Thursday 19th August 

I continued polishing aluminium today  and had much more success using a numatic drill and using polishing rouge at the end. I couldn’t figure out (and still struggle) how to consistently make the mirror finish emerge but after a lot of perserverance seen within this video I finally get there. It gives me the confidence to cut more shapes while I have access to the plasma cutter. 

I also started figuring out how I display my work, and what’s I focus the next two weeks of energy towards. I have a lot of ideas and concepts but not so much time so I want to try and push the project to a moment of refinement, even if with just one concept. With the help of Simon I’ve chosen 3 (ish) objects to refine and develop further. The rain stick, the mirror, the rocking pot (and the hanging lights - which I’ve only done small testers of so far). Here’s a living sketch I’ve been working on, with a few screen shots of changes and decision making. 

I’m trying to find a balance between working intuitively but also having things feel considered as a grouping, and it’s a bit harder than I thought. I want it to feel like a collection but also have a haphazard / freeness. I also want it to be bright and colours and interesting without feeling over complicated, overwhelming and childish/ gaudy. It feels like a really fine line between this things and this is where my challenge really lives. I created a mood board of images of artists and designers who I think toe this line well, which I’ve been referring back to throughout. This really helps as a reminder.