Exercise is creative...

When starting this project, I made a conscious decision to have fun with it. As, I feel it's so easy to get so pre-occupied with conceptual development, that other elements of the creative process is somewhat compromised, which includes having fun. As artist's can often struggle for notoriety and financial stability surely this is one of the perks we should take full advantage of. When a subject is explored in a playful way, concept development will no doubt come more naturally which will benefit any outcome. This was a change in attitude for me, as, I had compromised work by over thinking and not allowing myself the playful exploration required for any creative process to be a success. One of my favourite sayings is a quote by artist Sol Lewitt:

"Your work isn't a high stakes, nail-biting professional challenge. It's a form of play. Lighten up and have fun with it:".

Sol Lewitt Quote. Daniel Marzona (2004). Taschen. Conceptual Art.

I hope the photos I have done for my final prints embodies this and have capitulated  the full playfulness the creative process has to offer:-

Here are a few of the exercise performance pictures, un-edited.

In order to get the photos ready for the printing process, I had to edit them using the same process from earlier experiments:-

There are almost 40 photos however, I will only be using 36 for the print process, I will be using a grid formation when printing onto material.
I have to admit, I love these photos, not only do they translate movement well but they represent my body which includes the lumps and bumps I normally try so hard to conceal. In a way, I feel I have gained some confidence within this process, as, although I still have some way to go in regards to my personal journey. The fact I'm embracing positive change has made me feel better about myself, which is translated though my work. I think these picture also show, that if your creative with exercise, it can be fun.

Making it all worth while...

During this project I have mentioned that, there are times when I really struggle to fit everything in. Despite this, I have remained dedicated to making time for exercise even if it means I have to push myself in terms of work and study. Seeing and feeling all the benefits have really pulled me through, it has been my mental strong point. In regards to this, I have just seen an article that provides further evidence of how beneficial exercise is:

Can exercise actually REVERSE aging? Promising new study reveals that working out can make skin appear up to FORTY years younger

 

Annabel Fenwick Elliott. (2014). Mail online. Can exercise actually REVERSE aging? Promising new study reveals that working out can make skin appear up to FORTY years younger. Available. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2607298/Can-exercise-actually-REVERSE-aging-Promising-new-study-reveals-working-make-skin-appear-FORTY-years-younger.html. Last accessed 19/04/2014.

I have started to see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle but I'm sure most people would agreed that this is compelling evidence. With more people opting for dangerous plastic surgery in order to stay young, this could offer a refreshing alternative.
I have always suffered from self-confidences issues in regards to my looks and I don't think that the aesthetically charged society we live in has helped, that's maybe why I feel so at home within the world of modern art.
No sooner had I started to deal with my insecurity demons, I now have the worry of getting older to deal with. I have always wondered how I would handle this, give my insecure past. I think this article could really help keep me on track. I have now accepted that I can't change the fundamental parts of me and I need to work with what I have. This just re-enforces the message that to be the best we can be on the outside, we have to look after our bodies by eating healthy and exercising. I for one, think this is something worth doing especially if it keeps the anti-ageing demons at bay.

Introducing my healthy lifestyle into my work...

I've been making all sorts of healthy changes to my lifestyle and one of them is introducing more exercise so I meeting the recommended two and a half hours per week. I've already covered the many health benefits associated with this and my measurements are a testament to the changes to my body. However, I now need to try and capture how fun and enjoyable exercise can be, especially if your willing to try new things. I've been trying out different ways of keeping fit and my favourite so far is power hooping but my gym might be introducing rave trampolining, I say "hell yes" to that. Exercise is about what works for you, weather it's a 20 min walk or a hike up glen Nevis, it all counts as I'm finding out. However, the more fun exercise is, the easier it gets. I want to capture this message in my work and inspire people to see exercise as something fun to do.
When I was a child, every week day morning, when you switched on the T.V you were greeted by brightly kitted out aerobics instructor inspiring us all to get up and moving in the morning. With their crazy 80's work-out gear and enthusiasm for keeping fit it was hard not to join in, this put the fun into exercise.

 
Lizzie Webb, TV-am photo gallery, Last updated (2008)
Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/image_galleries/tv_am_gallery.shtml?7



Mr Motivator, The UK’s most famous fitness instructor and star of GMTV
Available: http://www.snowbombing.com/blog/2010/02/05/973/

I have already outlined plans to incorporate the fun side of exercise on to my printed bags. As  the sugar and salt that fill the bags represent the reduction of harmful foods in my diet, I thought by printing my exercise routine on to the bags, this would allow me to represent how I've managed to change my body physically. Which I think has a nice conceptual under tone that I could explore as a resolve for my final piece.

Inspired by 80's styled aerobics, I want to put the fun into my printed bags.

 

I want to photograph my exercise routine but add a bit of characterisation by going all 80's and embracing the bright aerobics gear, that screams "exercise" so I can really play the part. I'm talking bright colours, spandex and of course leg warmers. However, before I get over excited and bust out with leg warmers I thought I better see how this would translate into print...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I repeated the process I had carried out in earlier print experiments...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I de-saturated  and then adjusted the photos using photoshop and printed these in a grid formation on to acetate.

 

 

This was exposed onto a screen ready for printing. I must point out that as I had only done a few photos I used some of my facial yoga photos from a past experiment to make up the grid. However, if I develop this idea further I will photograph 38 different exercises moves.

The prints worked well and have gave me an idea of what will work visually if I develop this further.

Still loving this idea...

After concluding my print experiments for my weight bags, it has confirmed that I want to develop this further. I am toying with the idea of allowing the viewer to be able to experience my journey by wearing the weight I've lost as I think this would add the personal element required to make this a success. These bags will contain the weight I've lost and will have tags that are dated and the amount in pounds. It's early days but I'm thinking I could have a carry bag of some type suspended for a baggage scale that's filled with my weight bags. The bags could be removed corresponding with each part of my personal journey. This will allow the viewer to really walk in my shoes and I'm hoping by experiences this it may encourage a few people to go on their own journey by embracing a healthy lifestyle. Now the decisions been made, there's only one thing for it, time to shop 80's aerobics style.

My Measurements...

Although I've been weighing my self, because of my busy lifestyle it's been awhile since I recording my measurements. As this is a major part of my project, I thought it was time to get the finger out and see if healthy living is paying off...

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     

 

     

 

 

My measurements are:

Upper Thighs - Left  - 24.00     Right - 24
Lower Thighs - Left  - 19.05     Right - 19.07

Bum - 43            Hips - 41.07          Waist - 38.09         Ribs - 35.01

Arms - Left  - 12.01    Right - 12.02

Which means I've lost:



My weight is now:

This means that I have lost 9 pounds and 1 quarter in 8 week which means I'm well on my way to becoming a healthy weight. The benefits to my waist line reflect the improvement to my health as I feel my fitness levels are improving and I really look forward to exercise, now I can do it with out nearly collapsing that is. This project is proving to me that it really is what the doctor says, to eat healthy and exercise regularly, it really is, as simple as that, the only question I have, is why are more people not doing it?