Experimenting with paper

At the beginning of the week, I started working into paper, to see the effectiveness of my ideas in 3D form. My first attempt as an idea to have a series of different scenes, all in the shape of an hour glass. After the first image (see below) I observed that it didn't really work in terms of composition. I was trying to fit too much into each scene, which wouldn't work once the scenes were placed together in a photoshoot. Following this test, I went back to drawing ideas.


The following experimentations with paper were inspired by one of my initial ideas to have an image of a ship in a bottle. The first of the models incorporates both 2D and 3D illustration. I liked the idea of the ship being a prominent element of the composition, making an 'escape' from the confinement of the bottle. The image was inspired by abstract observational drawing of ships. I experimented with different shapes to make the sails and even cut back into one of the sails to replicate a regency era clock. Put together, I don't think the differing shapes work well together in a composition. There is no vocal element to the image to make it clear what the shapes create. Perhaps I should have added a 3D shape at the bottom to suggest a body of a ship.

The images above and below show my attempts at paper folding and cutting to illustrate waves. I used a mix of gel like plastic and black paper to create these samples. The most successful out of these were the strips of material that had been cut into and twisted. This was because they had more of an organic shape and gave more movement. The coiled sample reminded me more of cable, or perhaps rope and the flat sample lacked movement and looked a little flat alongside the other 3D models.

This illustration was another idea to have Bath architecture as part of the structure of the bottle, this was mainly to give more inkling to the setting of the play. As you can see from the photograph, the lack of the light into the paper sculpture, means the viewer is unable to see the full details of the windows. If I were to develop this idea, i'd need to cut back into the paper.

A paper sculpture of an hourglass. Although, very simple, I like how the amount of space within the structure of the model has made an eery shadow when photographed.

 

The above set of photos, show a sculpture in progress. This is a female head, in which i intend to add to composition, either with a mirror or alongside ship imagery. I have used previous techniques I used when mask making in my second year, constructing a base shape out of one piece of card. I have experimented with the suggestion of hair by cutting strips of card and weaving them in and out of the base to illustrate a regency style bun hairstyle. Although not finished, I am liking the effect this technique has created. 

Below are some experimenting with cutting into flat paper and forming sculpture from those cuts. I have concentrated on naval objects, an hourglass and a ship steering wheel. I liked the mixture of cut out pattern and sculpture and how they both create interesting shadows when photographed.