Creative development for participant

A)Introduction: brief outline of what we are going to do

The workshop is to create an artwork based on a familiar subject: student's own life. The development process considers environment, time, life structure, etc. Moto shows some of his artwork and answers students' questions. Students will develop ideas for possible outcome considering various options - to add or use the work as part of a different phase of artwork.

B) Design and development

Life Mapping/Story

The student will make a life map using elements from our environment such as elements from nature, parts of the body or it could be anything. Suitable, appropriate or interesting element s are chosen to develop ideas. Drawings will be included before and after life history. Various peak events will be put into the map. The student could develop concept if necessary. Moto introduces a few unique examples of life mapping. One of example is concept of "Five Skins" by renowned Austrian artist Hundertwesser.

Design icon

During the second stage students will design an icon, graffiti, signature or symbol. Student can use animal totem if they already have, or find their own. This process will be done with ink, marker or pencil then refined to A3 paper. Design will be streamlined or developed further to become a simple form or an extremely complex form.

Transfer the design to 3D surface

Then the design will be enlarged and transferred to 3D surface of Hebel Block. The design can be duplicated or distorted to fit into the surface. Then Hebel Block will be curved. The final artwork can be use as light sculpture, garden statue, or part/basement for installation. How to install the artwork? Suspended from the ceiling or tree, or hung on the wall, put on the ground, to be integrated as part of large-scale work, etc. Students may take artwork to home and finish if necessary.

Photograph: Panorama & Photo-mosaic

The workshop focus on basics of photography, create 360 degrees panorama or photo-mosaic and transform 2D object into 3D format. Participants go hunting with disposal (or digital) camera to outside to capture the moment of life.

After images has processed, stuck together it with mending tape to make long strip of panorama or omni-directional photo-mosaic. Additional images (photos, drawing, text will be cut out from magazine etc.) will be added to this strip. Then the whole piece will be laminated or apply to the plastic sheet (this process makes good-looking finish.) Artwork would be displayed as horizontal, vertical, loop, cylindrical or omni-direction and could illuminated from behind as a lampshade. Artwork also uses to decorate any surface such as tabletop, box, sculpture, picture frame, folding screen etc.

Material: photos, images from magazines, cutting mat board, knife, scissors, post-it tape, mending tape, scales, glue, clear coat paint, 3mm plywood if necessary.

Requirement: Traditional/disposal camera, access to laminate machine, large worktable & chairs

SHO: Japanese Calligraphy and related subjects

Sho is a visual expression of the language developed as an artforms. The shapes and syllables which make up each word have meaning and have been evolving for over three millennia to become distinctive language system. It originated in China about 3000 years ago and introduced to Japan 1500 years ago. Since then the calligraphy has been deeply adopted into Japanese fundamental culture and Japanese developed two alphabet styles - Katakana and Hiragana. This language can be the individual expression of form and feelings. The interplay of line and space has similar element of sculpture. Using a discipline of minimum lines the feeling of the composition can remind us of Rock Art of our ancestors.

Sho relies on spontaneous and improvised strokes, which carries feelings and meaning. Like the morning mist, one color has many different tones and textures. You can find enjoyment through the simplicity of brush strokes using a single color. Sho getting popular in Western cultures in early 60's and especially avant-garde contemporary calligraphy has been renowned worldwide today. I use Sho as line art as well as development process for sculpture or 3D work. This unique style of art is suitable for any age groups. Qld Education LOTE unit has highly recommended the calligraphy as part of Japanese language study.

1.Name on Kanji

The workshop is to create Kanji character of your own name. Consultation with individual, I will suggest appropriate and unique meaning, which from natural elements, similar to the syllables of the name. Each character has meaning so that your name consists of various meanings, so that you can develop totem and/or design from the meaning, or create logo mark for seal and other purposes. You also practice how to write Kanji name proper way.

2.Shodo: the way of study Calligraphy

Sho-do means ‘the way of Calligraphy' and it conveys essential element in Japanese literature, drawing and other artforms. Study of Shodo begins when children learn how to write own name, together with meaning and character develop personality as a fundamental elements for individuals. There's three forms of Calligraphy such as Shin, Gyo , So and various styles of writing from ancient to avant-gaurde. Moto introduces traditional way of studying calligraphy as an artfrom also medium for lifetime study and well-being.

3.Meiso Sumi-e

Sumi-e (Sui-Boku-Ga) means drawing with Inkstick. It has developed parallel with Calligraphy past 4 millennia by countless artists in China, Korea and Japan. Artist creates imaginary landscape, which represents artists' spiritual state with paper, brush and ink. It relies on spontaneous and improvised strokes, which carries feelings and meaning. Like the morning mist, one color has many different tones and textures. You can find enjoyment through the simplicity of brush strokes using a single color.

Sculpture, surface design and 3D related

4.Cane Sculpture

Create sculpture with cane is enjoyable project. Bend, twist, weave to form a lattice and tie up together to form a shape. As you progress, the simple flat line warps out to 3D sculpture and becomes an extremely stable and lightweight structure. Then covered with tissue paper, cellophane or cloth to form an outer shell and paints it with favorite color. You can illuminate it with candle or light as unique lantern or light sculpture.

Cane sculpture is cost and time efficient medium and suitable for school/ community activity. It becomes popular in various schools, community festivals and commercial events. I have made sculptures of Pegasus, Shellfish, Hemet Crab, Humpback Whale, Jellyfish, Asian/Western Dragon, Butterfly, Dragonfly, Peacock, Lizard, Kangaroo, Cabby house, Meditation Pod, Moon, etc.

5. Paper sculpture and Origami

To create shape from paper is very easy yet has depth as an artform. Origami becomes one of world wide popular mediums. You can develop original 3D figure from Origami methods or just work out the desired shape from paper. Fold, twist or layer paper will produce dramatic effects. Student can make mask, artistic object, sculpture, lantern, toy and flying objects from a simple recipe. There's limitless potentials for further advanced techniques.

6. Tutsumu (Packaging Arts of Japan)

Packaging for special occasion and ritual purposes has been developed as social element in Japan for thousands of years. The workshop will introduce various styles of ‘art of wrapping' with various examples, which also related with Origami and other paper arts.

7. Kata-gami: Japanese traditional Stencil

Kata-gami: Japanese stencil is ancient methods of dye process used in thousands of years to decorating cotton, linen or silk for the Kimono. The technique is similar to stencil and still using with high standard of craftsmanship. It has different texture to silkscreen and doesn't require time and expensive resources. For continuous pattern design must repeat from top to bottom and right to left. This method enables to apply patterns to large material endlessly.

Edo-komon (means fine patterns in Edo) is the one of finest stencil patterns in the world. In making stencil Japanese use Washi: made from Mulberry fibre (broussonetia papyrifera), which processed by all hand made. Then applied persimmon juice over 15 times to get strength and this process enable to cut out extremely fine pattern on the paper. This paper is called Shibu-gami (Shibu means bitter sap). After cut design to Shibu-gami apply lacquer for reinforcement as well as waterproof. Some of the finer and more delicately designed stencils are so fragile after cutting away, that there is not enough paper to hold them together, strengthen these by silk threads (mesh) with lacquer.

8. Shibori (Tie-dye)

Shibori is one of most popular folk arts methods in Japan and has been using for countless generations. The workshop introduces simple way - using elastic band and/or thin strings to tie fabric will creates specific pattern then dye with paint or dye colors. The process of tie and re-opening from material has magical moment, especially when you use Indigo Dye pigment crystallization of color is something. You could use beloved T-shirts and pillowcase. It is possible to use large cloth to create Shibori mural work. There is an advanced step to stitching cloth, which creates various patterns or ornament.