Presentation of Work

When looking at presenting my piece called painting a memory i need to think about:


What i am presenting?

•  A video 

• consisting of stills of a dementia patient doing the technique and showing the process of memory

• An audio of an interview with my grandma explaining what the technique and how the technique can aid memories. 

How i am presenting my piece?

• As there is a few videos and interactive pieces being presenting for this project by others then we are using massive tv screen approximately 80 inches to show our pieces of work.

•  so my video piece runs in the middle i am scaling my video to 16:9 so it would fit centrally in the big tv screen. 

• I have also scaled the stills so there is a black background around my stills so that it is not too big and the resolution is too high as if the resolution is too high i would need a very powerful computer to power it.

• i will export my video from Premier Pro in the format of H264 at 1080 with 25 frames per second.

Where i am presenting ?

• i am presenting in the studio as that is our hand in space and where the big tv screen is 
• i dont need any other space or area to show my piece as it is video based can be shown anywhere.

Why i am presenting my piece?

• To create awareness of the John Whyman MBE technique.
• To show the process of memory from an original photograph to a water colour painting.
• To show and explain the benefits of using this technique to aid memories.

Who is seeing my piece and is it age appropriate ?

• My tutor and fellow peers are seeing my piece when handed in.

• Looking at the Broader picture i am hoping to show this to Dementia institute and the Alzheimer's Society as i think that this technique could benefit them. 
• it is appropriate to any age there is nothing that could offend anyone. 
• This process could be done by anyone they don't have to have a terminal illness or memory difficulty but that is main target market.

Test 1

What I need to Include ?

I am creating video out of stills and audio using the process of a memory from the photograph to the finished watercolour.

Below i have a list of what i think should be included in my piece:

Stills

• The Photograph
• The first image of the blank canvas
• water added 
• template 
• the outline 
• starting add paint
• more paint 
• nearly finished 
• Finished 
• Mounted 
• Displayed 

Audio 

• Why have you chosen photograph ?
• What do you remember about this place (Hollingworth Lake)?
• Do you like painting ?
• What do you think about your painting?

here is my first video edit i think the audio needs improving as there is some background noise of patients and visitors. I think having a sound recorder will produce a better quality sound with less background noise distracting the flow of the piece. I think the images used a appropriate and fit with the piece and give a visual aid to what is being said. But the photograph That is the stimulus for the painting is the best quality so i might re photography the place to the quality level the same. Also i think adding a summary of what the technique is at the beginning narrated by my grandma would help the audience understand better what is going on. 

Here is My first video edit.

Feedback:

After feedback the video i created was more of step by step guide of what the technique is it does show the process of memory from a photographic form to a painting form which is what i set out to create. However it doesn't explain and show does this technique aid memory recognition ?. after peer and tutor feedback i have decided to interview my grandma who teaches this technique to these patients to get her understanding an take on does the is technique help aid memory.

I think now my piece has changed slightly from a dementia patient point of view to a teacher's prospective. Also this video could be used to promote the late john Whyman MBE technique for other activity organiser to use to help the terminal ill. The Alzheimer'Society and The Dementia Institute i think could be interested in this technique as it is proven that a creative approach can help Dementia Patient reconnect. Also this Piece is also not showing the process of memory from a photographic form to a watercolour form it is also preserving and showcasing the late John Whyman's Memory therefore this piece is showing to types of memory which are the memory for the cretor and the process of a single memory.



i have created questions for her to answer that are linked to the core subject of the process of memory. I wanted this to be conversational interview rather than formal interview.

Here are the questions :

what do you do with these indviduals and why ?

how do you see the John Whyman technique can aid memories ?

why using a photograph important ? 
how is painting helping to recall memories 

does this process help the patient remember the photograph?

ask question  relating to the template and the use of watercolour



I am still keeping the stills but i need to add in a few more to show the process of the technique. Here is the images i am putting into my piece and have also added a title page to my piece created from from templates used in to make the watercolour and the final watercolour painting. the title font is brush print font to complete the painting in the video.

Here are the stills i am using to accompany my audio narration. 


Storyboard of stills
the stills are ordered in way that it shows the process from a photographic form to another media format which is watercolour.

Creative Activities that help elderly and dementia sufferers

Creative activities can help dementia sufferers:

Relieving stress, anxiety and confusion through a sense of empowerment

Improving motor skills

Improving cognitive skills

Helping to cope with transitions

Facilitating communication

simple tasks and activities such as :

1. Organise household or office items
2. Tend the garden or visit a botanical garden.
3. Read the newspaper.
4. Cook or bake simple recipes together.
5. Work on puzzles.

above information is avaiable at:

Wegerer, J. (2014) 10 stimulating activities for Alzheimer’s patients. Available at: http://www.alzheimers.net/2014-03-06/stimulating-activities-for-alzheimers-patients/ (Accessed: 28 October 2016).

Art and dementia sufferers

Making art can be an enjoyable experience that focuses the participant away from daily concerns and on the creative process. Some seniors, particularly those with cognitive, memory, and other impairments, may receive additional benefits.” According to 

Anderson, J. (2014) Inside assisted living Art Therapy programs.

Available at: http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2-28-14-inside-assisted-living-art-therapy-programs

If art can offer so many benefits for dementia sufferers especially that it can help  aid memories it gives more drive to create my piece about the effects of art therapy on the terminally ill. I think that painting in watercolours gives the terminally ill patients who struggle with mobility or dementia can benefit the most as watercolour is water based so is easily altered as water can be rubbed off. Also due to the fact some termermially ill patients especially dementia patients struggle to hold brushes and pencils so tend to dab a brush on the canvas. With the John Whyman MBE technique which i am showcasing in my piece dabbing watercolour paints is part of the process. For me the technique can offer a lot to more ill patients than other activities i think that the late John Whyman MBE technique should be exposed to more to carrying on his legacy and work with the elderly.

My Inspiration

John Whyman MBE

My inspiration is a technique devised and created by  John Whyman MBE. John Whyman was given has been given the award of an MBE for his services to the sick and terminally ill through art therapy.Here is the template he create with instructions and the final outcome shown below.

The final outcome from a simple template shows how simple this process is and it produces a pleasing watercolour that any one would be proud of. The other element that is driving me forward to this technique is to get John's technique out there so his memory and legacy can live on and can continue to help others.

Creative Artists

Here are four creative artists that look at memory they  all look at the process of recreating memories from a existing one. 

Debbie Smyth: Inspired by memories

Textile artist Debbie Smyth is best known for her large-scale thread drawings which beautifully blur 2D and 3D work.Smyth's work is inspired by memories she records events and photographs situations for which then she can use to bring this memory back to life in a new piece of art not only recreating the memory but also giving the the memory a new dimension in a new form. For example the this image above is to do with her mother as she was the person who taught her sew.This is similar to my project as it is looking at recreating an existing memory in new art form for Smyth it is sewing for me it is watercolour.

Jamie Diamond "I Promise To Be A Good Mother"

Diamond spent hours documenting her own relationship with her mum, she also created rule sheets for her future-self reference so she could be a good mother to future child.She documented her relationship with her mother and rule sheet in a diary which is used  as her inspiration for her own project.the project was recreated by  staging and reenacting her own childhood memories.Diamond went a far as dressing in her mum's clothes and carrying a doll.She wanted to explore the complexities surrounding the idea of mother/child relationship and whether what her mother did when she was young would be acceptable now or would this not be appropriate. Her project recreates filmic images from diary entires which is recreating and progressing a memory into a different form. This is similar element to my project as i am progressing a memory from one form to another.

Patricia Casey -Memory, imagination and dreams

Casey combines photography on fabric with embroidery details to create ethereal work that centres on the themes of memory, dreams and imagination.The textile elements of Casey's work is taken from her mother and an elderly neighbour who taught her how to sew and crochet. This gives her work s sentimental and personal element. Her aim of her work is to transforms an ordinary portraiture styled image into a treasured object by embroidering on to the image giving the image another dimension an another meaning.This similar to what i want to create as i am transforming a treasured photo of place into another form of media which is a watercolour. The watercolour element has personal element to me as my grandma does it so we have similar aesthetic and motive for work.

Chiharu Shiota-‘The Key in the Hand’

The piece was first shown at the Venice Biennial, this body of work is about memory. At first i thought this was an installation of Japanese tree over a boat, but the tree is actually thread with keys attached to it. The composition of  keys hanging from threads were collected from thousands of people around the world. Therefore, each key holds memories of the individual who had that key.Shiota Said that “Keys are familiar and very valuable things that protect important people and spaces in our lives,”Sierzputowski, K. (2015). installation Artist Chiharu Shiota Casts a Tangled Web of Thread and Keys at This Year’s Venice Art Biennale. The concept of being able to look at keys from different parts of the globe gives us incite into unknown worlds.There is element of mystery to this piece as you don't know what where the key is been who used it ? what that person was like? This idea of not knowing what the key was used for gives the audience the chance to create a their own opinion on what it was used for. I want to create a watercolour piece based on photo of which means something to someone but when the watercolour is finished this could create different opinions and memories for the audience.

Creative Approach To Dementia

As my project is a creative based project that is based on technique that has helped hopsice patients such as Dementia suffers does this actually work.


Can Dementia be helped by a creative approach?

There is 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK there are many ways to treat and care for dementia suffers but according to recent research from the Department of Health and Alzheimer's UK has argued that an activity based approach could help dementia suffers.

  "Activities such as painting have been proven to help people reconnect with their surroundings and lessen their dependency on anti-psychotic drugs."Atkinson-Willes,B. (2012). A creative approach to helping people with dementia. 


I think using John Whyman's technique could not only benefit the Hospice patient he works with now but i think these technique could be used by other dementia patient suffers to help them reconnect with their surroundings, family and friends. 

I think this project could be a something the dementia institute might want to know about so even though this is only project i am still looking to the future for this project as i think it would be beneficial to dementia duffers now and future suffers. 

here is a link to the dementia institute:

http://www.salford.ac.uk/salford-institute-for-dementia

Change my Idea

My original idea of a memory game wasn't going to work as the only way i could see a game working is if someone was going to loose. But after feedback having someone loose wasn't seen as good idea. Therefore i have too rethink my project.


Painting a Memory 

my project has now taken different angle, I am now looking at the process of a memory drawing upon work from The late John Whyman MBE had devised a technique to make  it easier for Hospice Patients to do an activity they wouldn't effect their health or needs.Hospice Patients with terminal illness such as dementia can find it difficult for them to meet others and to engage in activities.

John Whyman created a template that allowed anyone to paint a simple landscape using watercolours. Watercolour painting doesn't conform to structure or technique so for Dementia patients especially who struggle to keep there hands still or concentrate being able to paint freely and if there is mistake it rubs off straight away and can be done again.My grandma was taught by John Whyman MBE how to teach this skills to his patient at Rochdale Springhill Hospice as he was getting older and needed help. she has taught lots of patient how to create a simple watercolour due Johns Technique.

My take on this idea of using this watercolour technique to show the  process of memory, i want to have people bring in a photo of a place which means something significant to them,Then have them create a watercolour of that image using the John Whyman MBE technique. The watercolour of the image is then displayed which provokes a new memory as people walking past ask where did you get that from ? you can retell the memory.Therefore meaning the original place is the stimulus for you take to photo then paint it then displaying it each stage of that process creates a memory that you can discuss.

The Process of Memory is an element of my project the idea of getting from the place to the painting hanging on the wall is interesting to me as the process is still ongoing even after the painting is hung on a wall because it could be captured again and displayed differently. 

Project Proposal 

Advanced Photographic Practice

Project Proposal Pro Forma

Name: Lia Jackson 

Working title: Painting a Memory 

Précis

Painting a memory is using a photo of an place of significant meaning then recreating that memory in the form of a watercolour to create a new memory.

Rationale

Hospice Patients with terminal illness such as dementia it can be difficult for them to meet others and to engage in activities.The late John Whyman MBE had devised a technique to make  it easier for these Patients to do an activity they wouldn't effect their health or needs. He created a template that allowed anyone to paint a simple landscape using watercolours. My grandma was taught by him how to teach this skills to his patient at Rochdale Springhill Hospice as he was getting older and needed help. she has taught lots of patient how to create a simple watercolour due Johns Technique.

My take on this idea to conform with brief of memory, my grandma taught me how to do this technique and inspired me to take this idea further my piece is to have to people bring in a photo of place of significant meaning which provokes a memory, then using the John Whyman technique they can paint  and produce watercolour of the memory. after the piece is complete then have a create a watercolour of their 

memory but also they have created a new memory as the process of painting  is experience that you can remember. Also displaying the image whether the be at home on a wall or shelf or giving it someone, people who visits your house and sees the painting or the person who you give it to will ask “where did you get that from “ you can recall the memory of what you did. 

My piece is to show memory are consisting evolving the particular place of significant meaning is the stimulus for you take to photo then paint it then displaying it each stage of that process creates a memory. I will have stills of a dementia patient completing each stage of the technique to show how the technique works from photographic form to watercolour. I think the stills would have to not include the face of the dementia sufferer during the painting process as i want to take the stills in the hospice so for security reasons i dont think i can show their faces but i will have to see and may have to change my stance of documenting the process .I will then have audio which will consist of me interviewing my grandma, If this project was scheduled earlier this year i would have interviewed John Whyman but sadly in died in the middle of this year. however as my grandma is carrying on his legacy by teaching his technique in hospices  she has the best incite in to how the technique works and if it helps recall memories. i think i want the interview to be more of a conversational interview and not very formal as it would fit the rest of project. I may have question that my grandma could ask the patient i am documenting so i have compiled some questions for them as well.

Aims & Objectives

• To make you aware of the John Whyman technique
• To teach the technique to novices to show them easy it can be 
• To recreate a memory in a different artistic outlet
• to understand how this technique can aid memory 

Evidence of initial research

• https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/google_results.php?q=art&btnG=
• https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2012/nov/29/creative-approach-dementia-active-minds

Storyboard

Stills

• The Photograph
• The first image of the blank canvas
• water added 
• template 
• the outline 
• starting add paint
• more paint 
• nearly finished 
• Finished 
• Mounted 

Audio -Potential Questions 

• What is this place ?
• What do you remember about this place ?
• Does painting bring back any memories?
• What do you think about your painting?
• What do you do with these patients?
• Do you think this technique helps patients?
• what do you do with these individuals and why ?
• how do you see the John Whyman technique can aid memories ?

Interactive Screen Based Design

Design Process and Evaluation 

• Forced Media - headings or titles that lead you to something the user didn't want to go to. Sites force users to certain links.
• Flow Charts- a basic Template of what is going on on your interactive piece e.g Website an example shown below 

• Structure- Takes the users to different platforms of the website/ interactive piece. the structure needs to be clear and easy for the user to engage with.

• Development- Is a state of flux, There needs to be changes made to make your interactive piece evolve for the future. Testing your piece out on others will give you beneficial feedback that will you allow to improve and make changes that benefits your work.

• Navigation systems - Continuity of links, buttons and navigations is key as it makes it easier for the user to navigate around your interactive piece.Icons can be simple and guide the user easier. 

• consistency - Simplicity and clarity is needed as complicated webistes and interactive pieces can put off users necuase they simply can't use it.

• Aesthetic , Client and user - Your wants and desires need to prevalent in your piece don't just produce for the user your desires need to show through. But keep your user in kind as if it is complicated it won't work well.

• Intial Impressions - The font , size, sound and images need to be considered as user will judge our piece as soon as they see it. To make it is easier for the user's eye there should be an equal amount of text to images as too much text can put viewers off

• Future Planning and Proofing- Design for the future making sure  changes for the future are at the forefront of your piece so you don't loose users.

• The four basic steps in organising information-
• Divide it into logical units 
• Establish a hierarchy of importance and generality 
• Use a hierarchy to structure relationships among sections of information.
• Then analysis the functional and aesthetic success of your design system 

• Users types what ,why ,when and who?  

Planning

Researching the competition will give you a sense of what is already out their what people have done well and what they have missed so you can fill that gap in the market.

Designing website- Don't fill all the website having too much text, images and navigational aids can be confusing and unappealing to the eye and your initial message maybe blurred with unnecessary text, images and buttons.

Too MUCH CLUTTER ON WEBSITE IS CONFUSING TO THE USER AND CAN SERIOUSLY PUT THEM OFF !

Example:

Homepage , headings, Titles and labels need to be clear and make sense to the end users dont have  unesscary buttons or headings that nothing to do with your website it appears confusing.

Size of text , images need to be appropriate as too small users maybe not be able to comprehend what it is it  been said or what the image is.Too big can appear invasive and harsh to a user.

You will always have a target market you can not design for everyone you have to focus on a particular  target market but keep in mind your target market could change so keep updating.

Make sure that your website / interactive piece can be seen by all doesn't matter what laptop or computer they have if the piece doesn't work then you can loose users.