and now it looks like this:
It took a while taking everything apart but I have to admit, I didn't think it would take me so long to clean everything too. I feel like my knowledge of what's inside a TV set has dramatically improved this week, since I've had to make sure everything I want to do is safe.
So basically this is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TV. The CRT is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. The screen is really heavy, consisting of thick glass and is fairly fragile, as I have managed to crack mine. I had to let air back into the tube by cracking it. I did this as safely as I could, and I also watched a few you tube videos on how to do it, but this one was the most helpful.
For my first few pieces of work, I have started to look at the components of the television. Having now taken everything apart and sorted it out into bags of different sizes, I have now started to document what I have collected in my sketch book. I have sketched the components, drawn around them to see what their silhouettes look like on paper and also made a few basic patterns from this method, and, I have painted them to show more detail.
I have also been looking closely at the circuit boards. I like the different shades of green, and I am planning to use the range of tones more through out the project. I also like the different shapes and patterns with in the circuit boards, and I have been using them to print with. The most effective way I have found that transfers the pattern onto fabric is by creating a rubbing with a crayon onto an interfacing fabric. I used this fabric because it feels a bit like paper, so it is less likely to rip on the sharper sections of the circuit board. I also like this fabric because it is slightly see-through.
I find that the metal wires soldered on top of the circuit boards create an interesting texture. They also look like embroidery on the board, as they weave in and out of the holes in the plastic. This made me think about how different materials can be used to stitch with, so I have also had a go at recreating this method with some copper wire taken from the TV sewn through paper. I really like the effect this technique creates, as you can use it to create straight, tight stitches, or curly loose ones that hold an interesting shape.
