week one { materials & tools }

"She said the object and color in the materials around us actually have a physical effect on us, on how we feel."—Florence Nightingale

 

I will be using a variety of papers as my materials for this project. Selecting the right paper is essential as it communicates the function of the object, its feeling, value and quality {Hansson}. Objects that are valued are selected to be a part of one’s identity {Ahuvia 171}. Aaron C. Ahuvia says that "the people, and things, we love have a strong influence on our sense of who we are, on our self” {Ahuvia 171}. I will be using pencils, erasers and an x-acto knife as my tools in creating the paper cut outs; pencils to create my illustrations, erasers for corrections, and an x-acto knife to cut out my illustrations. 

My materials research phase has become an opportunity for me to discover the types of papers I could use as there is a vast selection of textures, opacities, brightness, weights, and colours. Based on my experiences and observations between human interaction and print, I have decided to use 60 pound uncoated cover stock rather than text weight. The heaviness of this cover weight reflects the wholesomeness of inspirational quotes whereas the lightness of text weight is too fragile. The 60 pound cover stock also balances the heaviness of the different textured paper I will be using. I’ve chosen a variety of uncoated smooth textured paper as it offers a natural and humanist feel {Hansson}. The papers are also a mix of natural dark and cream colours to reflect serenity in nature.

Sources:

Ahuvia, Aaron C. “Beyond the Extended Self: Loved Objects and Consumers’ Identity Narratives.” Journal of Consumer Research, 32.1 (June 2005): 171-184. JSTOR. Web. 8 September 2013. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/429607>.

Hansson, Carolina. "The Art of Choosing the Right Paper - Tuts+ Design & Illustration Article." Design & Illustration Tuts+. Envato, 4 Feb. 2011. Web. 3 June 2014. <http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-art-of-choosing-the-right-paper--vector-4295>.

week zero

"Tomorrow marks the day I will begin my slice of inspirational quotes."

I'm always trying to find ways to help others fight through their problems. Before embarking on this project, I asked myself "What skills can I offer to a project that helps people cope with their daily problems? It has to be something I can do with my hands {emphasize computer-free}." I started thinking about what usually helps me get through harsh days. I'd want to be able to touch this object and feel its value. Then it came to me...inspirational quotes. Paper? Scissors? ...tactile. 

I've thought about using different textured, coloured and weights of paper. As I toured around town to look for these perfect sheets of paper, I realized that I had spent too much time looking for the fanciest paper. I mean, this project was about creating something visually stimulating and engaging but the main purpose was to motivate people with inspirational quotes. So, I went back home and thought about what I really wanted to accomplish within the project timeline.

I started researching about inspirational quotes and found an abundance of them. Of course, I had to decide which of these quotes I was going to use for this 2 week project. I thought to myself, "How about a new quote every other day." So, that's become my plan. A new  inspirational quote every other day. To help myself narrow down the types of quotes I'll be cutting, I'm going to base it on the daily experiences of myself and my peers. I'll be talking to 2 new people every day about their daily troubles and create an inspirational piece for them. From this project, I'm hoping to help others by talking to them about their troubles but also create work that inspires and motivates them to push past their troubles.

Samples of my visual research I'm using as inspiration: