Exploring different mediums and drawing techniques

Exploring different mediums and drawing techniques

Over the course of the project i have a unit in which i can develop my drawing techniques. This is helpful as it allows me to expand my use of mediums and strengthen my style. Drawing is vital in printed Textiles for motifs and helping to visually present ideas. 

This was created using acrylic paints and ink. I wanted to try and create something that represents the cost of living in today's society and how it effects the way some people live. I think this worked really well, the composition and painting style was strong which helped to tell the story.

Picking objects and imagery to draw from i created a set of continuous line drawings. I think these turned out fairly accurate and i think some of them would look really nice being turned into motifs for prints.

Knitting with interesting materials

Knitting with interesting materials

Experimenting with print in my project for repeat pattern, i also wanted to look further into structured textiles as that is also one of my strengths. I like structured textiles as its an intriguing medium that doesn't always have to be telling a story with imagery. Thinking into what could reflect consumerism i began experimenting with different materials.

Exploring knitting i used plastic bags, wool, glittery thread and wire. The knits that worked best was the one with thread and wire. I liked the fine style of them and they easily linked to consumerism, the wire reflecting things like shopping trolleys and money but also both of them reflecting some sort of glory and value because of the metallic style.

Knitting with wire was difficult but created a unusual texture and look. Although the wire was pretty malleable making the final knit a bit misshaped, i think it added to the aesthetic. I liked how this turned out especially the drop stitch that i learnt, i would definitely like to learn some more knit styles to make the knit look more contemporary. 

Trying out french knitting with wire also created an interesting texture and it reminded me of barbed wire. Taking inspiration from a textile artist called Kirsty Whitlock who has pieces where she weaves paper into an open structure i began weaving into my french knit and adding coin embellishments. This was to reflect consumerism and i think overall it created a fascinating composition.

Drawing for motifs and digital prints

Drawing for motifs and digital prints

Setting quick drawing tasks in which you only focus on a drawing for five minutes is really helpful for speed and drawing style. I find that sometimes these unplanned drawings often create interesting outcomes that can then be used in print and develop into something else. For this task i chose a number of images to work from and spent five minutes on each using different pen thicknesses and drawing styles like continuous line. I think that some of the outcomes in these tasks worked better than others, which i will develop further for printing.

After completing the drawings i began developing them in to motifs. This involved me tracing parts and combining them together to create an interesting story. I think these definitely worked well and will look great being turned into digital repeat and placement prints, however it would be interesting to see how they would turn out in different printing methods like screen printing.

Combining markings and drawings i was able to make a variety of motifs and make them into repeats. Looking at other textile artists designs helped me become inspired and know what i wanted my designs to look like. A lot of the designers i liked created prints that had a secret message in them but look normal at first glance, i also work that way in the work i produce so this encouraged me to also do it in digital.

Looking further in to receipts and objects that reflect consumerism i am developing my observation work. This will help later in creating digital prints and print ideas for designs.

Creating a concept with collage

Creating a concept with collage

Collages are an interesting way to provide idea generation in a project. I really like this medium as it allows you to create an interesting story which could later be translated in to prints and help you know what to focus on next in a project.

In this piece i tried to convey the cost of living today and how some people struggle struggle to get by. Using imagery of money, a homeless person and receipts i was able to create a strong message. In the lower left corner i cut out letter from a receipt and made them spell out poverty to the people. I often like to create messages that are slightly ironic and poke fun at the topic i am looking at as it conveys a more powerful realistic message to people.

This collage was to reflect the state of consumerism today and how people are often buying things because they feel like they have to, to fit in or it will make them feel happier. The complex layout consists of markings from a 10 pound note, receipts, packaging and imagery from boxing day sales. Over the queens eyes is a statement ' let's feel good', this is taken from boot shop slogan. I decided to include this in the collage as it strongly represents how brands brainwash people in to feeling like they have to buy a product to make them feel better, but does it actually?

Exploring with observational drawings

Exploring further with observational drawings

This drawing was created using the mediums water colour and acrylic paint. I created the piece with the idea of bee colonies and the relationship worker bees have with the queen being a lot similar to how people work in today's society for people a lot higher up to get all the gain. Taking these ideas forward i decided to paint a queen bee with a crown on and money signs coming off it. I feel like this drawing turned out well, however i think it should of been made bigger as there is too much negative space.

Not having many observational drawings for this project i began drawing an in detail simple line drawing of a pound coin. Currency is a vital part in society's growth but how people often use it in a consumerist world is interesting.

For this drawing i used watercolour in the background and fine liner for the observation part. This was inspired by a variety of different things i came across pinterest. After the previous currency drawing i had made i thought it worked well enough to do something with currency again on a big scale with more of a composition to it. I think the receipt and water colour markings make this piece more interesting and give it more of a story and substance.

Experimenting with techniques to convey consumerism

Experimenting with techniques to convey consumerism

When starting a new project i always resort to intense conceptual and artist research. This really helps keep me inspired when it comes to experimenting with different techniques and knowing what to try out next. Thinking of things to represent consumerism i was very intrigued by receipts and how they document peoples lives and how they spend their money. The prints on receipts hold their own information and stories as well and i think that these markings could come in use incorporating them in work throughout my project.

Looking into textile artists i came across one that embroiders words into fabric in a minimalist approach to tell a story. This reminded of receipts and how i could convey receipts into a product. This double page in my book was some research introducing to receipts and a small sample.

For this sample i experimented with sewing back in to a receipt using an embroidery machine. As the paper is so thin it was quite hard to sew without it being damaged however i think that this idea would be interesting to do on fabric.

After coming across a textiles fine artist called Rhiannon Williams who collects consumerist items and makes them it to rolls of material i was inspired to start collecting receipts and sew them together. i think this is an interesting way of portraying how much people buy on a regular basis and if its all necessary. For my final show i would like to try recreate this on a big scale with a screen printed statement over the top of it.

Re-visiting more printing techniques

Re-visiting more printing techniques

Whilst researching in depth about consumerism today i gained a lot more knowledge on it. which will help bring concept to my work. Research is always very important to me in a project as it provides concept and substance to my work. 

The first technique looked at again was manutex printing, after research about the American dream and crony capitalism i began to look for key images that would allow me to represent facts i had gained. Coming across a large amount of American postage stamps, a few specifically stood out to me 'voice of America' and a bold patriotic USA one. I found these highly ironic as of recent events in which people like Donald Trump have been given vast power and have used it to silence 'the voice of America'. I also believe things like postage stamp's represent a consumerist society in which it has been from being a means of communication and connecting people into something that now commonly transports unnecessary goods for people that often don't really need it. Using this simple printing method i was able to create a print that could potentially be good in repeat and also a mixed media collages conveying subtle thoughts on crony capitalism and the blinding American dream. I think manutex is a really simple clean way of printing a image however it is not best for repeat print.

Another printing technique i looked at again was heat transfer. I kept this print simplistic as i am not the best at heat transfer and the colours often don't mix the way i wish them to. Heat transfer is simple printing method that can be used to create simple but also detailed prints. I like how the method is essentially just painting to get a print, however the colours are always quite deceiving making it really hard to get the right colours the first time. Researching the importance of money in today's society i found an embroidery artist who creates extremely detailed embroidery pieces of commonly used objects. This inspired me to create my own sample using a combination of her embroidery technique and heat transfer. Creating this sample i gathered marking found on English notes and assembled them in an interesting order, then began embroidering back into it. I really like the simplistic format of this print and the layout of the motif, I think combining a variety of markings creates an interesting story which i would like to continue doing.

I also explored stitch printing again however it did not work out as planned. Sewing a motif into acetate i then experimented with layout and printed it with printing ink. The print didn't come out well at all and was often quite blurry which meant i then had to go back into it with a pen and try to make it look more interesting. Overall i think this print is too time consuming for what it ends up turning out like, so i would much rather use a technique worth my time.

Mono-printing and Lino printing

Mono -printing and Lino printing

This week i began exploring my new project and experimenting with different printing processes. Re-visiting techniques i had learnt before, i was able to create more complex designs and discover new ways to use them. the next few weeks i will be continuing to research  my topic in more detail and develop ideas through experimentation inspired by artist research and exploration of different mediums. 

Exploring the mono-printing technique i was able to effectively create some imagery that reflects consumerism in a indirect way. I decided to use receipts as a representation of consumerism to show just how much money people often spend and the clever marketing of companies to compel people to do so. To create the mono prints, i applied printing ink to a printing plate, placed paper and an image over the top then began tracing over the image. i think this printing method allows you to create simple imagery in an interesting way, i especially like the way i am able to layer it with different colours and go back into it with mixed media.

After creating these prints i scanned them in and created motifs that could potentially be made into digital repeat patterns.

Revisiting lino printing i decided that i would like to create something with more detail than last time i explored the technique. As in my opinion, Donald Trump is one of the best known capitalists at the moment i thought this would be the perfect way of transitioning him into my project.Lino printing is can create quite bold, powerful imagery, so i wanted to try and use the technique to my advantage to get ideas across. To create the lino print i etched an image i had drawn into a lino slate, inked it and printed it on to paper. It took several attempts to get it looking how i wanted as bold, full print. When exploring this technique next time i would like to create more prints to develop layers in the image.

Making a start to FMP

Making a start to FMP

For the final project at college we are allowed to write our own brief, focusing on  interests as long as it is something that will provide idea generation and observational drawings. When thinking along the lines of what i wanted my last project to be about, i knew it had  to be something full of passion, something that would create impact and interest in the final show. A common theme in society at the moment, is capitalism and the ever growing need to consume. Many people are continuously being oppressed due to the nature of capitalism, people can work their whole life but still be stuck in the same social class struggling to pay for rent, food etc. While the privileged few, often born in to wealth benefit from capitalist ideals and are the ones that earn a considerable amount of the worlds income. 

A big product of the capitalist world we live in is consumerism, the need to excessively by products we don't actually need. People are brainwashed into thinking they need the latest product by clever advertising and societies need to impress and out-do people. This often leads a considerable amount of people down a flowing path of debt and unhappiness- ironic when the initial cause was consuming for happiness. 

After extensive research on this subject i knew it would be something that would provide me with idea generation from a wide variety of subjects. Capitalism affects a lot of people for a variety of reasons and can often do more damage than good. I think creating products based on a subject that is often over looked will allow people to acknowledge the oppression created by this and question their own integrity. 

I am excited to see where this project leads me and experimentation of structured and surface textiles throughout the design process. 

Initial idea brainstorm 

Idea generation through observational drawing

Mood board for repeat pattern unit

Mood board for idea generation and artist inspiration

Links:

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~waldr20m/classweb/worldpolitics/capitalism.html
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~waldr20m/classweb/worldpolitics/consumerism.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_capitalism
http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/ideology-politics/difference-between-capitalism-and-consumerism/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism

Order and Chaos project

Order and Chaos Final pieces

At the start of September i was given the brief Order and Chaos in which i could tailor to myself. As someone that believes there should be an interesting concept behind work, i decided to look at Punk ideologies in Politics. Being extremely passionate about on-going world issues and politics, i found it extremely easy to depict ideas that reflected order and chaos in the political world. Reflecting on issues of the hierarchy, authority and current political debates i.e brexit and refugee crisis, i was able to experiment, creating a clear theme and colour story throughout. At the end of the project i spent two weeks creating a series of  five A2 designs that used a variety of textiles techniques i accumulated over the course of the year.

   
A2 Reverse applique final product

     

A2 Embroidery on heat transfer final product

                                                 

A2 Embroidery on screen print final product

A2 Digital design final product

A2 Weave final product