digital techniques

‘Waiting for Goddot’

(images shared with Ruby Savage)

Presentation by Emily Lansell

• Initially this project was to be completed in pairs, and as Ruby had read the same play we thought it was a suitable choice.

• ‘Waiting for Goddot’ had many religious connotations which we both found an interesting point for design, also although repetitive it was quite amusing.

• A lot of the play was based with a natural theme, and this we had many ideas about in respect of set and costume design.

old boots

Willow trees

Circular stage

One of the initial exercises in working with Photoshop was to play around with effects and how we could alter them on an existing image. We played around with artistic effects and these are some example images of what we did.

This is another mountain image that we affected, but none of these created the mood we wanted for our set for ‘ waiting for Goddot.’

We were asked to design some possible stages and sets for our play waiting for Goddot, we collected some images and then used them in Photoshop to create a set, fitting to the scenes within the play.

Development in layers

More layers of images added to the set design

This was the stage we created for the final scene

Ruby had experience in Photoshop whereas I had never used the programme before, so I learnt mostly from her. Although by the end of the sessions in this software I could layer images and import images, I still don’t and didn’t feel very comfortable with the programme. I will have to practise using it as to be able to use this fully in helping me in my design processes in the future. What was more frustrating however, was the fact we lost 3 hours worth of work after one of our sessions.

With samples of fabrics we played around with layering the fabric swatches over the top of a human figure. These are the examples of the work we produced.

The two main characters in ‘Waiting for Goddot’ were eccentric and wore bowler hats. These characters reflect the personalities of the characters in the play.

A fully designed figure, with a hat imposed on to his head.

With studio max, I found it an easier software to use in some respects than photo shop as I felt it was explained better in how to use it, however it took a while to get used to it, and need to use it more to remember how to use all the tools.

The initial exercise for using this program was to create a table, from a period that made it a distinguished prop within a play. We then had to bevel the sides. It was tricky but we managed it.

For this we played with shapes and the perspectives we drew them in.

Here, we played around with creating pivot doors, windows and u shapes stair cases, that would be commonly used in creating sets.

Making shapes

Learning to make shapes and cut corners off squares

Examples of work In Cad, creating various shapes with mid sections, just getting used to the programme.

A combination of all that we learnt in CAD

• As stated previously in this presentation I was to all of these programmes, and I don’t feel I was helped in learning them in the sessions that were put on for us. I felt extremely frustrated in the sessions, as there were times when I couldn’t keep up, or the computer would crash meaning that I got behind. Too many people were trying to learn the programmes to one teacher and then two in following sessions. I don’t think it was a constructive environment to learn in, having more than one student to a computer, and also having us at varying levels of competency in using the software. Furthermore, I feel we had too little time with too many programmes to be introduced to in the time that we were given for this project. However, introduced to them I have been, and I intend to continue with learning them myself aided by the tutorials on the VLP.