Tutorial 2 & Week commencing 20.10.14

Tutorial:-

This week’s tutorial had me thinking more into my theme and how I’m bringing bits of old and bits of new. On screen I have ‘old’ and ‘modern’ motifs and I’m going to try out dying my own fabrics in the dye baths. I feel that the uncertainty of not knowing that its not going to be one block colour is good as it will give my fabrics a more imperfect look which is something I’m keen to capture. 

Personal Practice:-

In the print room I’ve been doing a bit of trial and error in the dye baths. I’ve been trying to match my fabrics to my colour palette. Its been quite a lengthy process but one that I’m happy with. I also had a go at tie dying my fabrics but boldness of the tie dye take your eye away from some of the motifs. I did try some tester prints on the dyed fabrics just to test the dyes and motifs on them and the reactive dyes sit a lot better rather than the pigment dye. When doing my final collection I want to be considerate when placing my motifs so with doing layout thumbnails in my sketchbook once my experimentation process is over. This makes sure I’m not over the top with the placement of my motifs.

Tutorial 1 & Week commencing 13.10.14

Tutorial:-

After the group tutorial about my summer work I was stuck on where to place my work with the current project. In my summer work I tried to work with different colours and media to experiment. I after talking to the group I feel like I don't really want to take most of my summer work into this project apart from the work I did from Turkey as I believe It doesn't relate to the things I've been looking at during the visual research week. 

I'm going to the start doing more Photoshop work and starting to refine my colour pallet as I feel this will start to bring all my work together and I can take into the direction I want to. 

With the visuals from the research week and the visuals from Turkey it was brought to my attention that it had some what of an Islamic twist to it. I've decided to go down that route and see what other research I can gather and develop into drawings and designs. I previous project I've worked on a large scale but I've decided to take a different approach by working smaller to try and make my work more detailed and then I can use the skills I've learnt over the summer in Photoshop and in the upcoming lessons to make them larger and develop them more. 

Personal Practice:-

This week I’ve been thinking mainly about working on my colour palette so it fits perfectly with my concept. At first I had 3 colour images I wanted to use but felt that it was too broad so narrowing it down to make a more refined colour palette. I wanted to use some dark and rich colours to represent the old fabrics what I looked at in the archives. I then chose to have a selection of pastel colours to bring that 21^st century edge to my designs. I’ve also chosen to add gold as well as it brings out the more flamboyant side to what ill be trying to capture within my designs. 

I’ve also been putting my motifs onto screen this week so I can have a print room/ hand done collection along my digital ones. I’m having two collections as I want the hand done ones to feel more rustic in comparison to the digital ones. The motifs I have added to screens are a range of sizes as I wanted to experiment with scale. I’m going to do a series of tester samples and then be selective when choosing to do my final print room collection.

Downing Collection & Special Collection Archive Visits

During the visual research weeks I was given the opportunity to visit the Downing Collection and Special Collections within the university and the university library. Presented to me and other peers, was different textiles, wallpaper, sketchbooks samples and block printing equipment. Whilst looking through both collections I was particularly drawn to the more brighter samples/ objects as I feel colour catches my eye more than monochrome colours. In the Special Collections archive I was interested in the William Morris pieces. I've heard of the artist before me have never looked up him work but I feel his intricate designs in these particular pieces are inspiring for me and my practice.  

Special Collection Archive

At the Downing Collection I really enjoyed looking at the old Islamic print design which was produces by roller printing. I was drawn to the bright and bold colours within the print but like the contrast of the dark and duller background. I also like the finer details within the print which slightly takes off the bolder edge. 

Downing Collection Archive

I was also drawn to the intricate work in the Downing Collection from the lace designs from one of the presentation books. There wasn't much information on the book but the I think I'm going to book to see the other presentation books in the library on lace. 

Downing Collection Archive