have been told this is best done in Flash. As my knowledge of Flash isn’t great i have been advised to use Dreamweaver. As a result i have focused more on the graphic design and photography to compensate for the lack of animation.This has been going well, i am really pleased with the effects applied on Photoshop and the colour ways are linked with the content, natural.  

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Progress

I am now increasing concerned about the installation part of my project. I have been hoping to find some natural fabric to create a hammock style seat although in a shape similar to a droplet. (consult sketchbook) I was hoping to create a one person booth like seat with dim green lighting and audio content. However, i am now going to scrap the idea due to timing and money, which is a shame. I shall save the idea though and develop it in a bigger project at a later date.

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Progress

I have now taken some photos and video that is suitable for the site. I have taken the imagery into photoshop and enhanced it, these will serve as backgrounds for my pages. My video has been edited on imovie and although my technique is far from perfect i am happy to use it, as it entirely relevant and makes the site more interesting.  

Filed under: Advanced Web

Website Progress

This is a quick update that has been a draft for too long.I have been designing a website using Andy Goldsworthy as my reference. As his work is based around nature i have been scouting local woods for a suitable location to take my photos and video footage. I have decided on a woods back home to take my video and a small woodland closer to in Bournemouth. Hopefully the two locations will give me a broader range of materials due to the different type of trees etc.I have also been researching type faces suitable using www.abstractfonts.com this has proved extremely usful as i have managed to break away from photoshops standard collection. I am now using more sketchy handwritten fonts as this will reflect add sketchbook style to my website. Furthermore i have been searching for new brush sets on www.seishido.com. These will be used as forward and back icons for my webpages.Most of my ideas have been put down in my sketchbook so hopefully i can scan a selection of pages into my blog for you to view, making the development process clearer.Good quality content has been hard to come by. Quality images of Andy Goldsworthy’s are hard to find on the internet, and scanning images from library books is also poor, I’ll keep sourcing.   

Filed under: Advanced Web