The start of sampling

We started visual research for the sampling unit with a "100m line drawing." Our task was to transform a rectangle of vinyl into a drawing by peeling away strips and unravelling the shape. The activity was really good as it made me think more about the process of creating a drawing and not just the end result.  Visually the vinyl drawings were really striking.

When it came to documenting the vinyl drawings, I worked in a more abstract and loose manner to capture the essence of the structures.

                     

(pen, ink , masking tape)

I like the contrast between the ordered, straight lines and the random/accidental marks in the drawings above. I would like to continue and develop working in this way.

Feedback week task 2

The second task was a group discussion with students from different worlds to share our experiences of Origins. I am moving into Print next and it was helpful to see the work produced in print and get some advice on how to approach the next unit. A particularly useful tip was to book sessions in the print room well in advance and plan what I intend to do in that time. We all agreed that drawing was an important aspect to practice throughout the unit and that we needed to keep up with the work, as it is difficult to catch up once you get behind.

Feedback week task 1

In response to the "mapping and measuring" task I visited the Grayson Perry exhibition at Manchester Art gallery. The six tapestries were incredibly detailed, saturated with colour and imagery, I spent a long time just looking. I noticed how I viewed the works, initially looking at the whole piece and then homing in on particular details. My focus would also switch from looking at colour to shapes and back again. I began to observe how others viewed the exhibition; the way they stood or sat, who they were with and whether they read the artists statement(s). I was also struck by the contrast between the gallery space and the city streets. It felt strange to come out into the "hustle and bustle" of the city, from the exhibition that had a calm and quite atmosphere; especially as each tapestry was so absorbing, each one a contained world in itself.

I chose to include text in my drawings (my thoughts on the exhibition), inspired by Perry; which is something I haven't really done before. My aim was to capture the essence of the tapestries, using the colours and shapes/ patterns that stood out to me; and communicate my experience and observations of the visit. 

Evaluation of Origins unit

During my time in both knit and weave i have tried to experiment with many different techniques and engage with the workshops as much as possible, to get a good feel for each area. There were a lot of techniques to explore with knit and i found i could experiment with different textures and colour well, producing a variety of samples more instantly than in weave. Weaving has been slower but satisfying, because it takes more time and planning than knit i feel my samples are more considered and developed in weave. I have also become more confident with my use of colour as i have progressed through the unit.

(development collage from sketchbook, using photocopy of earlier drawing and pro-marker)

The two initial weeks of drawing and the friday sessions have helped me think about drawing in a different way. I have been looking at mark making techniques and ways of capturing the qualities of the subject as opposed to purely representational drawings. As i have progressed through the unit i have worked on collage techniques to translate my initial research into knit and weave patterns and have focused more on colour proportion and composition. I feel i have been successful in making connections between my research and sampling. I think i could have done more drawing throughout the unit and worked with a wider selection of materials to create more expressive outcomes, this would have helped me develop ideas further. 

(knit sample - fairisle design with floats cut and brushed)

Ways of finishing the samples and developing them further once they were off the machine/loom really intrigued me. I looked into this a bit, brushing, washing and dyeing different samples but i would like to explore this more. I have also been introduced to different yarn qualities and learnt to use materials sensitively, considering their properties. I feel i could have  given more thought to this to create more interesting textural samples; it is something to develop in the next unit. 

(back of a weave sample on striped warp)

I have found producing a mood board and working into a sketchbook helpful in gathering my ideas together and making connections between them. Group discussions and tutorials also helped me to progress with my work; it was interesting to see how others used their sketchbooks.

One of the things to build on in the next unit is contextual references. I looked at some in this unit but researching more would broaden my knowledge and inform my work for the better.

Designer Study : Dashing Tweeds

 

The use of colour and materials are really inspiring. I love this quirky, contemporary take on tweed.

I also came across Dashing Tweeds whilst researching for material cultures as they are part of the re-birth of Harris tweed and British manufacturing, the cloth being designed and woven in Britain.

http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk

Following one of the Friday drawing sessions on composition and collage I focused my attention on developing my drawings. The session involved reducing the subject to simple shapes and positive/ negative space which I found helpful when interpreting my own drawings and photos into weave structures.

     

   

The above images show my thought process when designing a weave pattern. I have been focusing on the shapes and patterns in my visual sources, working in a more abstract manner.

I have also been considering the types of yarn i'm using (combining texture with flatter/ smoother yarns) and how these will interact with the warp threads. Yarn wraps are a good way to explore colour proportion and arrangement.

     

     

     

Thinking in Knit

Over the past week (and a bit) i have tried to move forward with my drawing and develop knit designs from them; thinking about colour proportion, pattern and finishing techniques.

The above laddering and E wrapping techniques i found were particularly successful; giving the samples both linear and organic qualities.

The process of dying really intrigued me so I took some of my samples into the dye lab to experiment with dip dyeing them. The effects i achieved were subtle but nice. It was a good way of adding more fluid colour to my work. I would like to explore dying in greater detail in the future, combining yarns that will react differently to the dye.

Moving into weave, i want to push the types of yarns i'm using to create really interesting effects and continue to develop my drawings and photos into compositions and weave patterns; ultimately creating a more dynamic outcome.

Exploring and Experimenting

The past few weeks i have been gathering a lot of visual resources from exploring the city and beyond. I was most inspired by the emerging autumnal colours and the contrast between these and their darker, greyer surroundings.

(own photography from derbyshire dales)

Following my tutorial i have focused my attention on this juxtaposition of the flat and tactile, linear and organic; looking at the hidden detail and colour in my surroundings and developing a colour palette from this.

I have been introduced to machine knitting and begun exploring fibres and yarns in my textile world (construct). I have been experimenting with colour proportion and introducing texture into my samples using various techniques.

I have used a lot of different yarns to explore the textures and effects i can create with them. I found using a smooth cotton/wool mix with unusual textured yarns worked well (as in the sample above); as did using finer yarns with thicker. I intend to carry on experimenting with different yarns and techniques and refining colour.

Drawing week 1

(paper stencil, oil bar, pencil crayon- A4)

Through doing a paper cut and then using it as a stencil i could create 2/ 3 different drawings with different qualities. I like the definition in the top drawing and the texture of the oil bar, i could imagine developing this as a flocked pattern.

(50 pieces of paper, A3)

Inspired by butterfly collectors cabinets. I like the 3d nature of this piece and the simple suggestive shapes. I would like to experiment with origami and the composition of the piece.

(ink with brushes, A4)

The bleeding of the ink makes this drawing interesting- creating different densities within the piece. It has a fuzzy/ furry quality to it which sort of juxtaposes the subject matter (beetles). I would consider experimenting with different weighted and textured yarns to develop this idea.

(pencil, A4)

Although very simple, i think this drawing has an elegant and calming effect- reflective of the subject ( marble sculpture by Barbara Hepworth). I could develop it with stitch or print.

(charcoal, pencil crayon)

This is a section of a larger drawing i did, focusing on one object. I gave myself a restricted section to work in to focus on the colour and pattern of the object. The simple/ linear patterns would lend themselves well to knit or weave i think.

I was really drawn to the vibrance of the leaves paired with the matt grey grate. The colour combination is lovely but i think the pattern that is formed is really interesting aswell.