Painting Plastazote

Notes from Sarah about painting Plastazote:

"I have always painted plasterzote with acylic paint (system 3) - dilute it - try lots of variations on diluting. I haven’t had many problems with it. I guess if the costume is taking a lot strain in certain areas there could be creases visible after a while with thick acrylic. I would have thought that kids costumes for one carnival day would be fine. It can be painted on - I guess they have tried this.

Also try mixing it up and spraying it with a pump spray from the garden centre - cost around £10 - so it is very diluted - you could maybe try rosco supersat this way - as it stretches well on fabrics and doesnt clog up sprayers.

One lovely thing - use drawing inks with an ink diffuser - one that you blow - that is a lot of fun but hard to control - but gives a great bright finish, and v good for ageing things. rather accidental, but effective. That's how I did my navigator hat.

If you are after a smooth opaque finish on plasterzote try Idendon (a builders rubber solution material), this covers cracks and hardens up plasterzote. It can be applied with a palette knife or painted on, and sanded I think. It can be mixed with acyrlic paint before applying. However, it does seem to crack in places under strain after a long while. But should be ok for a carnival day. Idendon is hard to find if small quantities, i have a massive pot it cost £70 from flints."

Plasterzote-comes in many colours

Presentation of designs to Steering Group Reflection

Today the Moving Tides Steering group came in to look at our designs and decide if any changes need doing.

As I was stuck between two designs I put both onto my power point presentation; one based on coral and the other the Red Fire fish.

CORAL 
                                                                                      RED FIRE FISH

Overall they decided that they preferred the Fish design.

• The ping pong balls from the coral design were popular so question whether it would be possible to add it in, in some way.
• Wanted the bells on their legs from the coral design as it reminded them on Morris dancers, and it makes the bells ring in unison when they march along
• The design on the fins they wanted to more realistic of the fish with stripes and spots.
• Rather than having variations, they wanted to keep the design simple in one design. Use stripy Tie dye or masking tape stripes. Maybe have things hanging off?
•  Tabard and t-shirt too much going on so stick with just the t-shirt.
• For the leader just make everything bigger and much more elaborate.

First Tutorial with Adele 19/03/2012

Adele looked through all my designs and unfortunately ruled out my 'favourites' due to other people using that creature for their costume designs.

She liked the two coral designs and the fish designs and wanted me to turn 4 designs into two using the 'best bits' from the four designs, and got rid of the parts that won't work.

Start looking at budget to check that my designs are possible to do within the given amount.

Think about what materials will be suitable for my designs.

Stick in pictures that support my designs.

Blog

Make sure you put all reflections into my Blog and don't repeat myself too much between sketchbook and Blog. Keep Blog and Sketchbook separate

Add some designs onto the Blog.

Some of my designs were not BIG enough!

For Wednesday

Get my revamped designs and power point presentation ready for Wednesday to show the Steering group and the make-up course where my designs are heading and whether they needs to be any changes.

'Inspire me' photos. Pictures for the theme 'Oceans of the World'

Pages from my sketchbook...

 

 

 

Weymouth Visit- Viewing Costume from previous years Reflection

What I have learnt from looking at previous years costume...

•  How to secure the costume/mast/hat to the body as a thin elastic is not always strong enough especially if its really windy.      
•   Think about balance
•  Think about weight as they are carried for many hours by young children
•    Tabards are a good solution as they are both male and female
•   Movement is good. Effective way of making a group ‘sync’ together. Things blowing in the wind. Items on a willow/carbon fibre rod=little movement at the bottom=large movement at the top.     
•     Bright colours/glitter are eye catching on a grey day
• Masks are good as they help the children to get into character. Especially the shy ones as they have something to hide behind and helps ‘bring them out their shell!’
• Bigger headdresses are more effective than smaller ones
•    Look all around you for textures. For example a scourer pad with gold paint on is a great textural surface.
•     Sound is a great way of getting the children involved- they can join in with the percussion groups.
•   Important to look at the connections of the costumes/ sculptural pieces such as between the stick and the paper-mâché there can’t be any weak points otherwise it won’t last the carnivals movement.

Weekend Workshops with Sarah and Sarah Reflection

From these two days trying out different methods to make masks and headdresses, willow workshop and how to do Art workshops in a primary school classroom I learnt...


Plasterzote
This is both easy and safe to use with children and allows them to get really involved in the making of the costumes, I think this material would be especially good for making masks or headdresses. 
The sheets we were using (12/15mm thick) would be too thick to use in the schools I feel and was quite hard to manoeuvre but 3mm or 6mm would be perfect for children's little hands, and not-so-sharp scissors.
It is easy to paint to children could put there own designs on it.
In this workshop we also used the centre cane and wire as a combination together. I feel this could be a good material- but would definitely have to put something on the ends as a risk of the children hurting themselves/ poking eyes etc.


Willow
I'm not sure how confident I would be taking this into schools as I think the process is quite time consuming and there are many things that could go wrong. I think also it would be difficult to make sure the children make the right shapes. So this might be a great choice if the children were older- such as older secondary school children, but I think I will give this a miss with my 9-10 year olds.

Workshops with Sarah and Sarah!

Headdress and Mask Workshop

Drawing inks through a diffuser is much easier to spray than using a brush, though you can use acrylic paint. 

You can also PVA fabric to plasterzote, then cut out the shapes.

Materials you can combine to make these headdresses/masks: Garden canes gaffa tape, things from junk shops, 

Fibre glass tape stops plasterzote from ripping. put a little on both sides if possible, only one if not.

Can use cable ties to attach it all together. 

Plaster zote is quite waterproof when the paint has dried. 

How to Make a Headdress

First you need to measure the circumference of the head. Mine is 58.2cm + room for overlap.

Easier to do your sewing yourself than let the children do it. The prototype will give you an idea of how it will take to make. When working in schools, take in flat. Take in biros and template. Felt tips are a NIGHTMARE!!! 

Fibre glass tape – sticky back, stops it from ripping.  (plumbers is just a mesh)

Gaffa tape works as well but not as neat.

Can out darts in foam, so it bends better.

Polystyrene balls – craft mill

Centre cane

Masks

Make many templates to speed things up.

Hold Plasterzote to face and press gently to show eyes. Then cut eyes out.

Note down steps on what to do – they will have scissors.

Vac Forming

Styrene plastic (on the rolls) (use smaller vac former). Large get to 25 not full.

Give a bit of overlap – as it creates the seal. Put item at bottom on the moving shelf. Make sure the wire mesh is not overlapping the shelf seal. (Have to wait until warm)

Leave 20mm around the edge for thicker Plasterzote need to adjust clamps.

Pull over the grill. Plasterzote only takes seconds to heat. Turn on and off vacuum not too over vacuum.

Styrene much longer – wait until soft ripples at side.

Smooth middle means it’s ready.  

For the Mould

Clay/ leather hard – ½ day, maybe overnight

Blue foam- have to be careful as could melt – make sure for lots you cover in styrene first.

Nothing undercut – it will pop!

Good Suppliers
Plasterzote: www.trylon.co.uk, www.hindleys.co.uk or the Scrap store for thin (1mm) Plasterzote
Centre cane: www.fredaldous.co.uk

Preparing Workshops (Planning-Ahead)

·        Be organised.

·        Make a prototype.

·        Order materials and wait a week to arrive.

·        Make it clear with teachers – what needs doing for next session.

·        Light, comfortable, easy to make, bright, gig.

Risk assessment – email beforehand. Ask about cable ties. Break down into easy steps.

Do things in advance. Make templates. Arrive hour early. Get children to write names on masking tape. Deliver creative not have to get children to behave.

If flag or held belt from tool shop to put end in to hold weight.

Willow Workshop

• ·        Need to soak overnight. As when dry it is brittle.
• ·        Small and large scale
• ·        Lanterns – put lights inside
• ·        Basketry
• ·        Types of willow.
• ·        Living willow shape then plant.
• ·        Musgrove willows - £25/£30
• ·        Buffalo willow – bark removed.
• ·        Soak min 1 hour
• ·        Submerge in water and weigh down
• ·        Only take what you need.
• ·        Bend while wet.
• ·        Tease with your thumbs to bend it.
• ·        If it dries out, it is fine to re-soak.
• ·        Two willows together – even strength.
• ·        Secure with masking tape.
• ·        As willow is wet, stick to itself then wrap around.
• ·        Cable ties.
• ·        Clear cable ties (synthetic) – can dye them

Can remove masking tape – you don’t need it any more.

Make sphere – think about strength and where you want the strength.

Wrap masking around one way and then the other (cable ties more permanent)

Make extra length.

Decoration

Always to make to shape on small lengths to strengthen.

Sit it inside the groove as it will make it stronger.

If you are doing larger, simply join two together.

Draw a shape on cardboard, (make side 1^st and tape)

Tape down to table.

Use string to anchor until it dries.

Handles – bamboo

Good as strong and doesn’t bend.

Attach using aluminium rod.

Drill hole through bamboo cable. (L Shape)

Bind in rope

Bamboo moving plant – rope to stop slipping.

Leather can act as joint sewn in cover.

First in any type clingfilm not if light inside. Can stitch everything to tissue paper, handmade paper.

Masking tape can get rid of cable tie and cover in raffia and PVA glue.

Can cover also in skrim and PVA – dries hard. Can stretch leather (holes where soldering iron) Can leave gaps – so can see weave.

Cotton lycra can combine with other things – paint on top

Cling film – try to make it flat around all edges. Can either do section or hole-thing.

 

Kinetika weekend workshop reflection

From this weekend workshop I have learnt...

• What materials are good for different costumes. Keeping them light and cheap. 
• Have to remember they need to with stand the weather. If they are not strong enough they will collapse in wind and rain.
• How you can use movement in costume- different techniques
• What can be used in schools and what can't. Make sure you have prior consent from teachers to keep everyone happy.
• Batik- make sure the wax goes all the way into the fabric otherwise the dyes run.
•  Stencils are the best way to do make-up on large numbers to make them all look the same.

Kinetika weekend workshop

                                          Kinetika Carnival Workshop - Day One

Kinetika is a carnival design team who are known for their large scale silk work and puppetry. There work has been seen all over the world at large events such as the Olympics 2008 in Beijing. They are currently working with the moving tides team creating boat sails that will be painted by each school involved in the procession.


Kinetika Website Link

A design company inspired by carnival - scaling up silk to make large scale Batik.

Influenced by Peter Minshall…

·       42 costumes Atlanta opening ceremony.

·       Notting hill carnival

·       DRAWINGS FIRST

·       Décor paper – very absorbent

·       Fibre glass rod – different thicknesses – strong and will last. Bias binding around the edges of fabric.

·       He likes the combination of silk and metal.

·       Has produced items for the Beijing Olympics

·       FIFA world championships.

·       [BRIGHT AND COLOURFUL]

·       Batik sails – will be colourfast once sprayed down.

Structures, movement/animation

Designed with movement too.

 Pins

Often uses golf buggy as a base of the carnival floats as they are so versatile.

Percussion mobile – cotton real wheels

Batik within the School

Main sail and Jib – Southill school

ORANGE

BLACK AND WHITE

PURPLE

GREEN

5 kits have to tour around the schools

Horse hair brushes – can’t use nylon as will melt

·       Draw design on piece of paper then put under the plastic on the table.

Masking tape the fabric (stretched) to the table

5 children per wax pot

Trace over design with wax onto fabric as it dries so quickly it is only working when wax is going on translucent

Hold brush vertically.

MAKE SURE TO GO TO EDGE. WHERE THERE IS A SEAM MAKE SURE BOTH SIDES ARE DONE.

Procion mix dyes

Dangerous as carcinogenic powder

When liquid they’re fine

Kids should wear gloves

Need to add Soda ash

It won’t be pre-mixed

Only lasts 1.5 hours then need to add more

1 teaspoon at a time for small pot.

Add 1 teaspoon every 1.5 hours!!

Designing the sails for Southill School

Kinetika Carnival Workshop - Day Two

 

Today we looked at different headdresses that can be used in carnivals and using materials as some can't be used around children. And Also Make-up- though won't be designed by us; it was interesting the different techniques and layering that can be done for large groups.

We also took part in decorating an example of a large scale sail in batik (picture left)- each school will have their own to decorate within their classrooms.

Headdresses

It is important to get height. Need a good solid shape to start with.

Budget restricts what can be made.

Fibreglass rods make a perfect circle but not allowed to take them into schools.

Centre cane similar to willow but more brittle

Collapsible fishing rod but build height – need to take joints as they go back in (gaffa tape)

Laminated headdresses – cheap, kids can do themselves. Glitter goes through laminator without problems.

Take template into school, they can decorate it how they want.

Stability – the higher you build something, the more it reacts to movement.

Piano wire, hard to bend but once bent stays in shape, it’s not good to take into schools.

Gumstrip papier mâche. – build round balloon, can build onto traditional hats, cable tie these on.

 Foam headband with elastic – 5mm plaster works best, though 5mm plasterzote won’t go through the sewing machine. – You can cover in fabric.

Straw hats you have to be careful with as if put on a pressure point they will break.

Feathers are very expensive and look rubbish in the rain

Backpack's

Piano wire goes around neck and tucks under armpit to create a collar.

Covex- corrugated plastic and webbing (for sale signs) has a grain to it when making a backpack out of covex you need one piece of covex grain going one way and the other grain going the other direction to strengthen. Tie around front as well.

Bamboo in a school cable tie through covex. 8mm for uprights on backpack, 2mm for others.

Wooden-adjustable backpack-for heavier distribution of weight along back. Pad it.

Aquaplast – TOO EXPENSIVE!!

Make-up 

Take elements of a costume design and reflect it in the makeup. Stencils allow you to do many people in the same way. Designing makeup freehand is not always a good idea. Two stencils one for each side of the face. It is nice to do layers. Water based makeup is best. Take off with baby wipes. Hypoallergenic

Glitter – fine body glitter

Vaseline on a paint brush or dab glitter on last layer of stencil (makeup must be wet)

Plastic you can buy from any fabric shop.

Makeup and spray with water. One sponge a colour. Don’t put makeup on broken skin. Baby wipes have to be careful with as some people are allergic to some types. 

Introduction and Brief

Background Information

Moving Tides is an exciting processional project created and managed by a

new partnership between all schools in Weymouth & Portland, The Arts

University College Bournemouth, Activate Performing Arts, Weymouth &

Portland Partnership, RELAYs (Regional Educational Legacy through Arts

and Youth sports), the West Dorset Schools Sports Partnership and Extended

Schools Services. The vision is to produce a high quality, spectacular

procession that all young people in Weymouth & Portland will have the

opportunity to be part of. The procession will take place on 12 July 2012 as an

introduction to the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations. Young people will also

benefit from workshops with professional dance and percussion artists as well

as workshops from AUCB Young Designers.

Moving Tides ran in 2008 and 2009 to much acclaim. In 2010 the AUCB

became a partner and students work in local school developing fantastical

and colourful costumes and make-up, which were seen in the procession of

300 children. This year the project is much larger hoping to reach up to 600

young people and the Young designers from AUCB costume and Make-up

course will be there to inspire and energise young people about creating a

character through costume and make-up design.

What do we need?

Costume

Young designers from the AUCB are to design and create a prototype

costume, which can be made by primary school children.

You will work with the teachers to develop your ideas during the design

development stage and during the workshops in the schools, where you will

demonstrate how to create the costumes.

In conjunction with the teacher from your placement school you will prepare

lesson plans for 4 workshops. You will need to prepare resources and

materials required before the workshops.

You will attend the procession day and work with your school to get the group

ready.

Themes

The overarching theme for this year’s Moving Tides procession is 

OCEANS OF THE WORLD

You may consider the following areas to explore. 

1. Sea life that is indigenous to this area and specifically the Jurassic 

Coast or other world heritage sites

2. Marine Life

3. Under the Sea

4. Deep Sea Creatures

5. Tropical Waters

What are the practicalities?

The procession will consist of approximately 600 young people – the young 

people will be of various ages, many will be year 6 (age 10) pupils from local 

primary schools. Approximately 200 costumes for year 6 primary schools 

have already been created. AUCB costumes will sit alongside these 

costumes. We aspire to create high quality, spectacular, eye-catching 

costumes. These costumes will be used for an outdoor procession for young 

people therefore there are a number of practicalities to consider:

1. Think about how your costume/ make-up design may work in a 

processional/carnival environment. Carnival is essentially about 

mischief, the extra-ordinary and exaggeration. We want you to be as 

imaginative as possible

2. The colours need to be bold and bright. You will work with the Moving 

Tides steering group to insure the colour palette compliments the 

whole procession. 

3. With 600 young people participating we need costumes and make-up 

that is practical and quick to put on.

4. This procession is going to be televised therefore small detail is not 

needed make bold statements with the pattern and textures.

5. Although the procession takes place in the summer, weather conditions 

are unpredictable – the Weymouth seafront can be very windy so 

costumes must be able to withstand and/or filter the wind.6. Think about sightlines – designing tall costumes may be a good idea 

so that more people can see. Hats and headdresses are a very good 

idea. 

7. This is a carbon neutral procession (so there will be no lorries/floats) –

however in addition to young people walking other forms of sustainable

transport may be used such as bikes, trollies, roller skates and so on –

how may a costume be created for this kind of use?

8. Remember that young people will be working with their teachers to 

create these costumes in the classroom – they cannot be too 

technically challenging to create or too expensive.

Budget

Costume

We have a very limited budget for materials and therefore the emphasis is on 

using scrap/recycled materials for this brief. Each school will need to create 

30 costumes as a cost of £10 per costume. The schools will source materials 

from their own stocks to support the material budget i.e. paint, paint brushes 

etc.

You will be required to create a budget early on in the design development 

process and be very diligent to record all purchases – keeping all receipts. 

Bulk items will be sourced centrally