Learner's Journey Log: Mundane To Magnificent

Sehaj Singh
Aug 25, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Nov 30, 2020

The word 'mundane' means 'lacking interest, dull' and 'magnificent' means extremely beautiful'. So basically we learned about paper and its properties and different techniques we can use with paper to make different things. Our main project was to make a cube with 6 different paper techniques' samples on its 6 faces in window format.

This gives us very important information about papers So I am gonna write about these learnings from this project in this blog. This information will surely help in the future.

Paper As Material

There are many amazing techniques by which we can make paper into something unexpected.

Some of them are:-

Cutting and pasting
Folding
Brading
Loops
Twisting
Edge pasting
Burning
Tracing
Soaking
Inserting
Curling
Weaving
Fringes
Tabs
Scrimping, etc.

While doing my activity I made changes to the selected idea. My idea was to stick the rolled triangle with each other and make a brick-like structure. But I remembered my sir was talking about inserting technique. So I used it and inserted the triangle into another. It was looking very awesome therefore I changed my plans and did inserting. If I would be given a chance to improve my design then I would like to do this same thing with other shapes and to give more finishing in cutting the insertion area.

Safe Practices

Using A Paper Cutter

Do's

Hold the cutter and scale with a lot of care. And use less pressure for light paper.
Use an X-Acto knife for minor cutting and use the narrow cutter for bond papers and use the broad cutter for heavy cutting purposes.
Use multiple cutting with a broad cutter to cut choksi and other boards.
Always change the blade when the existing gets blunt.
Always use a cutting mat to cut.

Don'ts

Put your index finger and your thumb away from the edge of the scale while cutting straight lines.
Don't cut your fingers.
Don't keep cutters and X-acto knives exposed with their lids open.
Don't use tables and floors as cutting surface
Never cut in a hurry it always results to cut in the wrong direction.

Design Vocabulary

The New design terms I learned are:-

Abstract Drawings - To make randomly and let people decide what it and it should not be an identical object.
Tactile Graphics - They are images that use raised surfaces so that a visually impaired person can feel them. They are used to convey non-textual information such as maps, paintings, graphs, and diagrams.

Thoughts on the New way of learning

It's very tough to fully interact with teachers.
Everyone face with a lot of net problems
Many students are not able to get all materials till now.
The only good thing is that travel time for college is saved.
We are also able to come forward and say our thoughts easily because I got so nervous to talk to the teachers face to face but due to online classes I am not nervous at all.
Sometimes I was not able to understand what teachers are trying to say.

My Involvement and Motivation to work on the project

First, my teachers selected 4 samples and I spend the whole day thinking about how to make the design with these samples. I was very much confused.
I shared my situation with my mom and she keeps on saying why did you choose art then if you cannot do anything.
I was self-motivating by remembering the quotations of Walt Disney which teachers told us.
And finally, I got random designs and started doing it.
My mom and my god helped me a lot to get engaged in my work and they were always there by side.
I was never into a high level of designing before so it took me a lot of struggles and lack of hard work make me lazy sometimes. They were my greatest enemies with whom I am constantly fighting.
I myself really liked my cube and it went beyond my expectations. I was thinking that I will fail and will not be able to do it properly. It went great.

Key Learnings from Project

I got to know about the history of paper.
How paper can be used in various situations.
Different properties and techniques of paper.
How to use cutting tools properly.
How important is to listen.
Should always think about making abstracts.
Learned names and appearance of different types of papers.
Learn to make the design in a small space.
Importance of Paper.
Always submit work on time.
I will use this information to make a more beautiful design and make abstract always, not to think about any objects or patterns.
I got to know many interesting facts about the paper which I never thought of and started thinking with paper in a very different manner.
This activity really changed my mindset towards art.