Prints To Purchase

Final Pieces

My two exhibition pieces have already been sold. However at a special request I can have more copies printed.

All printed onto quality 120 gsm paper, unframed.

(170 gsm/photogloss/canvas available at request at a higher cost)

1 piece @ A0 = £60

2 pieces @ A0 = £100

1 piece @ A1 = £45

2 pieces @ A1 = £80

1 piece @ A2 = £30

2 pieces @ A2 = £50

Other Prints Available:

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Prices For Prints Onto Quality A3 Photogloss Paper. (unframed)

1 piece = £30

2 pieces = £55

3 pieces = £80

For ordering/enquiries: kate.lalala@hotmail.com

07535 694899

Final Final Final Overall Evaluation

This has been such a tough project, with many problems that I had to overcome along the way, however now everything is finished, I am so happy with what I have achieved, in not only my final piece's aesthetics, but the research and the concepts which I have involved with all my pieces, there are so many layers of importance involved that have come from hours and hours of research, analysis and thought.

The hardest part was defining what I was trying to communicate for my project proposal, it was tough having a vision in my mind, but not knowing how to put it into words on paper. Not knowing quite what I was trying to communicate immediately then made it very difficult for me to produce any work, as when you are creating a piece, the first thing you should be thinking is 'what am I trying to communicate?' So the slow start with putting the pin point on what my project was about, then had an effect on me not knowing what work to create. I just didn't know where to begin. I was stressed out, frustrated, worried and tired...

I then reflected on any ideas I had already had, and any small pieces I had made, and I realised one thing, and that was the contrasts.

My work was made up of contrasts, contrasting imagery, contrasting moods, contrasting colours and contrasting mediums. As soon as I spotted all this, I then turned my project into a whole new meaning, using these juxtapositions to form a brief. 'Darkness in Disguise' fitted with my concepts relating back to my initial Fairy Tale analysis, as well as juxtaposing dark with light to conceal or bring a double meaning to the feeling of positivity or negativity, referring back again to not everything being what it seems on the surface...

As soon as I knew that I was communicating 'Darkness in Disguise' my whole mood and project instantly turned around for the better. My concepts got backed up with art related as well as non art related research, creating an even more solid base.

I had so much fun taking all the contrasting symbols from my analysed fairy tale stories and juxtaposing them together in a way which was often inspired by another artist. A massively inspirational day to me was at the 'Pick Me Up Show', there were so many talented contemporary designers there, and I tried to just absorb as much as I physically could, I could have gone round and round the exhibition all day, picking up new details each time.

However the single most influential thing to me from the start, has been Alexander McQueen. His concepts were so in line with what I was trying to achieve, he was a genius. His pieces were so visually rich with intense, beautiful colours, patterns and trademark symbols, but then at the same time the pieces were often so fragile, his art forms were most definitely a form of personal expression.

Having a streak of his influence running from the start to the finish has been a grounding point for my sketchbook and my outcomes. I really wish my second final piece could have been printed onto a silk scarf, as I think this piece is especially meant for being on a fabric, as my major influence from McQueen was a print on a silk scarf.

I really tried in this project to keep on going imagery throughout, and not introduce more and more and more. I focused on two photographs I took for my florals, one being the carnation, the other the cornelia. The florals were to represent the nature from the fairy tales, and life and positivity and beauty - also a symbol within Snow White.

The organs and the skulls were used as a way to represent the darker side, as the organs within the fairy tale always had deathly associations. And the skull is a widely known symbol of poison and death, so it seemed like a more obvious choice which not only connects with Alexander McQueen and the skull being his trademark, but also it adds a feeling of familiarity to an onlooker, as although there are things which need to be disguised, there does also have to be elements which are understandable from the surface, as there is in a fairy tale.

I feel all my work is fairly balanced when it comes to the symbols, and I think my final piece is created not only to look good, but with a lot of background understanding.

Major Influences Re-Visited

To start with I shall include a reminder of any sources of inspiration which have lead to my final pieces or promotional pieces.

My Photography

My model with my lungs which I made from wire inspired by Snow White and Florence and The Machine. This photograph was the photograph I used for my first Final Piece.

My Carnations which formed the basis of my skull and flower illustration - used ALOT

Influential Print

This Alexander McQueen scarf was an influence from the start also. I strived to create something as beautiful as this, where the shapes merge into each other, I feel my second piece really reflects this influence, and could easily be a fabric print itself.

The Influential Early Juxtaposition Inspiration

Juxtaposing these antlers onto some headwear has proved to be significant in inspiring me for the first of my final pieces, as well as the idea of juxtaposing animals with humans amongst other ways.

The Influential Artist

Ian Francis was the influence behind the style in which I aimed to paint my final pieces. I love the paint effect and the intensity.

The Original Idea

Fairy Tales

The Influential Story

Snow White

The Influence Within A Fairy Tale/Snow White

They all have hidden meanings between the lines which unbeknown to the reader are very dark and adult. The main symbols were associated with the body (vanity/beauty/body parts/organs) and nature.

The Influential Art Movement

Surrealism

The Influential Non Art Related Research

Unconscious Mind - Freud's Theories - The Unconscious mind is a dark place.

These are all the ingredients for making my final pieces in a nut shell.

Final Exhibition Set Up

I have many aspects which I have worked out how to incorporate into my exhibition, without detracting from my final piece, and without over cluttering.

I need to include:

-my 2 A0 prints

-my business cards

-my promo posters

-poster prints

-limited edition zine

-my blog

As there are many different elements I have decided to keep the promotional pieces in a separate area to my final pieces.

My Exhibition

I banged nails into the wall which supported my clips at the top and the bottom

The Final Pieces Together

My Self Promotional Area

In the end I didn't hang up my promotional pieces as there wasn't a wall or anything for me to hook the wire onto. So in the end I just arranged them in front of the computer. I think this way is less intimidating for people to pick them up though, so I feel its a good thing. Having the computer on has worked so well though, I love having the blog accessible. The desk is right opposite my final piece too, so it's not too far away.

Artist Statement

'Darkness in Disguise’

My project is inspired from my early analysis into fairy tales, and how on the surface everything is seemly easy to understand, with happiness, innocence, a problem, and finally, always a happy ending. However, under the surface, unbeknown to the reader, all is not what it seems. Fairy tales are in fact complex, dark and disturbing with sophisticated adult meanings and symbolisms-not what you would expect to find in a child’s story. In Snow White, there are a lot of symbols to do with vanity, the body, growing into a woman and desire. There is an obsession with beauty, which is what ultimately gets Snow White into the deathly situations.

As these hidden meanings are not in your consciousness whilst reading the stories, I was then inspired to research into the unconscious mind, Freud’s theories, and surrealist theories. These all gave me a whole new wealth of information, which all connected extremely well with the concept of not everything being exactly what it seems on the surface, and the contrasts between positivity and negativity, as discovered in a fairy tale. One of Freud’s theories was that our conscious mind is rational and aware, however our unconscious mind is more aware of our discomforts - our pains, anxieties and conflicts. Most things outside of our awareness are unacceptable and unpleasant.

So my work is all about the contrasts between consciousness and subconsciousness, life and death, light and dark, positivity and negativity, reality and fantasy... To inspire artwork, I looked into artists and designers who had elements of darkness in their work, but at the same time beauty and light. A major influence throughout has been Alexander McQueen, and also the artist Ian Francis. I feel that they both fit the category of juxtaposing imagery and meanings brilliantly.

My two pieces have been made by mixing many different materials, technique and processes together. They both started with initial photography, followed by painting and then various stages and mixing of layers and further illustration on photoshop, before finally being printed. The contrasts are just as important in the materials as in the imagery itself, mixing digital and low tech is another way to represent the juxtaposition of positive and negative.

My pieces are both a good representation of ‘Darkness in Disguise’ as there is a fine line between whether they are positive or negative, and there is a blur between reality and surrealism. The colours are especially confusing as they are pretty and especially in the deer girl piece, you would expect them to be cooler, to be more appropriate for the sombre mood. However, at the same time there are very dark, deep shadows, creating an air of mystery. The imagery used in both the pieces are both loosely taken from my initial fairy tale research, a lot of the symbolisms were connected to the human body, nature and animals, so I used these as a theme throughout my project, and into my final prints.

From doing this project, I have learnt that our unconscious mind is very dark, and in life nothing is totally straight forward. Nothing is always quite as it seems.

‘One feels inclined to say that the intention of life, is that man should be happy, but this is not included in the plan of creation.’ Sigmund Freud, 1930.

Posters and Prints

I wanted to create a series of posters where I take elements from my previous illustrations and mix them together.

I will be focusing on a colour background - made from two of my 'Hatching' pieces and another of my final piece. However with a different layer style so it's softer, paler and a finer mix between the painting and the photograph.

For the illustrations I shall use my deer with the organic tree like antlers, my skull and flowers monoprint, and my root lungs.

I felt that these were a good variation as it involves animals, plants and the body.

To get the best design outcomes I shall mix and match the 3 backgrounds to the 3 illustrations and that way I shall end up with the most effective combination.

The following are my final posters with the best combination of imagery and background:

Promo Poster and Business Cards

As another part of my self promotion, I thought an obvious but effective outcome would be a poster, or mini leaflets with my name and blog address on it.

I decided to use the 'Hatching' exhibition pieces by Container as inspiration for my poster artwork.

My Zine

Here is a page by page view of my zine. I am really happy with them, I only made 10 - so very limited edition.

I am so happy with the way my zine turned out, mainly because of the individuality of them, and the layout of the imagery on the inside.

The front covers are all screen printed so this is one of the bespoke elements.

I then added a tracing paper photocopy insert for the front and back inside covers - I thought this would open the zine and close the zine nicely as the basis of my project in typography is the front.

I then tried to vary the imagery on the pages next to each other - so try not to have two heart related pages next to each other.

There is then a special insert of my screen printed hearts, and sandwiched in between is my 'Hatching' inspired design, photocopied onto blue paper.

The last page of the book is a colour print of my painting which represented my project. I included a small bit of writing about the project - including my promotional details, I also included a number - 1/10 etc, to show it's an original. These shall be at my exhibition.

Zines

Zines are informal low tech books which are published as a collective, or by an individual designer.

They come in all sorts of styles imaginable.

Zines are great for self promotion as they are cheap, and can contain anything you want; little scribbles from your sketchbook, proper finished pieces, writing, and all the various ways to contact.

It also gives the satisfaction to the viewer of being able to have a beautiful material item which they can flick through and keep. Zines can be individual - with screen prints inside, or just simple photocopies on mass.

Artist Examples

Nick Doermann

This is a very aesthetically pleasing zine because its so basic, but all the pages lead off each other well. I love the overlapping of imagery, line and typography.

I like the bold colours and also the colour scheme, he has used the same colours through out. I like how he's used news print too - as you can slightly see through.

Paula Castro

This is a completely contrasting style of zine compared with the others. It looks alot less experimental - Paula has clearly got a style and thats what she has chosen to use for this zine.

She has used photography, edited in photoshop, combined with illustration, she has continued the illustration on to plain white pages, and has clearly thought about the composition of the illustration, as she hasn't over done it, and it's very precise.

I do love this zine, however I feel it is too neat and overly thought about. I prefer zines which are a bit more random, and less pre meditated.

David Carson

Again, another totally contrasting zine. This style is very typically Carson, it is ultra sophisticated, however very experimental, loose, and absorbing. The colours are right and I love the juxtaposition between photography and typography.

The typography alone is interesting - the different typefaces, opacities, sizes and overlapping.

My favourite page is the page below, the flowers on the black background really struck me, they look really unusual - deformed but not dead... I love Carsons work.

Self Promotion

Prints/Posters/T-Shirts/Badges/Bags/Zines/Toys/Postcards/Business Cards/Website/Blog

I want to make:

10 Limited Edition Zines

Business Cards

Posters

(And This Blog Is A Form Also!)

Public Interaction

At an exhibition it is good for there to be a certain involvement for the public.

Rob Ryan @ Pick Me Up

In terms of providing an interactive exhibition for your audience Rob Ryan had it perfect, it couldn't have been anymore stimulating. This was because he moved his studio to the exhibition for the duration of the show. So, all the wall space was covered with previous work, clippings of inspiration, plans and any other imagery, this was a feast for the eyes, allowing you to fully understand the thought process of Rob Ryan, and allow you to absorb all the elements which also inspire him.

But as well as the giant mood board, he had his screen printing equipment and cutting/drawing equipment, so you can watch the work being made - which is such an interesting experience. But most importantly, he was there himself, talking and answering questions. This was such a good exhibition studio.

Zines

Zines are a good way of interacting because people can pick them up, look at them, take them home, research any links to the artist further and gradually, you are building up a fan base at the same time.

Posters/Business Cards/Leaflets

These go along the same lines as zines, but any additional pieces which can be given away, such as posters and leaflets are always a good way to add some interaction, people can pick and chose pieces which they can take home.

After being inspired by the Pick Me Up Show, I have decided that as my form of interaction, I shall design some zines for people to flick through, and take away.

I shall design either some posters or little business cards.

These are also a great source of self promotion...

Exhibition Inspiration

I went to a really contemporary exhibition at Somerset House, and whilst I was there, I took note of the ways the artists were displaying their work.

The way which really stood out as a good idea and that seems to be a very current way of displaying your work, is with clips.

These are such a good idea as it means you don't have to worry about damaging your image, which you may get if you use a fixative on it directly.

To apply the clips onto the wall, there could be a variety of ways. The artist above has a wall with regular holes spaced all over it, and he has simply placed a screw into the gaps, before hooking the clip over. This keeps it level too.

I bought some giant silver clips to experiment with.

I bought large clips to go with the scale of my final piece. It wouldn't be appropriate to use a small clip as it might not be strong enough for the weight of the paper. It would also look a bit out of place.

Illustrations of How I Can Fix Up The Clips

Weighing Down The Pieces

Due to the size of my pieces (A0) and how they have been stored rolled up, when I come to fix them on the wall, they won't be straight, so I need to think of a way have them hanging flat.

I could either:

Fix metal meter rulers at the sides and bottom of the paper, to straighten it out and weigh it down - However, this would require using some form of fixative on the paper which could both ruin it after/make the surface distorted.

Apply to the bottom edge the same as I do with the clips at the top.

This weighs it down and keeps the paper perfect.

The most difficult part of fixing the image with the clips and the hooks, is keeping the image level. To make sure the nails and clips go in level, I can either:

-Measure from the ceiling/floor, and measure the same length down/up, then mark on the wall, then screw in the nails.

-Screw in one nail, then wrap some string round it and pull the string across the wall use a level to keep the string level, then fix in the second screw.

Other materials I could use to hang pictures

-Velcro

-Magnets

-Eyelets and hanging chain through

-Spray Mount

-Poster Squares

Personalising the Clips?

-I could use a sharpie marker pen to illustrate a pattern onto the actual clips. I think this would add a small touch which makes a difference to the overall presentation.

Out of all the options with hanging the pictures, I do want to keep the materials and method as simple as possible, this is due to the highly maximal pieces I am choosing to exhibit. So at the moment I shall stick with the clips and the nail/screw idea.