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.