Shawlands library wall/sensory pod

Communication.
https://uk.pinterest.com/laurenhouseman0/primary-school-wall-sensory-pod/
https://www.facebook.com/Laurens-art-884194791632745/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel- My facebook art page.
Today we got our brief and started to mind map our ideas on our desired room in the school. I chose the library wall and the sensory pod.

We then went to Dodworth to Osborne technology's were we visited a real live modern  sensory pod. This was a really expensive sensory pod and was lot of money which didn't match with our 200 pound budget. However it was really interesting to see what a sensory pod looks like an to see what stimulates kids and see shat they like. The dynamic lights were coordinated to the boards which were all linked together, and the dominate colour on the board continued the lights. Wind, sound, sent and vibrations were also set up around the pod to give a real life virtual experience.  The whole room was control by an iPad. The interactive white boards was a really good idea as kids like to interact and it these they can be part of the learning.

For my sketch book I split my sketch book into too, the first part being the library wall and the second part is the Sensory room
My book starts with the mind maps of different ideas that the library wall could possibly contain as well as needs and constraints, I tried to make it as detailed as I possibly could. I then made a mind map of my character profile and what I wanted my character too be.
I then started gathering books that could be used for the age range given, all of the pictures in my book are photocopies from books that I actually have.
I started with The classic Winnie the Pooh from 1979 by A.A.Milne I used masking tape to make the back ground and used a black biro pen to draw out Earnest Shepard's illustrations, they are very simple but also look very detailed due to the mark making that he uses. I then made a little book using some of the photocopied text I had and a black piece of paper and a white pencil to draw out winnie. I really like Earnest Shapards work as it looks very classic and vintage and I also like his use of mark making.

I then moved on to Jacqueline Wilson's Lola Rose, for this I used a various amount of fabrics to cover the book cover to give a feel of different textures and patterns, I then proceeded to copy the cover using iridescent and neon colours, all of it on top of the story that I had photocopied.

The jolly Christmas postman was always one of my favourite books growing up as it had a lot of interactive things that you could play with and take out. I used gouache to make a Christmas background and masking tape to stick the pictures down . but I rolled it up so that the pictures were at different levels. I then used the window framing technique to frame the photocopied cover to a black from and masking taped the back so that it stayed in place and so I could annotate. I then used water colours and a black biro to draw the postman. I think that it looked effective as the light wash of colour made the outline really stand and I think outlines are what makes things look cartoon like and animated.
Beauty and the beast By Walt Disney was next, I couldn't find the illustrator for this as every single Disney book doesn't have an illustrator named in the information in the front of the book and on the internet. I used the photocopied cover and stuck it on to some card and tied it too the binder I then used a fine liner to do a quick sketch of belles face under the information I had written to fill some space. I used a small scalpel craft knife to cut out clogsworth I really like cutting out with craft knifes especially free hand I think that it looks really effective and  creative. It also has a great effect when you hold it up to the window and the sun shines through it.

Claire Melinsky's versions of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter was next I used the photocopied book covers create a collage and then used a pencil to draw on of the protronus charms, it was James Potters stag. I think her work is really great as it has an animated feel to it but also looks really illustrated and I think that that illustrated look is that drew me towards her as it looks effective due to the solid block colours.
For Roald Dahl I used photocopied pages from the books to create a collage background and then stuck down a post card of Roald Dahl's to complete it. I then used water colours and a biro to draw one of the Charlie and the chocolate factory illustrations and continued to write my information on another Roald Dahl post card that I had bought. I think that Quintin Blake is a great illustrators and probably one of the most famous children's illustrators there is. His work is so simple but so effective, his work looks really rough and un neat but I think that is what makes it look so great, because children aren't neat so why should what they read and look at be neat. I think that it is genius and really imaginative.

Dr Seuss is in my opinion one of the greatest writers and illustrators ever, not only are his words really inspiring and simple his drawings are too really influential. his drawing are known everywhere as they are coming into the modern culture more prominent now. Cat in the hat is on bag t shirts, phone cover Etc... and I feel like even if you don't know or like his books you know his characters. for my sketch book I used a pop up technique. I first started by pulling my paper away from the ring binder half way down them folding it so that it is even on both sides. I then collaged the paper using photocopies of the books. I then made too slits in the middle with my craft knife being carful as it is sharp. I then folded my paper but made the two slits I made fold inward so the it was like a step. I then drew cat in the hat using different colour pens and stuck him on his step so that when you opened it he popped up. if I was to do it again I would have used thicker card for the cat has his head and umbrella bends.

I then made a collage of Walt Disney's Winnie the pooh and 101 Dalmatians. I then did a  wrong handed drawing of the Winnie the pooh cover. I found it really difficult not using my dominant hand and I struggled quite a lot with it.
Also for Walt Disney I did the lion king using gouache paint on masking tape. I really liked the effect it gave however when it started to dry it started to crack due to the rough surface of the masking tape.
 

I went to the Birmingham art gallery and in there was a children's library which was really convenient.  There was a bench which was made to look like a book but the book was Roald Dahl I found it really continent and useful as It gave me ideas that I could have done if I was designing the room and not just the wall.

For my sensory room half of the sketch book I started by using images that I had taken at Osborne technology's and annotated them as well as looking at some interior design that I had take at the national art gallery of Birmingham. The designs we much too complicated and detailed to use in the sensory room but it was still interesting to look at and get a look at interior designs.
 

When I was in a car one day it was raining and I saw that the rain droplets on the windshield looked link stars due to the traffic lights reflection g on the rain and the dark background due to the night sky. I thought it looked rally effective and I used different filters to make it look more effective.

I used acrylics paint to do two different galaxy style paintings using a sponge to get the effect that I wanted. To get all the different stars I used a tooth brush and white paint to get the stars. I have found that it Was the easiest way to get the final look that I wanted.

I used scent sticks from drug stores to use to sample different scents, some of the scents are perfume and some are air fresheners. I used a different variation of scents as different scents calm different people down.
I then did a tact tile page, made of different materials. the idea behind this is that the touch sense helps to calm people down. when your panicking or stressed you reach out to touch something as it gives you comfort so I thought I would do a tact tile page. the different materials range from wall paper to sponges. I think that the sponge is a good one as it is a cheap common product but also effective as it can also be a stress relief as it is soft and squash able. my favourite was the fleece a sit is fluffy and really distracts you due to the feel of it. I think that it is perfect as these kids go into the sensory room to calm down and they need a distraction and I think that touching something is a great distraction. I also used hot glue which I really liked it think it made a great texture. I just used the hot glue gun and placed it randomly every where and it created a really uneven smooth texture that looks really effective and fells great.

I then did the colour theory as different colours calm different people down so I went to Wickes to get the colour spectrum. I started off with pinks and they slower got darker, I continued this with greens, greys, purples and browns. I think laying them out like this is great c=as you can see how light or dark a colour is next to another colours so you can get the perfect colour.





For my character profile mood board I gathered images of what I wanted my characters personality and life to contain. so I gathered images of a puppy, power rangers and chicken nuggets which are things that he likes. I got a big number seven and a blue colour spectrum as his favourite colour is blue and he is 7 years of age, he also has blue eyes and live sin a semi detached house with his mum, dad and big brother. there is a picture of an astronaut as he wanted to be a space traveller when he grows up.

For my library wall mood board I used different children's books as a theme as well as inspiring posters, inspiring people to read. I think from looking at this mood board you can see that the wall is going to have to be childish and colourful, as well as bright and bold. I used classic children's books such as Disney, Winnie the pooh and the Jolly Christmas postman. I also used more resent popular books such as captain underpants. I used a range so that it can show that every one has different taste in books, but also all of these book are with in the age range of 5-11. I think my using classic and recent books help to capture different child hoods, everyone knows the classics even if you don't like them, you know them. and the more recent ones are popular that to future generation would be classics, just like ours are to us.

 

For my sensory room Mood board I used different galaxy images and well as intergalactic clouds and stars. I have done this as think that space is a natural beauty and has a calm presence about it. I have found that by looking at this, for me is quite soothing as it is very eye catching but also looks peaceful. I think that even if children don't find it soothing or calming if think that children will find it eye catching and interesting due to all of the different colours and strange patterns.

 

I then did another library wall mood board because I knew straight away as I heard the project that I wanted to do Dr Seuss as my final piece. he is so inspiring in the simplest of ways. not only with his inspiring quotes that speak so much in them selves, his illustrations also have a lot of meaning as they are such an important part in some children's lives as they might have grown up with them, and if not people know who his characters are. I chose to do a mood board dedicated to Dr Seuss because not only does his quotes inspire people to read and can help me to promote reading, but also because his drawing are colourful and attractive.

 

I then changed my mind on the space theme because I thought that the intergalactic patterns would be too hard to accomplish on such a big wall in a small space, I thought it wouldn't look right. however I still wanted the theme of space and stars so I chose to make a mood board based on stars in space. I chose this because every one has there own interpretation of stars as you can really see them. children believe the stereotype stars, the five pointed yellow ones. I thought that I would do stars in space because as I said before it is calming but also it could be educational as well. I had ideas of things that you can attach and detach and I have lots of ideas.

For my artist research I chose to do Quinten Blake, the man who is famous for doing the illustrations for Roald Dahl. I chose to do him because he is one of the most famous children illustrators there is. And lots of people know him and his work. I think is work us really effective as it has a really rough look to it, but also a really effective childish look about it. For my critical analysis I used water colour and ink, I thought it was really effective as the water colour was really dull and the ink stood out really prominently.

I then chose to do Dr Seuss as he is in my opinion one of the most influential children authors. His words are so simple and childish but mean so much and are so inspiring.  "Today you are you, that is truer than true. there is no one alive what is youer than you.". His work is just as great as his drawing are so simple but means much, as most of our generation knows who he is. Every one would know one of his characters as they are so popular and are being seen more in the modern culture. For my critical studies I used drying ink to achieve them. I am really pleased with the out come as the ink had an almost shinny finish to it just like the books.

I then chose to do Harry Potter as the books are so popular within culture these days and age category is 9-12 years of age which is in our age range. There are many different illustrator s and illustrator for this franchise but I chose to do Jim Kay as his work it really detailed bit also really animated and I find that really interesting. His work his really colourful and bold, I find it really appealing and his work draws my attention more than the other's.  For my critical study  I used water colours and I was pleased with the out come as I used less water to make it less opaque so it was bold and bright.

For my space artist study I decided to study Andrea Realpes 'the star' she uses oil paint and I really like the blues and white blend into the black but stand out against it at the same time. I too used oil paints for the critical study however I am  very pleased with the outcome as I found it a difficult process. I much prefer to use oil paints on canvas as on paper I found it quite challenge go to blend and get smooth gradients.

Today we did a sketch book based on perspectives of rooms. We started by drawing room in the class room and then we t to the new collage to draw a perspective of our choice. Both of the we one point perspectives. I found d I quite challenging at first but then wen I got the Base shapes needed I found it at easier. However when it came to doing g it the second time I found it much easier. We then started doing two point perspectives this created a cube. I really struggled with this as I started to confuse my self with the lines. But after it was explained to me again I found it quite easier. We used T-square and 45 degree set squares to get perfect lines on the vanishing point and the horizon

 line. As well as using g large meter reds for the ceiling and floor line. I found this workshop really helpful as I didn't know how to do it before and now the I have done it I can say that I now know how to do it even though I struggled at first.

For my design sheet for the library wall I first started by doing a flat 2 d drawing using in made of different dr Seuss characters. I didn't like the final outcome as the ink dried patchy which I think ruined the effect. However I think that the design is good as it is bright and bold which is what children  like.

 Again for my library wall I then used a 2 point perspective to draw the wall and drew a different design on to it. This time I used coloured pencils which I found better as you can get a solid bold block colours. I like this design better than the first as it is not a detailed or busy. I had the idea of using fleece for the Seuss trees so that the children have something to play with and entertain them.

 

For my third library wall design sheet. I did a  two point t perspective drawing of the wall and this time used Some of the same characters but also and doing in thing 1 and thing 2. This time I used gouache paints which I was pleased with because they give you a solid bright bold colours which I think is needed for children. However when I came to doing the black outline in time the gouache paints I struggled because gouache is too thick to put on the back end of a paint brush to draw so I had to use the bristles which caused complications because you can have and consistent width and this made it look really messy

For my design sheet for my sensory room I started my doing a flat 2 D acrylic painting or a cosmic cloud covered in stars. I am not happy with the out come as the colours got too swallowed with the black which took away the comic look. them the black got swallowed by the white as there was too much white, due to having to use emulsion. The emulsion was too thick to splatter so I added water and used a hard bristled brush, but that dint work either so I had to use the end of the bristles lightly tapped in the paint, and lightly dabbed on to the sheet to create the stars. in the end there was too much white from having to do this and I think that it ruined it.

 For my second sensory room design sheet I used a one point perspective technique that I learned from the work shop to draw the sensory room. with this I was really happy with the outcome not only because it actually looked like a 3D room but because it also fits to the idea that I had in my head. I used acrylics again but this time used  a tiny little sponge to get the effect that I wanted. I used my own white paint and a tooth brush to achieve the splatters which I think is the best technique. my ideas was to do the top of the centre wall and the other two walls in a galaxy style painting but also having lots and lots of stars, and that the bottom of the centre wall would be a clear glitter paint this way it makes the room look a little bit bigger and gives the kids something to play with as the glitter will have a rough texture. I also had the idea of making the glitter wall interactive, having stars that you can pull off and move around using double sided Velcro sticky tape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxfeTcty3Do

I then did another one point perspective drawing of the sensory room, this time I used water colours as well as using pink as well as just blue. this way it makes it more unisex but it also makes it brighter which will make the room seem bigger as if it was darker it would make it seem smaller. I really liked the water colour effect because it gave you a real smooth gradient but it also gave you the dried cloudy effect. I did the same for the bottom as the last on but I used yellow stars as well as black to once again make it brighter.

 

 

 

Today we made models of one of the rooms we have chosen. We started by doing a practice of an L shaped box. We did this by using a net that was given to us and we used our craft knifes to cut it out. We also leaned about ratios and that 1:10 is that every 10 equals every 1. When it can to making our rooms I chose to do the sensory room. However we couldn't make nets as the measurements when used to the previous ratio were the too big for the card given to us so we had to do every individual wall. I used my craft knife to score the flaps used so that we could stick them together however when it came to sticking them together I struggled. I started by using glue but the card was too thick  and wouldn't hold at all so then I tried double sided sticky tape which worked but then started to slowly come undone. I finally got it to stick by using a lot of double sided sticky tape. I was quite happy for my final product as even though it wasn't perfect I thought it was OK for my first attempt


we then went to Shaw lands primary school to have a look around and see the chosen areas in person. it was really great as it also gave us a chance to ask question and it was really informative. From looking at the areas in person I found they are a lot smaller than they looked on the pictures that we were given.







we had to attend a Photoshop workshop which I though was going to be really bad as I have used Photoshop a few times and struggled quite a lot with it. nut this time it was ok as the teacher was great and had a lot of patience. we had to make our own bird house. I struggled and the controls really confused me as the controls have nothing to do with what you are doing. I eventually got the hang of it and I was pleased with my final outcome. I was defiantly one od the most pleasant times I have had with Photoshop as the previous times were failures.













I have started my design development sheets today and I started by drawing out 3 boxes to do my designs in. I started with the sensory room and the blue galaxy star cloud. I did the first box in the original design of the bright circle of light and the blue cosmic rays coming off it. for the second box I did the original design but twice so there was two cosmic rays and in the third box I did the original design but I enlarged it so that the rays are much larger than the original. From looking at this sheet I can see that I still like the original better as it is brighter and not a single busy which makes it less distracting.

For the costing sheet we had to find which paint we wanted to used and how many litres it is. we ten had to work out the surface areas o0f the walls by multiplying the length of the wall in meters. once we had doe that we had to see how much surface area the designated amount of paint will use and from that we could see how many tubs of paint we would need. then we had to factor in all of the essentials as well things such as paint brushes, protection for the floor, and in my case Velcro tape. I found this process challenging as I is something I hadn't done in while but when I started it, it al came back.

For my Dr Seuss design development I changed the position of the cat in the hat. I started with The original and then moved on the the classic where he is balancing a book and and umbrella.  This is great as it is relevant as the book helps to promote reading however i don't think that it is very practical to have on television wall as it is too detailed and too big. The final deign was a philosophical looking cat which also matches with the reading theme however it doesn't so much expression and isn't very interesting. Overall I think that the original cat in the hat is the best option aldosterone it's not too boring but also not too big.

For my second Dr Seuss design development I changed the lorax background. I started with my original with the trees also snd the pond. Rhe second is the same except the trees are in pair alsosndndbd the pond is bigger. I don't think this design is practical as the tree are in big blobs all together an di don't think it looks very attractive. For the final design the pond is smaller and the trees are in pairs again however there is more trees. This design is definitely not practical as once all the other characters and quote has been added the wall will be too busy and look a mess. Overall I think the original Idea was the best as it's isn't too busy and has just the right amount of colour.


For my samples I got 4 pieces of MDF all cut to the same size. I them went to Wilkos to buy samples of wall paint. it cost me £1 each for 75ml. for my galaxy samples I did my blue cosmic cloud. its the same design but I used a different process for each. for the first I put the colour down first and for the second I put the black down first and then the colours. I found that putting the colour down first is better and then if needed you can just go over the black, but the was it blends easier and gives a better effect.

For the Dr Seuss ones I used the wall paints again to paint the cat in the hat on one. and the Lorax field in the other. I think these paints are great as they are really bold and pigmented. a little goes a long way which I think is great as we are on budget.