Exercise 1
Part A
During E1, it was to experiment with taking a word and listening to sounds to translating it on paper of what you interpret. From this, it helped to zone in on what sounds you heard rather than the lyrics of songs and what shapes, forms, or colors you imagined.
Part B
With Part 2 of this exercise, I created a paper mechanism using the word ‘Muffled’ to translate through movement.
Dynamic Pages
In this project, it is a collaborative work that illustrates a narrative using paper to craft a paper mechanism/stop-motion animation translating the principle of movement through sound.
My Collaborative Partner: Liann Trahey
Concept Statement
“Mrs. Sandman”
The Project 2: Dynamic Pages focuses a diptych split between circular rotating paper mechanisms consisting of the visual aspects of sound through music. The visually representation of the song “Mr.Sandman” by The Cordettes feels calm and groovy allowing patterns and color to compositionally advance the non-objective features into a stop motion.Telling a narrative of a of a loopy, twisty sensation from the song is drawn throughout while creating a constellation of whimsical circular movements. From this a pattern of circles is created enhancing the beats of the sound and making the viewer excited of what they experience from the composition.
Research
Thompson Library
While looking at all of the various paper mechanism at the Thompson Library, I found myself interested into more of how simple circles can be intriguing and compelling by straightforward movement or by how designs transformed the mechanism to become more lively. Not only did I find interest in that but also the different materials that were used to display the mechanism such as: acetate paper, high-gloss card stock with words, tan toned paper, etc…
These velcro mechanisms fascinated me the most because of the use of cardstock, the designs with the mix of colors, and wordplay around the circles. This simple paper mechanism is interesting and eye-catching and allows the user to interchange the designs.
Continued…
Paper Mechanisms
Since I found inspiration at Thompson with circles, I begun looking at paper mechanism with circles of them rotating, pull tabs, and them opening and closing. However, I did find other mechanism that were more of squares/rectangles with pull tabs and sliding doors and handles.
Here is my Pinterest link: https://pin.it/745duhT
Illustrations
By my primary source of inspiration at Thompson with the designs on the circle, I started exploring fun designs with color play and theory with organic shapes, forms, and lines.
Here is my Pinterest link: https://pin.it/2D4mviH
Ideations
In the composition, I made an example of a pattern with color to see how they would look before going digitally.
The Concept Process
Song Selection
Liann and I choose the song: Slow Dancing in the Dark by Joji
This song had a calming smoothness to the beat and that is what lead me to draw circles big or small and wavy lines/straight lines during the pauses creating the sound.
As it came closer to begun creating the diptych paper mechanism, Liann and I decided to change the song to: Mr.Sandman by The Chordettes. We changed the song due to our plan of the desired composition in relationship with sound, movement, and color.
Color Theory
For the color theme, they are complementary colors of blue and orange while purple and green are split complementary. We choose these colors due to the beat to the song “Mr. Sandman” being groovy, calm, but also exciting. These are the shades we choose.
Sketches
With the sketches, it determined the size of the circles and the layout of how the paper mechanism will work. These will be 9 circles in total. As of 4 of them are consisting of velcro interchangeable pattern designed circles onto a black high glass cardstock with the words “bung, bung, bung, bung” as acappello beats/lyrics of the chosen song around the shape.
On Paper
Digitally
This digital sketch is what the composition will potentially show. Pattern 1 will be used as the outer circle whereas Pattern 2 will be the design onto the velcro paper mechanism circles and as for the acapello beats of the song “bung, bung, bung, bung” that will be the background.
Patterns
I designed these abstract patterns with the various shades of split complementary and complementary colors to brig excitement to the composition through the layering of color, line, and movement. Yet, with the black background it provides a subtly among the choas of color.
Materials and Assembly Process
- 100 lb high-gloss cardstock
- Chipboard
- Velcro
- Hot glue
- Resin
- Sand
I decided I wanted to carry-on the ideal of using 100 lb high-gloss card stock for my piece to make the color brighter and the paper more sturdy.In addition, in order to use velcro as my paper mechanism, I used chipboard so that my velcro to paper attachment is durable and firm.
Laser Cutting
Cut Files
These are my Ai files to use for the laser cutter to began cutting 2″ inch circles for the mechanism, 10″ inch circles for the background, and a 10.5″ inch circle for the pattern layer.
Assembly
Gluing
After all of the cardstock and chipboard was laser cut out, I used rubber cement to glue attach the cardstock to the chipboard them I took a hot glue gun to glue down the velcro onto the 2″ inch circles. Surpisingly, we managed to use all of the paper of the 11×17 patterns with no scapes as well.
Failed Gluing Method
Although, I started to hot glue the other attaching side of the velcro down to the black cardstock and once the velcro was being attached then pulled, it ripped the cardstock paper.
Resin
From the velcro tearing the cardstock, I painted over the ripped areas black and adjusted to work with resin to create a barrier between the velcro and cardstock and a base so that the velcro is not applied straight to the gloss paper. By this solution not only did it generate a barrier but a high contrast within my composition among the layers cardstock.
The Solution
Since the velcro being super glued straight onto the high-gloss card-stock was ripping the paper, I started the resin process and waited 18-24 hours so that it could set. Once it set, I did have overspill and had to sand down the edges around the circle making it smooth. I only resined the black card-stock because I wanted a contrast among the pattern card-stock on the 10.5″ inch circle and the 2″ inch interchangeable circles. This makes both the 10.5″ inch and 2″inch circle consistent with the texture of the paper.
Nonetheless, applying the resin creates a smoothness finish to the surface of the card-stock and as stated before the song “Mr.Sandman”, provides a smooth feeling when listening to the beats.
Creating an Additional Texture Element
After sanding down the overspill edges of resin, I applied texture onto it using the sand paper by scratching the surface creating a rough feature against the smoothness of the resin.
The Platform
Liann and I both agreed that we needed to levitate the structure of our composition for the patterns and mechanism could stand out. We wanted to create our layers as visible as possible although due to the resin being top heavy, the design demanded for a strong, sturdy way of connection. Here is the experimentation:
Idea #1
I thought that if I used pipe cleaners and wrapped two of them together, that would be durable. That was not the case. They are flimsy.
Idea #2
Moving forward, I took white Bristol and damped it down with water then wrapped it around a marker to make a circle. Afterwards I poked hole punched holes so that they are an architectural and interior design decor. This approach with Bristol was more dynamic than use pipe cleaners. However, using Bristol with resin was not durable enough either.
Finalized Idea
Moreover, doing this approach with cardboard, providing that sturdiness and durability to build the compositional structure. Columns are used to uphold many structures and wielding this feature into the design invites the architecture arrangement. I used the 2″ inch circles to cover the top and bottom of the columns to hot glue them on the bases.
I decided to make sure that the pattern was abled to still be captured through the holes and bottom of the bases so that they are united with the composition.
The Structure
With the whole structure of my composition, I wanted to stay consistent with using black as the bases for the platforms therefore I painted them black. However, with the black paint I added glitter so bring in the glossy/shiny aspect. Although, the glitter does not create a barrier that is texturized and high gloss, glitter correlates to adding “shine” to certain areas. In addition, when the acrylic paint dried, it is matte black provides a contrast between having a glossy black against matte.
Lastly, I used the hot glue gun to glue the platforms together.
Adding Outer Details
Continuous circles are the concept of this composition and establishes a common theme. The bottom base was very blank and the idea of using pins to create another paper mechanism element that also rotates added more value. I tested different ways to apply the pins on the chipboard and I realized that bending the end back to hold them in place was more efficient for still being capable of laying the piece flat.
Stop Motion
Liann and I managed the stop motion video process together through all 87 photos. She took and moved the mechanisms for the video while I produced the video itself. All of the paper mechanisms of the circles rotating simultaneously and/or singly in the video perform until “Mr.Sandman” comes at the end.
View stop motion video at: https://youtube.com/shorts/w9qerEXUwas?feature=share
The diptych aspect of Liann and I’s composition was through not only the piece as a whole but also in the top motion video that we both worked on together as mentioned above.
Final Composition
All in all, with the final composition of our paper mechanism correlated with sound, it consisted of various materials to achieve our project ted concept. Within the structure, we used these materials with the value of creating contrast among the materials once built. For instance, the colors being split complementary and complementary, the resin black against the matte black. Lastly, the contrast between the different mechanism: velcro rotation versus literal rotation versus turning rotation. Moreover, Liann and I acquired the stop motion video to present the movement throughout the mechanism and how it flowed with the song: “Mr.Sandman”. However, in this case, with my velcro paper mechanism, it produced a sound as well. The ripping off the circle pattern and replacing it back on created a subtle “rough” sound in opposed to the music being light and calming. In addition, the diptych aspect also played the role of Liann’s paper mechanism being set right next to mine completing the composition.
Here are the final images of our work:
Columns Detail
Diptych & Mechanism Detail
Reflection
With this project, Dynamic pages, I learned that working with a collaborative partner creates an even more interesting composition than what you would expected. From both my partner and I, we worked very cohesively for our design to be integrated as one whole piece as a diptych. We both overcame time management and the “waiting time” for both prints and resin setting ourselves to focus on other aspects of the design. In addition, the experience of using stop motion in the project was new but exciting for the end result. However, the process of producing stop motion is very time consuming and requires a lot of attention to detail in each frame so that the video plays smoothly. Nonetheless, exploring how paper mechanisms work, I discovered that they can be simple or complex and still be interesting. If I were to do this project again, we would have advanced on how the diptych between my partner and I’s paper mechanism were placed onto the composition.
Portfolio
View final project at: Project 2: Dynamic Pages