New Inspiration

Whilst on Instagram I came across the work of Camille walala. I found her use of geometrics with collage really interesting, I also admired her felt tip drawings and how she had used continuos line to add flow to her designs and motifs.

New Body Of Work For The Degree Show

Since the Stew exhibit, I have been working to create new imagery for the degree show. The work I create will reflect the same theme of the 60s focusing on flower power and geometric shapes, But it will  be a more developed version, In which I will create designs which showcase the success I have discovered and learnt in the work I created for the stew exhibit.

I have been working in the same way creating drawings first which I have then begun to develop through collage. I am planning on using the same colour schemes as well as introducing new tones and hues of current colours in my palette to continue with the fresh imagery which I am working towards.

Photo Copying

On Friday I had the opportunity to go with my mum to work and use the Photocopier. I shouldn't be aloud near a photocopier, I go a bit crazy and get carried away. 

I used this opportunity to scan sections of my A1 drawings, I plan to use these in the same way I did before working back into them using paint, felt tips and stickers developing them into geometric designs.

My sketchbook is very full and after my previous sketchbook for Ba7 falling apart I have decided to buy a new sketchbook for new work for the degree show. The work I have created since stew will go in this sketchbook, I feel this will help me to keep the imagery fresh and make my designs for the degree show separate from my samples which I created for stew. I am hopeful by doing this I will create a large portfolio of work which I plan to use help me get a job in the textile industry. 

Print Room Wednesday

On wednesday I spent the morning re-dying one of my velvet samples. After my group crit I went and spoke to Niel about how I could mute the pink of the discharge I used. In my group crit Nick said he wasn't keen on the Pink, Niel suggested I re-dye the sample using a red direct dye, he said that this would tone down the pink.
I personally really liked the pink of the sample but I liked the idea of experimenting with re-dying the sample. I haven't really developed my Dying skills since we learnt them in year 1, I have to say that I have enjoyed re-discovering dying within my work especially with my velvet samples.

I wanted to test this idea of re-dying the sample before I put the whole sample in, so I cut a section of the sample and dipped in the dying leaving it to test what effect the re-dying would create. I liked the effect the re-dying had created particularly how I had only tested it on half of the strip of the sample creating an ombre effect. I decided to use this idea and dye the rest of the sample only dying half to create an ombre effect.

I am really pleased with the finished effect, I will defiantly develop this idea of readying the discharged areas of my velvet samples.

With the test piece I dyed, I experimented with seeing what foiling looks like on velvet. I experimented with four foils:

• clear
• blue
• black
• pink

They all worked, but the heat press made the velvet go very flat loosing it texture, which is a shame.

Group Crit

On Tuesday we had a group crit in which we discussed our projects and plans for the degree show. This was with both Jill and Nick, at the beginning of the session we where given a sheet to fill in which we then discussed are plans with each other as a group.

Im not sure I can say that this session helped me or not. I think if anything I left feeling confused. Jill questioned my plans for the degree show saying "Did I want to be known as a scarf designer". I tried to explain how I felt, that by making scarfs I was creating a body of work which could be sold at the degree show, but at the same time allowed the viewer to still see my skills of combining colours, scale and patterns allowing them to view the scarves as samples as well. Nick had a different opinion to Jill, he encouraged my plans to create scarfs and said I should be bold with my designs. He said I should experiment with scale and create large scarfs which I could show as lengths showcasing my repeat skills. 

They both agreed that I should undertake Market research which is something Allison Willoughby had encouraged me to do in my last tutorial. I am planning on visiting London on the 21st of April visiting Hermes, Liberty's and Selfridges. I will use this opportunity to look at: 

• Material choices
• Scale of design
• Labeling
• Displaying of scarves for inspiration for the degree show
• Edging

I also took the velvet samples which I created last week using discharge and devore techniques. They thought this was very interesting and encouraged me to develop this further. Nick wasn't keen on the pink discharge I used, after to speaking to Niel about this I am planning on redying the sample red to mute the vividness of the pink. 

While I am in London I am also going to visit the V&A looking at the african masks for inspiration for my geometric designs. I am also planning on visiting The Glamour Of Italian Fashion exhibition.

New Floral Inspiration

I have been using Pinterest to help me gain new inspiration for my floral designs. I want to continue the theme of abstract florals introducing block shapes inspired by the work of Amanda Briggs. I feel that larger scale patterns will suit this style best below are some images which I feel show the effect I am hoping to create.

Combination of simple block motifs with layered petal designs.

Large abstract floral shapes created through block colours.

large scale overlapping and repeated motif

Mark making and textured motifs 

Simple shapes combined to create floral designs which are abstract and playful.

Refreshing Geometric inspiration

I have been looking at New Geometric inspiration looking at new forms and shapes for checks to stripes. I am keen to develop Geometrics with Floral motifs in a subtle way within some of my scarfs, in particular by using devore. I have also been looking at scale Since my tutorial with Allison I am keen to develop geometric motifs on a larger scale within my designs.

Scale and checks

Bold print on a large scale with 6 colours.

Devore grid leaving a check.

2 colour mark making square pattern. Simple yet effective on a large scale.

adjacent stripes

Structured stripes and mark making using black and white with bold colours.

changing the direction of a print is a very effective juxtaposition.