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The Experienceof ColourTechnical Statement

MAAD4C02, March 2012

Amanda McCusker

Advisors:Eva Ennist, Beth Alber, Ken Vickerson, and

Lynne Heller

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Preface

Process.Technique.Skill-set. InthefouryearsthatIhavebeenatOCAD,Ihavelearnedmanydierent

processes,manydierenttechniques,andIhaveearnedmyselfaskill-setthatisuniquetomyperspectiveandparticulareducation.IrememberhowconfusedIwasintheDesignProcesscoursethatIhadtotakeinrstyear.Iremembersittinginthatclasswonderingifithadanyrealsignicancetotherestofmyyearsatuniversity. Itturnsout,fouryearslater,thatitwasoneofthemostimportantclassesthatItook.Mindyou,somethingthatwasnthighlightedenoughinthatcourseisthehighlysubjectivenatureofprocess.Itwasnotdiscussedenoughhowdi-verseprocesscanbe. Myprocess,itturnsout,isoneofexperienceandincubation.Itakeinvi-sualinformationlikeaspongeandusemymentalstoresofexperiencetocreatetheobjectsIimagine.Mythesisworkisnoexceptiontothisfact,andsoIhavedecidedtoprefacemytechnicalstatementwithanexplanation.ButwhatamIexplaining? Thisistohelpyou,theviewer,understandwhyIhavesomanyphotosinthisbinder.Iamnotmuchofasketchingperson.Inthisbinderyouwillnotndalotofsketches.Myversionofsketchingisphotography. Itakephotosofcolourpalettes,andshapes,andlight,andshadows.ItrytocapturethethingsthatexistaroundmeinsuchawaythatIcanbeinspiredagainandagaintocreatenewthings. Imindmapalot.Youwillstumbleintosomemindmapsonyourjourney

throughthisbinder.Ialsomakealotoframblynotestomyself.Thoseareverypersonal,sotheydontoccurasmuchastheydoinmyrealprocess. ThesketchesthatyoudondinthisbinderwontexplainalottoyouabouthowIgottomynalpiece.YoureallyneedtolookatthepicturesthatIhaveincludedtounderstandwherethiscubewasbornfrom.Ialsorecommendlookingupmylistofinuentialartists.Eachoneofthemhasinspiredmeinverydierentways,buttogethertheymakesenseasamapofmyprocess. Asformytechnique,well,thatssomethingthathasdevelopedovertimeininterestingways.InsomeinstancesIhavelearnedtocutcornersanddothingsfasterwhenappropriate,andinothercasesIhaverealizedthatmoretimemustbespentoncertainstepsthanwhatIwasoriginallytold.Ivelearned

thattheseareonlythingsthatamakercanknowoncetheyhaverepeatedanactofmakingenoughtimes. Sointheend,perhapsthatswhatthisis.Itisashowcaseofmyrepetitivemakingwhichhasbroughtmetothispointinmyeducationandartistry.Ihopethatinreadingthroughthisbinderyoulearnmoreaboutmyprocess,andwhatIconsidertobetheactofmaking.

AmandaMcCusker

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Personal

Photo

Inspirations

Copenhagen,October2010

Copenhagen,October2010

Kolding,September2010

ChampsDElysses,Paris,October2010

Odense,October2010

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Personal

Photo

Inspirations

Copenhagen,October2010

Luxembourg,October2010

Copenhagen,October2010

Copenhagen,October2010

ChampsDElysses,Paris,October2010

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Personal

Photo

Inspirations

Berlin,October2010

Istanbul,December2010

Copenhagen,October2010

ZaanseSchans,October2010

Odense,October2010

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Personal

Photo

Inspirations

Kingston,OntAugust2011

Chicago,August2011

Chicago,August2011

Chicago,August2011

Frankfurt,September2010

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Personal

Photo

Inspirations

ChicagoAugust2011

Chicago,August2011

Chicago,August2011

Chicago,August2011

Chicago,August2011

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TUMBLR

photo

inspirations

RENA,Cargoshipthat

ippedothecoastofNewZealand.Inspiredbythemovementofthemodularforms,andthelossofcontroloversomethingso

manmade.NewsPhoto.

ThiscatinabowlisapparentlyfromLOLCats.Ifeltinspiredbytheunesstrappedwithinthesmoothglassbowl.Its

alsoreallycute,andIkindofwishIcouldcuddleit.

Thisisacalendarcalled

DayBoard.Eachdayisadierentcolourandcan

bemovedaroundontheboard.Themagnetscanholdtickets,pictures,

etc.

ApparentlythisisaninstallationcalledToBreathbyKimSooja.Ilikedhowthelightwasusedtocreatemovementthroughcolourandrainbows.

ThisisaPygmyNuthatch.Thecoloursofitsfeathersarewhat

inspiredmeaboutthisphoto.Couldntndanocialsourceofthe

photography.

Thisissomeonesdraw-ingofalotofcolouredsquares.Ijustlikedit

becauseitwascolourful,andIvehadsquaresonthebrainforawhile.

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TUMBLR

photo

inspirations

Thisisakindergar-teninLjubljana,SloveniabyJureKotnikarchitects.Theouterwallsarecolourfulpanels

thatcanbemovedbythekidsto

eitherletlightin,orkeeplightout.

ThisisapparentlyinItaly.Ithoughtitwaspretty,andmodular,andin-spiring.Wouldlike

toliveinaplacelikethis,perhaps.

ZobopStairsbyJimLambie,2003.

Ifoundthem

inspiringfortheiruseofcolourinadomesticsetting.Stairsaresoboring,more

shouldbelikethis.

Crystals!Noideawhattheimageisspecically,buttheysureinspiredbydesignoftheobjectsthatmake

upthecube.

ThisrugwasdesignedbySonyaWinner.Ilikedit

becauseofitscolourfulness,andthe

useofsquares.

ThisisanimageofLiddicoatiteTourmaline.Thistypeofrockholdsalotofcolourinitscore,anddisplaysitwithitstransparentbody.

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TUMBLR

photo

inspirations

Thisprettydye-ingpicturewastakenbyRichardCreagh.Thisiswhereyoucan

nditagain:www.ickr.com/pho-tos/15468270@

N07/

ThisistheFlyRanchGeyser.Isnt

itneat?Ithinksotoo.Itinspiresmewithitsnatural

formandamazingcolour.Inspiringformandhue.

HOWCUTEARETHESEALPACAS?Thatswhytheyreherereally...theyinspiremeto

makethingsthatpeoplewillwant

tointeractwithasmuchasIwanttointeractwiththese

alpacas.

ThesearelocatedinCanberra.Ithinktheyreneat.Theyarealsosomeonesickrimagethatoodedtumblrat

somepoint.

Swanbabies.Inacutecompetition,alpacasvs.swanbabiesknowsnoanswer.Bothareequally

adorable.Iwanttointeractwiththese

animals,andthatswhytheyreheretoo.

IdontreallylikeParisasacity,butmygoodnessthereissomenicedesignthere.ThisisinsideTheMaisondeChamps

Elysees.Ilikethatchair.

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TUMBLR

photo

inspirations

ORANGEismyfavouritecolour.AndIlikecrystals.Sothisishere.Notsurewhereitcamefrom,butitexists,anditinspiredme.Triedgooglingit...

nothingcameup.SoIguessitsjusttobeenjoyed.

ThisiscalledPolygonClock

anditwasdesignedby

GeorgeNelson.Iwantit.AndIlike

theuseof3-Dforms...obviously?

Ithinkyes.

ThisisasculpturebyTypeocalled

ConfettiDeath.Idontreallycaremuchforit,otherthantheuseofspaceandthe

colours.

ThisisapaintingbyGiannaCommitocalledBudfrom2010.Thecomplexityanduseofcolourinspiredme.

ThisisanimagebyNickNightforalmhecalledMassiveAttack.Ilikedhowthecoloursshowupinlayersonthisower.

Thepurpleisalsoalovelyshade.

Wedidntgetenoughsnowthisyearformetotrythis.Ifitsstillsnowingintheyearyourereadingthis,Ihopemaybeyoucantry...unlesstheworldendsthisyear...thennooneisreadingthis.

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ARTISTS AND

DESIGNERS

Iwasinuencedinmydesignandcreativeprocessbyworksfromthefollowingartistsanddesigners:

Olafur Eliasson

Jennifer Steinkamp

Piotr Kowalski

JesseTreeceMaurizoAnxeriJanetEchelmanFrankStellaPaeWhiteAbrahamCruzvillegasFrankGehryOsGemeosTobiasPutrih

WimDelvoyeAttilaCsrgoKvadratSchmidtHammerLassen(architects)NikkideSaintPhalleSigalitLandauMondrianMariannaGrnnow

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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Sketch Book

Excerpts

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HOW TO:

Batch Dye

DYE

FIXATIVE

Dye Solution:4g Procion MX dye powder, 4 g urea, 50 ml waterDissolveureaanddyepowderintobowlingwaterandstirwellto

dissolve.Letcoolbeforeuse.

Fixative Solution:1/8 cup salt, 1tbsp sodium carbonate, 1L waterBringwatertoaboil.Addsaltandsodiumcarbonateandstirtodis-solve.Letcoolbeforeuse.

Procedure:

1.Washanddrybresthatyouintendtodye.2.Weighdrybresandputinwatertopre-soak.

3.Propplasticbaggiesinabowl/container.Iusuallyprop4bagstogetherinashallowbucket.Pourxativesolutionineachbag.(10gofbre=100mLofxative)

4.Adddyeintobagsandseal.(10gofbre=10mLofdye)5.Shakethebaggiesoverasinkandrinseoanyexcessdye.Propup

incontaineragain.6.Addbretobagsandsealasyougo.Shakebagswithbreinside

overthesink,toevenlydistributecolour.Putbaggiesintoanother

(larger)container/bucket.7.Leavebaggiesincontainerfor24hoursormore.Mypreferenceis

toleavethebaggiesfor48to72hours,asthisproducesbettercolour.Youcanmovethebagsaroundduringthistimetopromoteeven

colour,butwithlessbreitdoesntreallymatter.8.Dumpthedyefromyourbaggieandrinseyourbreunderhotwater.

Fillthebaggiewithhotwaterandputthebrebackinit.Letitsitfor15to30minutes.Dumpoutwaterandrepeat.9.Dumpwater,llbagwithbrereactivedyexativeandhotwater.

Letsit10minutes,thenrinseoutbreandputitsomewheretodry!

ALWAYS

WEAR

GLOVES.

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BATCH

DYEING

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10T

9T1Y

8T2Y

7T3Y

5T5Y

6T4Y

1T9Y

2T8Y

3T7Y

4T6Y

10Y

9Y1R

8Y2R

7Y3R

6Y4R

5Y5R

Dye

Samples

T=turquoiseY=yellowR=redK=black

alldyesareprocionMX,brereactivedyes.cheeseclothwasbatchdyedin10gbagsfor3days.

3Y7R

2Y8R

4Y6R

1Y9R

10R

9R1T

8R2T

7R3T

6R4T

5R5T

4R6T

1Y

1R9T

2R8T

3R7T

10K

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Dye

Samples

Dyeingwoodfromthewoodstudioprovedtogiveinterestingresults,buttheywerentwhatIwaslookingforinmyexperiments.

Myoriginalacrylicstestsyieldedalotofinformation.Looselywovenfabricis

betterforembedding,andmakingamouldfromLDPEisbetterthantryingto

createamouldfromacrylicsheet.

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Dye

Samples

Weighingthefabricbeforedyeingisveryimportant.Theelectronicscalesinthebreoceareactuallybetterthanthisscale.

IntherstsemesterImade8triaxials,using4kindsofcottonfabric,andtwo

combinationsofred/yellow/blue.Afterallofthatsampling,IrealizedthatIwouldbeusingcheeseclothinstead,whichIhadnotincludedinmyinitial

research.

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HOW TO:

Make a

Puzzle Cube

white

glue

1.BuysomeHDU

2.Cut3equalblocks.

3.Glueblockstogether.

4.Letcubedry.

5.Sandsidessmoothandcutequalsizedpyramidsfromallcorners.

6.Cutaparttoplayer.

7.Cutmiddlelayerinhalfandcutonehalf

intopieces.

8.VacuumformpieceswithLDPEtocreatemoulds.

9.Castacrylicandembedcheeseclothintothemoulds.

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VACUUM

FORMING

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MAKING

A PIECE

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QueenSt.West

YongeStreet

McCaulStreet

DundasSt.West

Toronto Hemp Companywww.torontohemp.com

phone:4169201980665YongeStreet(atCharles)

Toronto,Ontarioemail:dom@torontohemp.com

OCAD Universitywww.ocadu.com

phone:4169776000100McCaulStreetToronto,Ontario

G&S Dyewww.gsdye.com

phone:4165960550250DundasSt.West

Toronto,Ontario

Designer Fabricswww.designerfabric.caphone:41653128701360QueenStreetWest

Toronto,Ontarioemail:fabric@designerfabric.ca

Aordable Textilesphone:4165044117531QueenStreetWest

Toronto,Ontario

Bamboo Bazaarphone:4166561065

1840DavenportRoadToronto,Ontario

Map of

Sources

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Aordable Textiles

Cheesecloth-$3.99/yard

DISCOUNT $3.25/yard

CottonRibbedJersey-$8.99/yardCottonFleeceJersey-$8.99/yard

CottonTerrycloth- $9.99/yard

Bamboo Bazaar

seagrass

rattanbamboo

Designer Fabrics

linen-$19.99/yardjute-$2.99/yard

G&S Dye

ProcionMXdye:

214Yellow-$7.75/50g

412Red-$7.25/50g510Turquoise-$7.75/50g

708Black-$9.50/50g

OCAD University

FibreStudio:

cottonmuslin-$3.50/yardsilkramie-$7/yard

silkrayonvelvet-$20/yard

PlasticsStudio:

acryliccast-$11.50/lb

LDPE-$1/sq.fHDU-$5/sq.f

Toronto Hemp Company

100%HempSummercloth-$18.95/m

HempSilk(60/40)-$19.95/mHempCottonMuslin(55/45)-$10.95/mHempCottonTwill(55/45)-$13.95/mHempJersey(55/45)-$12.95/m

HempHerringbone(55/45)-$16.95/m

*theywillsellyou1/8ametreoffabric.Greatforsampling!

Material

Costs