In this project I will look at constellations and the mapping and relationships of stars in the satellite images. As the colour is limited from these images I will reference the dark colours from crystals and gems. From this I plan to create samples of flat drawings on paper and manipulated fabrics that can be displayed as a one off piece. These samples will be constantly influenced by ongoing artist research such as Alice Kettle, Carolyn Saxby and Gwen Hedley and my theme of ‘regular’ and ‘irregular’. So I will be creating contrasting repeated patterned shapes and free flowing ‘handmade’ patterned images. The techniques that I will include in this project are hand processes, manipulation of fabrics, utilising the dye lab and machine embroidery.
Evaluation
I think I was successful in completing a range of samples to my brief of regular and irregular patterned samples on fabric. They consist of indigo dyed backgrounds and stitch manipulated surfaces. These were produced with a range of supporting drawings, drawn with a variety of media. I have chosen to draw with hair rollers, tape, wire, string and sticks along with the different dry n wet medias as I wanted to fully expand the range of marks I could archive.
Taken from sketchbook development samples
I particularly felt that this piece above was most successful, as I think it captures the natural shapeliness of the original sample I based the it on (right). The original sample influenced a lot of my samples because of the I faded halo like effect that linked back to the lights and stars theme I had. This became an important characteristic during my project, because that is what I looked for when editing and selecting samples to develop. Also I was successful upon learning new skills on the domestic sewing machine to broaden my vocabulary of stitches archived from four different feet. This included the cording foot, embroidery foot, pin tuck feet, and the tailor tack foot, these new skills are invaluable for any future projects that I will do. I think I could have exercised my colour skills more as I still feel like I struggle with colour proportions. However, clearly the best way to overcome this is to keep going about the different methods of creating colour charts and wraps to find one that I am comfortable and most successful with, and don't be afraid to try to create accurate proportions.
If I was to start this project again I would do more visual research to broaden the inspirational influences, and challenge myself more by being more spontaneous in taking risks with experiments with my samples. For example, I would develop this piece (below) further by combining it with the laser cutter and stitch, to produce more samples in which I can combine any successful elements with my existing samples.
Through my contextual research it helped me to see mark making differently and made me see the comparisons between other artists work. It caused me to use a lot of black bold lines, but I worked from these with my grey and muted blues colour palette. My colour palette was derived from the photograph of black crystal, which was successful in adding colour to my project. Through looking at work from artists such as Eileen O'Rourke that produces pieces for art galleries, it made me decide to create a short series of close ups of the above sketches into stitch. As I have been evaluating my samples it made me realise that they could also possibly be unique patterns that can be applied to a garment, in a bespoke manner so each garment can be individually different.
Taken from sketchbook development samples
