Evaluation

I have enjoyed this unit, getting to work on two projects with ultimate freedom for the basis of both has been very satisfying. This is the final product of my Apron Brief:

I am pretty pleased with how this turned out, I was pleased with my work on Photoshop work and my hand and machine embroidery. However after my last tutorial I would like to have organised my colour better and given my different techniques of colour work some space so that it could be fully appreciated, as it stands I feel it is a bit eclectic.

I also feel I could improve my garment construction skills, it might have been nice to try and use a more complex edging. Overall I am pleased with the outcome and with the knowledge of how to improve.

I have also enjoyed my self initiated brief, creating samples that are more refined with a very specific context has been a good experience and made me more considerate of my fabrics and processes.
If I had more time I'd like to have produced bigger samples or even a final costume piece and experimented more with different materials that would be appropriate for a carnival costume.

This unit I have also enjoyed the networking element, arranging work experience with Emily Wood at Cabasa Carnival arts as well as collaborating with a graphic design student on a branding project, which I feel will help in unit X for the Limited Editions brief.

Final Week

After my tutorial this week, although I have already completed my apron, I found the feedback about my colour use very inspiring and so I have decided to produce a developed sample to show how I would improve my apron if I were to do it again.
I decided to try and refine my proportions and use plain space strategically to help draw your eye to the most interesting parts of my work and altering the background colour to help enhance my colour palette. I also decided to experiment with ink painted linen, which I found really added texture and an extra dimension to the colours I was using.

I have looked at the work of Sonia Delaunay to help me with colour proportions http://soniadelaunay.fr/collections


I also tried to produce some more samples for my Self Initiated project that were more defined as fiery feathers.

Self Initiated Brief

This week I have been focusing on my Self Initiated Brief, I have chosen to create samples for a carnival costume context. Having done some contextual research, I have considered the fabrics I'm going to use such as bright colours, metallic and sparkly threads, materials reminiscent of feathers.

These are some of the samples I have made in response to the idea of a phoenix costume for carnival.

Using the embellisher and colourful rovings, I have tried to create a soft feathery sample, on top of a sparkly, light weight silk.

For this sample I wanted to create something a little more patterned and detailed. Although in this formation it looks a bit floral, I think if the pattern was repeated or separated into individual feathers, it would look more phoenix like. Despite this, I am really pleased with my colour mixing and how effectively I have created a fabric purely from stitch using water soluble backing.

Finally with this sample I have tried to combine the featheriness of a Phoenix with the bright colours and flare of a carnival costume, using ribbons and the embellisher to achieve this:

Sampling and Planning

This week I have been sampling to see what best reproduces the hand drawn marks within my shapes. I have gathered lots of colourful threads and fabric, been in the dye lab and experimented with different machine and hand stitches.
These are some of the samples I have produced:

I have also successfully digitally printed some of my fabric and embellished it. I think for my final idea I will produce an apron that combines hand stitch, machine embroidery and my digital prints.
This is some of my contextual research, I have looked at people who have created aprons as a decorative item, rather than a practical piece.

I want to replicate something similar to this in terms of simplicity of shape and with a decorative purpose rather than a practical purpose.

 

#http://beebopspartywear.com/collections/paperdoll-aprons-2

Digital Refinement

After my tutorial this week I decided to scan in my small but time consuming ink drawings and manipulate them using Photoshop. I played around changing scales, repeating patterns and layering the images. I was really happy with the end results and decided to get some digitally printed onto fabrics.

I have chosen the Apron Brief for my live project this unit, and so I have looked at the kind of apron I think I'd like to make:

I have chosen a quite simple design so that my making skills do not limit the potential of my patterns and colour. Also due to the bold and eclectic nature of the patterns I feel most textural or structural detail would be lost and there for a bit of a waste of time.

Abstracting Drawings

After my tutorial, I have decided the Manchester Cathedral stained glass is the most inspiring and to do some more drawings that are less literal and are abstracting the bits I enjoy from the stained glass windows.

These are some of my more developed drawings, focusing mainly on colour combinations:

I quite like the way these line drawings capture the colours and the way they blend. I enjoyed using ink to create these vibrant colours.

To develope this further I used similar colour schemes to produce more relevant and refined drawings that reflect both the shapes and use of colour in the stained glass:

Locating: Visual Reasearch

Following feedback week, we were told to produce a body of visual research on a theme of our choosing. With Christmas decorations lighting up windows and buildings, I found myself looking more and more at the colour and patterns used in architechture. I decided to look deeper into stained glass windows and and the patterns used in stonework and railings.

My home town York has lots of old buildings that have stained glass tucked away in little alcoves, this was a piece I found in a local pub that displays York Minster:

Once back in Manchester, I went to the cathedral to take pictures of the stained glass there, I found it quite interesting as it was more modern stained glass, having been rebuilt after the bombings in the early 90s.

 

 

I also noticed quite a lot of traditional stained glass windows in window paines of doors on people's houses:

 

This week I plan to do some drawings based on the images I have collected, experimenting with mark making and colour work.