Paper Circuits

This week I worked with LED lights once more, however this time it was in combination with paper or a picture and copper tape. The objective was to have the LED light(s) turn on and have it be a functioning part in composition with the image chosen. There were multiple resources available including handouts, links/example on TRACS, and demonstrations. The demonstration given was incredibly important since I had not worked with copper tape before and I have

not dealt with different types of circuits in very long time. As I was watching the demonstration I was thinking of what images I could use or draw. We were given the choice of practicing the varies structures of circuits with index cards provided or examining the ones already made. I chose to just examine the index card circuits and decided I would use the handout of parallel circuits as my guide and actual piece of paper that would eventually light up my image. I chose to draw my image which was my cat in a Valentines day card style. Since I had decided that I was going to use the parallel circuit handout as my guide and have it attached to my drawing, I had to align the eyes of my cat to where the LED lights were placed on the handout. To have it perfectly aligned, I used a light box to indicate on my paper the correct placement. I decided to make it as user friendly as I could, however that did come with complications later on. That was actually one of the major things I learned from this assignment. Sometimes taking the easier way does come with the most complications. I then proceeded to start my drawing. Once finished, I realized that handout was not long enough for the switch to be placed on the thumb of my picture. This was one of the problems to fix from

light box process

taking the "easier" route. I solved it by simply adding an index card to the handout to reach the thumb in the drawing since this is where I wanted the switch to be located.

The other thing I learned was working with copper tape. I finally started to place down the the copper tape as shown in the demonstration. However, when it came to the turns within the circuit, my folding was not clean and I was worried that would cause troubles when lighting the LED. I asked for some assistance, and a quick close-up demonstration helped me improve my folding and was relieved to see I was really close to being on the right track. I finished

adding the index card to the handout to elongate it to reach the thumb in my drawing.

using the copper tape, chose the color of lights that would go well with my image, and checked if it worked before I did any attaching. Once I saw that it worked, I taped the lights down and painted my drawing with watercolor. I cut out the eyes because that was where I placed the lights and added lines of glitter to indicate the "flash" of the phone I drew. The following steps were some of the biggest obstacles in this assignment. Since I decided to just attach the handout to my image, I had to figure out how to create a stable battery placement, keep the LED lights from not being continuously lit, and creating the switch. I did not want the handout to show, so I began by placing a

piece of paper behind the hand out and gluing it down. This assisted in ensuring support and stability by making it thicker. Keeping the battery in place was a process of trial and error. At first I tried using the folded piece of the index card, that worked as the switch, as a pocket for the battery. Although it worked maintaining it in place, the copper tape was coming in contact with the battery resulting in having the LED lights staying turned on. Then I tried taping the battery down, but having the tape in the way of the copper tape prevented the battery from turning on at all. However, that made me realize that I just had to tape it further in the edge of the battery where it would not come

My attempt at folding the copper tape when it turned.

in contact with the copper tape, but still be perfectly in place. I carefully glued the circuit paper to my drawing. Only gluing the top, left side, and half way through the right side. If I glued further down on the right side or glued the bottom, the lights would remain on and it would not work as a switch. In addition, I wanted to keep it as discreet as possible- from showing the handout underneath, so I did glue the very corner of the drawing onto the circuit paper. This allowed for the light to remain off unless triggered by the switch. However, the paper did have to be a bit lifted resulting in the paper being warped.

Yet, seeing how it lit up when I actually pushed down with my thumb where I drew the thumb filled me with awe. It came out just as how I imagined it. Of course with some hiccups, but overall was impressed with myself and how I manged to work around the obstacles. I finished my piece by punching three holes on the left side, adding the cover page, and binding them with string.

This project ignited a personal interest in copper tape because of how easy it was to manage and work with. I'm interested in how I can apply it to future pieces I create and how it will change the process of creation as well as the finishing result. Specifically looking at the work of a woman artist mentioned that I believe has ties in MIT. I can't remember her name, but she does complex works involving copper tape that takes a lot of patience and mapping. These tools are all very readily available, can come in bulks, and can be inexpensive. Which is all something I believe art teachers look for in products that can be incorporated in class projects. This is a great way of connecting different school subjects and TEKS into that of our own in art education. Circuits and electricity is something I remember learning in my science classes. Integrating that schema from children into their art classes is a way of ensuring and making it concrete in what they learn and at the same time applying it in a more colorful playful way.

It worked!

The process of attaching the handout onto my drawing.

The switch and battery