1/5/13

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

MayDay!

Another shot craft update as I’ve got a lot to be getting on with here’s my most recent project;

I still debating what to actually make it into- I want it as a wall hanging but I need to make it more sturdy so I think canvas and MDF and chain/ wire is the way to go!

I’m making a Harry Potter related one at the moment- a quidditch related one to be exact. I was thinking about making the house crests but they’ve kind of been done.. a lot, so I’ve done a few designs incorporating quotes instead.

Here’s some pics of my old favourites that I made last year that I’ve recently repaired- not 100% sure what to do with them- sell or wear?

Thinking about treasury themes as well… colour? geekery? bead weaving? It’s a lot to take in! I miss being able to print images off or cutting them out of magazines and making mood boards.

Other than that I’ve been out on my bike trying to actually get a summer body this year.. progression is slow haha

A new up and coming project- stop motion videos about making my bracelets one idea is to do a short, basic video of actually making the bracelet from design to completion- following the beads, using the loom and attaching the clasp- it’s a bit of promotion for me and a bit of video work just to mix it up a bit

So! That’s all for today, the to-do list is kind of taking over- I need to link my Behance profile and such on my contact page and finish the quidditch bracelet.. and I haven’t forgotten about inspiration blogs I think I need to start making timetables again for each day…

25/4/13

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

Well after nearly a month of beading my list of “things to make” has grown considerably

This last week or so has been a bit slow though- working more than usual and I’ve got one design on the loom at the moment which is taking longer than I thought to get through! It’ll be worth it though here’s a peek at what I’m working from;

Currently experimenting with bead sizes as well and here’s custom bracelet which was unfortunately lost in the post I’m still heartbroken over it.

Poor Luigi

Sigh..

Ok, moving on. I finally got around to sewing pacman onto a camera strap:

Can’t wait to crack it out over summer! still looking at holidays other than that we’ve been gardening and I’ve been updating my skill pages such as Behance etc. I’m hoping to start a couple of treasuries in etsy just need to get a bit more organised with everything on my to do list!

I’ll get there eventually.

Jammy Dodgers

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

For my newest venture I’ve been dabbling with food photography; more specifically with baking! I was offered this opportunity of taking photographs for the Lincolnshire Echo’s local food produce section in which I was given the recipe from jammy dodgers that involved using jam from Lincoln based Jenny’s Jams

As I’m not much of a cook and my baking skills are equal to that to an over-excited child’s, I was eager to give this a try properly- paying extra attention to the instructions and thinking ahead to the shoot. That was my favourite part- planning what plates, table clothes and general surroundings to experiment with; I always enjoyed the set design aspects of any shoot and this time I pretty much free reign! The brief talked of spring time and baking over the easter break; so that’s what I did but as it was my first product shoot involving food I did some extra research:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/aug/01/food-photography-tricks-of-trade?CMP=twt_gu

http://lincolnshire.coop/your-membership/member-benefits/member-magazine.aspx

http://lincolnshire.coop/your-society/about-us/local-sourcing/it’s-easy-to-love-local.aspx

My first shoot (below) was quite enjoyable; it was one of the first sunny days I’d been able to enjoy out of work and in my garden (currently in the process of re-potting everything). I’d chosen the plate straight away- my thoughts behind it being that it would clash mildly with the red jam and warm colour palate of the biscuits themselves making them standout in the sunshine. But perhaps this on top of the orange table cloth made it all a bit too bright… The table cloth was chosen to make it look a bit more rustic but seeing as it’s the lightest, brightest aspects of the frame your eyes are lead there instead of the dodgers. Time for take two.

This didn’t go to plan at all- I was in a rush to shoot whilst the biscuits still looked fresh but the weather wasn’t holding it’s end of the deal. Overcast and rainy, I couldn’t use the garden to portray the spring time atmosphere, which called for (as well as a new table cloth) studio lighting instead of natural light. At this point I was experimenting with the drinks; it was juice vs tea and I had started to question a lot more like which mug to use, are the plums too much, should I get a vase of flowers, flash or modelling light? I’d also decided to experiment next time with the size and shape of the dodgers themselves and as I wasn’t pleased with the outcome of the second shoot, I knew I was going to be baking again soon.

Shoot three! I’d gotten the baking techniques down and the kitchen was no longer a bomb sight afterwards. This time I went all out with experimenting with the background which meant moving the garden bench around a lot an waiting for the best light. After a chat with the person who had offered the shoot to me in the first place, we agreed tea was the way to go and that we should have the actual product somewhere in frame- plum jam! Nom. Some of the shots look a bit overcrowded though. However, after looking back on the second shoot to find something that I liked about it, I decided to focus more on colour matching; the plums matching the shade of the actual jam in the jar and in the bsucuits which went with the black currant juice, which here contrasts well with the dark green background:

The final shoot was basically a tidy up of the third- we’d picked the best background, angle and composition, then added the extra touches like the tea spoon. As it was my forth batch of biscuits I took them into work to share like I did with the first- two batches for just myself and Graham was just a bit much they were very much enjoyed, as were the images.

So fingers crossed one of them will be in the paper in May!

Edit 4/4/13

Check out this weeks echo

8/4/13

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

Next beady blog

I’ve not got a great deal done over the weekend craft wise- I started three pieces and then unravelled them because I either didn’t like them or there was a mistake I couldn’t ignore. They were only prototypes but with experimenting or practicing with designs it’s a case of make it, photograph it then take it apart to reuse the beads. At the moment anyway- I can’t keep everything I make as I need the beads! Here’s what I made:

making miniatures for ear rings and hair clips

I sent off my first order to America this weekend though very happy! I seem to have a fair few people interested but no more orders yet. I think I’m going to make a stack of orders and variations of the designs… hoping to find a craft fair over the summer

Anyway, today I thought I’d write about my resources and earlier work and put up a few pics I initially started using this book and when I started bead weaving;

It helped a lot with the initial set up and first few practices; I found it a lot more helpful than looking at tutorials online and there’s a lot more in there than using a loom. Though it did make me want to read more books are too expensive atm so I buy magazines every now and then for inspiration, tips, seeing what’s in and what people are producing. Here are the two I’m going through now;

Soo much in there.. it can be a bit off-putting sometimes to see creations of a higher level than your own and wondering if you’ll ever get there! Or even if what you’re doing will be successful (even if it is a hobby!). All that uncertainty, but I suppose it’s still early days and everyone started at the bottom anyway. The thing that worries me most is the competition, it’s the same with my photography as well but there’s ways around it.

Either way, I had a few other books and mags like this when I began making jewellery last year- I’ll have to dig them out, along with some old pics and blogs! In fact, I’ve got a bag full of bracelets to take apart or repair or remake so I’ll be making a blog about that:

I have a couple of craft boxes I should probably go through as well- so many unmade things it’s the same with folders on my hard drive and desktop full of tutorials and images. I’ll get through it all eventually like getting around to making these;

I remember having a set of a matching necklace and bracelet when I was younger a big trip down memory lane when I came across this pic! I think I’ve got some old jewellery from when I was little! My favourites are the one’s we got from a shop in Abersoch in North Wales- we used to go there every summer for a beach and walking holiday one of those crafty, tourist, little independent boutiques dad would deem “tat shop” I love tat shops, I will have my own one day haha

Anyway! Getting back on track. Actually, I don’t think this blog had a track. So yeah.. Resources! Of the online type- here are my current favouries and I’ll have an inspiration blog coming soon that will involve a couple of these:

http://pinterest.com/carolina655/bead-patterns/

http://pinterest.com/carolina655/beadweaving/

http://pinterest.com/mommafert/neat-bead-ideas-beadweaving-patterns/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Studio183

I’ll leave it there for today; I feel I have waffled too much oh well. Finally, some insights of my er, “workspace” and tools I’ll be moving from the couch to a table any day now hehe!

Bead Weaving

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

New category for a new hobby document time!

This has continued on from the beaded jewellery I started making last summer and sold at craft fairs, but I’m hoping to improve and take it to the next level as I’m enjoying it all the whole process from design to the finishing touches on a piece- I’m finding the actual bead weaving itself quite therapeutic. I’ve got lists and lists of designs and accessories to get through! Which now consist mainly of crash bandicoot, zelda, something harry potter, the tardis, space invaders and several ambitious painting remakes and film scenes along with patterned designs and once I’ve drawn up myself and yes it’s going to take me to the end of summer to get through it all

I’ve discussed before how I often had creative crafty outlets when I’m not in work or on photography jobs, I think it’s because I’ve always been painting etc whilst in school and I always need to be doing something. I initially was going to get my hands on a soldering iron and do some metal work until I got the bead loom for Christmas- now I’m hooked.

Here’s what I’ve done so far: I started off simple to get the technique down;

Simple Patterns!

Then I started thinking more elaborately and had one of those “the possibilities are endless!” moments when thinking about designs and that I didn’t had to stick to jewellery.

So then I started trying shapes, more so to see if I could do it:

Experimented with beads too- types, colour and sizes, then I had to move onto how I would finish off each piece. Especially when the gifts began;

I want to do some more scenic one’s- beach scenes, forests and the like but quite proud of the peacock feather bag charm- it was tricky and probably took the longest, but all the more to be happy about when it was finally finished. Here’s were I got thinking about making more than jewellery, I’m aiming to be able to create purses and phone cases as well as the current creations which consist of sew-on patches, bookmarks, badges and coasters. I’d love to do more, but right now I need to perfect what I’m already doing.

As I’ve mentioned previously on a blog update, I want to also create a lot of photography themed items and products for photographers. It’s going to take a lot of work, research and moulah so right now I’m focusing on the designs. Ideally, I’d love to get to the point of being able to make elaborate bead embodied items- but that’s a long way off, and I don’t want my photography to suffer. At the moment I’m involved in an animation collaboration project and have been commissioned to do some food photography whoop! The first batch of Jammy Dodgers were awesome

Finding a balance has been a bit tricky with working at a restaurant as well, but I’ve enjoyed bead weaving! And so, you can find these for sale in my Etsy shop “Lets Make Tracks”

This one’s going to be a camera strap!

I want to be able to use this blog category to document each design or piece- I’m going to start doing more research and I’ll do write ups about what I find interesting or helpful

Research/ Inspiration Blog

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

I want to start up a couple of new themed blogs with their own categories: one will be documenting the new bead woven jewellery and accessories I’ve started to make; the designs and process etc. The second will be inspiration or research blogs which will kind of be like scrap books- images I find interesting, their influence, artists statements, their origins and methods used. I used to write blogs like this weekly for the focus project and feel the need to start writing again! There’s a couple of blogs like this on this website already but they’re mostly about my old college or GCSE work- pieces and research, so for this one I thought I’d round it off with my last batch of sixth form art and design course work; one of my favourite sketch books! I’ve looked back on this book before and there a few pages in here that want to make me paint again- they’re not great but I remember how much time went into them and how much I enjoyed working on them. So it’s not so much gathering inspiration from the image it’s self, but the process I went though and the sense of achievement afterwards even if it’s just from working from a photograph and practicing painting technique (like I did here) it still motivates me to get creating again.

Photo Blog 9

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

The last one on my list for now, so I’ve made it a big one. Something I’ve mentioned before- last April in fact; is the surroundings project I started a few years ago. I kind of didn’t realise at the start that it was going to turn into a project, I was just shooting.

Here’s a bit more about it from my first blog about it:

“So since I’ve recently moved house and city I wanted to talk about an ongoing project that I started a couple of years ago documenting my surroundings as I moved each year whilst at university, I was interested to see where everything would go in each house, what possessions came with me, where they were placed and what I felt was important to have in my immediate surrounds, not tucked away in a box.”

I mentioned at the end of it that I was coming to the end of the project and would release it soon, but afterwards I realised that I probably won’t finish this project for years. So I have some of the images from the past few years for now here’s a bit more about how I figured out were my urge to photograph my surroundings came from:

“This all stemmed from a documentary project I started about my Grandmother and her move from her home to a nursing home. Again, I looked at what initially went with her, where it was placed, what was left behind, what her house looked like when she left and her new bedroom in comparison.”

My main source of research came from Mari Mahr:

http://www.iniva.org/dare/themes/space/mahr.html

I then tied in a few images from a short documentary experiment I tried out when I was packing to move out from home a second time; images of my memory boxes from school, streets I walked everyday and how they’d changed, all that jazz: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeaninemarteau/sets/72157629089415623/

I’ll probably post up the rest of the images from the surroundings projects up soon on flickr, these are the favourites (mostly 35mm):

“At the time, I was a little obsessed with documenting everything- my thoughts, my room and everything in it, my walks, old haunts, and I think this was due to the fact that I knew I was leaving home so I wanted to get it all down. It didn’t help that my room now had all of my old books and toys in it. Staying up to capture perfectly the refections the windows made on the wall and the pattern the rain drops made, I just wanted everything to be recorded, all the little details. I can safely say I’m not that bad anymore but I still understand this urge to reserve the past, to record everything as it was and as it is now.”

http://www.jeaninemariemarteau.co.uk/?p=148

Photo Blog 8

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

Following on from the last few photo blogs that were themed on photo walks, I’m onto the images from my first urban exploring experience in an abandoned hospital.

I didn’t really know what to expect- I’d seen urban exploration images in books and online and a lot of them involved having people in shot on rooftops or in abandoned tumbling down schools with walls graffitied and filthy, debris everywhere. My favourite types of images in this genre are probably anything shot in an old church (whilst anything involving tunnels makes me feel claustrophobic), you see the original structure, bare and now useless. Colour- or lack there of- plays a big part in these images- it lashes out; cutting through all of the muck. We get a sense of what was once there and remember what this place used to be to people when it was inhabited. Large scenes of grand halls are always beautiful- in colour or black and white, these images serve as a documentation of a structure even if it isn’t in use any more, at least it’s not being ignored.

So anyway, my expectations. I didn’t know a great deal about the place, in fact I was a bit scared. Excited but nervous- what if it was unsafe? Everything was fine, of course, once I got there the camera took over:

I took a few more, but these are my favourites:

I loved the colour in the place- you could see the layers of paint coming away to reveal more underneath. It was the same with the building itself- there was something new around every corner. As something I hadn’t done before it was a great experience; it broke the mold of my usual days out my usual photo walks consisted of landscapes and street scenes!

Afterwards- I’m not sure how long- I found the book “Beauty in Decay”. I loved a lot of the work in there and the spaces they were in, how they composed their images and used the lighting, but I was a bit disappointed that a lot of the work had been digitally manipulated. Don’t get me wrong- they all looked great and I appreciate the amount of work that went into them but for me it kind of took away from the beauty in decay- it wasn’t so much about the space but instead what they could do with it, I would have liked to see the original image as well as the edited, then it would have been great to see what inspiration they took from the place and what aspects they wanted to enhance. But hey that’s just me.

So anyway, photo walks and exploring are great outlets and practice for photographers

Photo Blog 7

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

A holiday special!

Seeing as the sun’s out and I’m looking forward to summer especially going away to new places

One theme that has ran through my last couple of photo blogs- and it’s probably been discussed before that- is photo walks; going out specifically to take photographs or taking your camera with you wherever you go, just in case. It’s even better when you’re going somewhere new- I’ve always taken this as an opportunity to document, and it’s exciting different culture, unknown streets, new food.

My last holiday was to Berlin in 2011. But as well as the holiday pics there was a lot of historic aspects of the city to capture, all on 35mm film. It turned out to be a photo holiday with the amount of photo walks this year I’m hoping to have a mixture of galleries, hills and beaches

One of my favourite days of this holiday was when we went to the Bauhaus museum researching this movement back at GCSE stage was one of the main things that inspired my photography and made me want to continue creating, so going to visit a museum dedicated to it inspired me all over again. I often find that when going somewhere new- everything gets refreshed with a change of scenery: that’s partly why I’m looking into mini-breaks this year; more new places

That’s also what I love about photo walks- you don’t know what’s going to influence you. Even the place; there’s nothing stopping you from going back at various times- at sunset, in autumn or in the rain.

Two more photo blogs lined up- themed this time; urban exploration and surroundings.

Casting Call- Personalised Portraits

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

Bonjour!

One of the projects I’m hoping to start this year is a portrait series which focuses on an individuals creative interests/ past-times and hobbies, course or creative careers. To express their passion as well as their personality, in the environment where they feel most creative or inspired- be it the garden, studio or spare room. This project is a celebration of what we love- of doing what we love- an imaginative, crafty, artistic and expressive activity or outlet that makes us happy; something that makes you who you are.

This is a casting call for anyone interested in sharing their passion, documenting their work/ work space or even if you just want an image of yourself at work for your website etc

The final piece will consist of two images from two types of photo shoots. One will be of the subject at work in their work space, involved in their hobby or profession, be it a staged or candid shot. The second will be the traditional portrait itself; it will be discussed beforehand how this will be made as personal as possible to the subject- be it their outfit, preferred colour scheme, their chosen location or style.

I’d love to experiment in multimedia in this project! Especially with the portrait itself- I’m more than happy to collaborate so that others artists work can be incorporated

I’m also interested to see how people work in different areas of the creative fields and the process or path people take in a project from conception to completion, so this could be another route to go down

Please get in touch if you are interested! I’m also looking for a few models for other projects; I need a dancer and a couple of princesses and a couple! If you know anyone who would be interested in any of the above please pass it on

Photo Blog 6

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

A 35mm special I was inspired my my last photo blog to keep typing away about photo walks and landscape photography. The images on my last blog were all digital, taken on my old D50 when I was still learning/ practicing when out and about on day trips, taking my camera with me.

These images below are from occasions when I went out specifically to take photographs. At the time I had come to grips with using 35mm cameras and wanted to shoot something I’d had a lot of practice in. By this time I’d finished studying and I was burning through film- I needed the outlet of being able to shoot whatever whenever (also I was unemployed), I was nearly desperate to go out and shoot- mainly because I didn’t want my camera’s just sat doing nothing after my degree. I didn’t want to loose a past time and wanted to keep developing skills in something I’d come to love doing.

I was lucky enough to have this practically on my door step in Liverpool. A trip to manchester below, especially to capture streets like this. Autumn is by far my favourite season to shoot in.

It was great working on film as well- I still used digital for plenty of photo walks, especially when I got my new DSLR and began my surge of night photography walks around christmas time. But working on film felt a bit more.. I dunno.. authentic I guess.

In the same batch of film I took a couple of trips back to Lincolnshire for visits and photographs of new places, including Cleethorpes and Twigmore forest:

Some of my favourite images very proud of them! I enjoy seeing how far I’ve come too, and all from going on walks

I’ve got a couple of photo blogs left in que- images from Berlin, my surroundings projects, and urban exploration themed one. Happy I’ve got three blogs out in one day! Next up will be a research blog and a casting call at some point this month

Photo Blog 5

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jeanine.Marteau

Long time no see, Photo Blog.

Today I thought I’d do a multi-blog with several similar images I’d like to write about- not similar in the sense that they look the same, more in terms of similar circumstances, more specifically; photo walks. Photo walks from a few years ago in cumbria and lancashire and north wales and derbyshire and anywhere else we went out as a family on day trips and I took my camera.

I got my first DSLR for my 15th birthday- my old faithful Nikon D50. I was studying photography at GCSE level and took a real shine to it- I’d decided it was what I wanted to do. Of course there was not a lot of work for a 15 year old photographer (people still aren’t keen now on having a 22 year old assistant/ tag along) but I still looked for internships and apprenticeships. There wasn’t much. So it became clear education was the way to go!

So it came down to initiating my own photography projects after I’d finished the GCSE- at this point I was studying Art and Design at college and incorporated photography as much as I could. Even then, I took my camera out at every chance- each road trip or school visit.

I got a lot of practice at landscape photography! These are early days- still learning and perfecting composition, using natural lighting, conveying texture and displaying colour.

I remember during the first couple of years of using big silver camera in public that I’d sometimes get a bit self-conscious; I felt like I was being watched. I think compact camera were more popular than DSLRs and I felt like I had a giant monster compared to others. I dunno, it may have just been me being paranoid and insecure. But I remember telling myself that compared to the others- I had a proper camera and this was to be my career, so it didn’t matter and I’d never see these people again.

Have some more early photo walk work:

I don’t think they’re the best quality, my apologies. Do you ever look back on your old work and see how far you’ve come and how you’ve improved? I always enjoy looking back and remembering the days out and hopefully the many more to come!