Level 4 origins unit evaluation

I feel my development throughout this project has been constant and steady I feel that I have shown clear links and connections in my development from my own photographs, drawings and samples as well as artist influences .I took elements from my drawings into stitch and then improved the initial samples as I went on.

I looked carefully through my photographs and drawing and took only certain parts which jumped out and interested me and translated them into stitch, throughout this process I have edited down my work to come out with drawings and samples that have a better quality them those I first did.

Throughout the project, I have made several self-discoveries about my work for example, I learnt about my hand stamp as an artist and how my drawing style is much more about mark making and creating a surface rather than realistic observational drawing. I also learnt to think more about the bigger factor and picture for example with my samples I initially took them one by one as separate piece but learnt to think how they would work in correlation with on another this is something I will defiantly take forward into my further practice.

I feel that I have achieve a lot throughout this process in a personal way as I didn’t think I was capable to create 15 samples of quality within just one week. I have also learnt to not put my drawing and work down as this will only slow me down, I now look for the positive in my work and how it can be improved this was a big breakthrough for me and help me gain more confidence in my work.

My contextual referencing greatly helped me throughout this process. My artist influences; the Boyle family along with my photographs were the starting point for all my development. They related to and gave me the colour scheme for my work and the implied textures in my photographs inspired me to use certain techniques in ways which could be easily be connected back to my photos, for example the idea of gravel to me is implied with the textural quality of French knots.

Overall I have used my independent and studio time wisely, I have come in on independent study days to complete or catch up on work however I had a slight panic when as I was ill and missed an important hand embroidery lesson this knocked my confidence but I feel I have made up for this. I have slightly struggled with time management in regards to the blog and did it in chunks rather them just doing it as I go along this is something I will definitely change in future.

I have thought laterally about my work and contextual references,  I have always been able to make a link between them whether it is as obvious as the colour scheme or lateral as the shape of a line or a process such as the use of repeat.
 

 

 

 

Friday drawing days

In addition to my embroidery work and contextualising practice material cultures we have had a Friday drawing day once a week, these have help me expand my drawing practice a lot further as it opened my mind into different ways of thinking.

the first week of drawing day we were given the task of a colour wheel using gouache paint which gave a much better finish. For the second week we have to bring two pairs of shoes in and do blind drawings and observational drawings and of them this really widened my mind to drawing how with the blind drawing you had to hold the pencil or chosen media loosely and freely. For the third week we continued with the shoe theme except we had to create some collages of the shoes using recycled paper I experimented with bother torn and cut edges I enjoyed this. The forth week of drawing we had to bring in and draw scan and copy a sentimental object however the last week of drawing day was by far the most enjoyable.

we had to get a kinder egg and  use the toy to firstly print with and secondly incorporate the toy in a 3D object or a drawing with 3D within it. I had a jigsaw and these photographs show my process.

I feel these are strong samples as the colours work well with my colour scheme from my development. I also feel the composition of my pieces work well with one another and the use of pins to connect he jigsaw adds to the metallic effect.

Hand embroidery week 3

For week three we were given some hand-outs with stitches we could choose to use or place in our technical file. We were given the task to continue with previous techniques to create a set of ten samples. I looked back at my photographs, drawings and artist influences to create these.

 

 

 

For my set of samples I took inspiration from my circular mark making in my sketchbook which link back to my context, I decided that this week rather then concentrating on one sample at a time I would think more about connecting  them as a set that work together in harmony and so it only felt right to blog them together as a set.

 

 

For the first two samples I decided to come up with a pattern for which they could both follow, I came up with a repeat patter of six circles in the centre of the material, I stuck with the colour scheme of white black and grey even though we had the choice to introduce colour as the colour scheme of my photographs is mostly grey white and black. I decided to use French knots alone as they create a rough texture and imitate the circular shape. I feel these are a strong sample as it shows clear connection from my photographs to drawings to samples.

For this sample I went back to the eyelet machine and remembered the tutor telling me that the thinner material wouldn't cut completely and so I decided to experiment with this. I used a black silk organza and individually created the wholes which because of the light weight fabric became small tabs a then tacked the tabs down with a grey cotton which added a decorative effect and finally added some linen circles from a previous sample which I had cut out. The circles look as if they are cascading down the fabric and the effect of the organza look as though it could be a water colour painting.





overall I feel these three samples are clear concise and have obvious links to show my journey form inspirational photograph to samples. I feel they work well alone but better as a set this is something I have learnt throughout this process to think on the large scale rather then the small.





 

 

 

 

Hand embroidery week 2

I missed the Tuesday lesson due to health reasons so I started to do more samples based on the first weeks techniques however once I caught up I found that the technique we had been taught was the open button whole, I completed my technical file sample however this technique wasn't something that I enjoyed and so didn't pursue any further.




I decided to look back at my photographs to give my sample more context, I came along this road markings and it inspired me to create this sample. I used a clear plastic and used my needle to make wholes in it which gave the textural effect of gravel, I used French knots to act as the smudges on the road and used a running stitch to give the sample a vertical direction, this gives the effect that the line could continues almost like a pathway.

I looked at the Boyle family's work to inspire my photographs as a find it inspiriting and to me easily relatable to stitch for example here the road markings could represent running stitch and the white speckles on the ground could be French knots.

This is part of the 'London Series' group of works by Boyle Family. It is an exact, three-dimensional replica of a kerb from Addison Crescent in West London. The artists chose this area to replicate by throwing darts, at random, at a map. The work was made by spreading a plastic substance called Epikote on the ground, which lifts up all the surface debris when removed. This was then given a fibreglass support and painted. Working in this way and recording whatever is within the chosen area, removes the aspect of subjective choice and reduces the conscious, decision-making process.
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/artists-a-z/B/4553/artist_name/Boyle%20Family/record_id/2040




I continued to sample using the same ideas of my previous work I introduce other material such as in this sample a sweet wrapper. For this sample I used a white silk organza and which thread the organza aloud the thread to show through the surface and the loose French knots create a cascading organic effect. Although there is very little on this sample I feel there is a nice composition to it however this could be improved by adding another technique such as a running or chain stitch.

As I really enjoyed working with French knots I looked for more circular forms in my drawings and photographs, from this I experimented with cutting circles out and then spoke to a tutor about this and as a result got inducted onto the eyelet machine this machine creates whole in the material, I used the biggest eyelet and was advised to use a heavy weight or stiff material as this would all the circles to completely cut out where as with a thinner material it may only cut part of the circle.



I used two different types of linen to create these samples. For the first one I individually made the wholes in the material I then cut out a section and appliques it onto a silk organza to add another factor to the sample. The contrast of light and heavy weight material works really well however this could real benefit from some hand stitch and so I plan to add a running stitch winding through the circles and scattered French knots to imitate the shapes.


























 I used a coated linen and folded it I then used the eyelet to pierce a whole through the layers to create a circular repeat pattern, I feel this is successful sample as it shows clear links to my drawings through the shapes and use of repeat. this idea of repeat is something I plan to use in future. For my final third week samples I plan to continue with the theme of circular forms and to create a set of samples that work together

Introduction to hand embroidery week 1

During the introduction into hand stitch we were introduced into the three fundamental hand stitch running stitch, ladder stitch, French knots and chain stitch, we also learnt about positioning the needle and in which stitched to hold the thread towards and away from you as well as being told to always stitch away from you  . We were given a piece of hessian and had to split it into thirds and demonstrate each stitch in each section playing around with stitch length and width to use in my technical file. We were given the task of creating 10 hand samples.

This is an example of my experimenting with a sample with different type of media including paper and mattress lining. I re drew a chance card drawing from a previous week and created this sample from it. I plan to add a chain stitch running along and French knots in circular form to link this sample back to my inspirational photographs.

For this sample I decided to be more simplistic and edit down to think about the line in which the stitch travels a chose a cream material and white thread and used chain stitch to create this sample. I varied the shape of chain stitch, this gives the effect that the stitch is in essence going further into the distance. The simplistic yet thoughtful nature of this sample is something I find interesting and would like to think more bout in my further samples.





As I had previously introduced paper in to my sample this is something I decided to experiment more with but in a different way, I looked back through my photographs of Manchester and found some gravel which inspired this sample I simply used a needle to make holes in a piece of paper which had been printed on black. The holes looked as if they could be minute French knots and so I decided to add a few looped French knots to add another texture, to improve this sample more I could experiment more with the scales of holes and French knots as well as introducing other types of paper for example hand made paper this would give the piece a more tactile effect.


























I was inducted onto the Cornelli machine and introduced to several versions of this machine which either produce a chain stitch or a moss stitch. I was really apprehensive to use these machines due to the noise because you have to control the machine from underneath. The machine was hard to control at first but became easier and enjoyable. This is an example of very heavy chain stitch on a wool flannel, I used a grey and cream thread to give the  sample a stone effect. To take this sample further I could introduce another technique for example a hand chain stitch or French knots.

 

Machine embroidery week 3

During our final week three of machine embroidery we were introduced to  the double needle and sword need which are used in conjunction with the pin tack foot. This is a very sensitive technique and the stitch that comes out is very dependant on the material used. For example on a thick heavy weight fabric such as wool flannel it is the widest 4cm needle that is used as the thinner 2cm needle would simply sink into the fabric and not create any tuck on the wool flannel, it is also very important to use two of the same type of threads in the machine so that it doesn't tangle however the spool can be changed to a thicker hand stitch thread. This technique is very time consuming and so would be impossible to create another fifteen samples in one week.



For this first sample I concentrated more on mark making with the medium 3cm double needle and the tailor tacking foot, I took inspiration from my photographs the tailor tacking representing the speckles of on the concrete. I feel that the composition of this sample could be greatly improved, for example if the fabric was fully covered in the tailor tacking and double needle.

This is what I would class as my strongest sample I decided to go for a oblong shape rather then a square, I chose to use a black velvet as this this material works amaizingly with the double needle as it sinks into the pile and a slight line is created, the light hits the velvet which hints to subtle colour changes. I used the smallest double needle and sewed on the bias which tucked up the velvet to give a springy feel. Using this double needle technique on the velvet has in essence created a new fabric with a completely different surface and texture. This is something I found very interesting and is something I would take forward in future samples.

For this sample I continued with the idea of creating a  new fabric and so I got some water soluble and double needle striped black and white lines vertically and then horizontally to create a check pattern this also relates to my photograph of bricks as it follows the same pattern. This sample was quite time consuming as I had to firstly sewn each double stitch individually and then had to was the water soluble off, this was quite arduous as it took a few washes to get the water soluble out however it was well worth it as the new fabric had nice soft hold and weight.

 

This is an example of the sword needle, the chosen fabric worked really well with this technique and created an almost lace effect. Yet again I created a repeat pattern with this sample and kept to a muted cream which I gained from previous weeks samples. It has a quite organic look which is something that really interested me and would like to take forward into hand stitch. 

I defiantly think that this is my strongest set of samples as I feel they are finished to a high quality and the use of materials is carefully thought about.

Machine embroidery week 2

During week two of machine embroidery we were introduced to four new techniques non of which I have never used, hair pinning; wrapping of materials or threads around a hair pin and using the zipper foot to sew it down. Tailor tacking using a tailor tacking foot, this is something I first struggled with as I found it hard to grasp how the sitched changed when the tention and length were played with at the same time being facinated how one stitch can create such a vast variety of marks on a material. We were also shown how to fold and manipulate fabric neatly and finally how to use the tufter machine to create a further fifteen samples. After the group and tutor discussion about my work in the previous week I decided to take on the advice and try to edit down my sample and although I wanted to get straight ahead and use every technique combined with one another I decided to concentrate more on my photographs and drawings for context and the use of materials and threads to create a sophisticated group of samples.

I felt this was my most successful sample which surprised me as it only used one technique however the composition and weight of the silk organza with the cotton was delicate and thoughtful. I loosely wrapped a black and white thread around the hair pin and sewed the tread in place I chose a silk organza for the thread to lie on and played around with the composition until I found this one, I took my experience of last week and learnt from it and took more time to think about my use of materials to give my samples a higher quality.

During this week I was inducted to the tufting machines one of which loops and the other cuts. This was a machine i had never used before and I was quite apprehensive before using it due to the look and noise of the machine however once I sat at the machine and got going I found it to be very enjoyable I changed the thread colours to a cream and grey to link to my colour scheme in my inspirational photographs. I also took the idea of pattern from my drawings and photographs and tufted on either side of the wool flannel to create this repeat pattern. Although in some aspect this is a successful sample to be improve i could cute the loops down to give a more rugged texture which would refer back to my context






For this sample I took the idea of circular forms which I had previously used combined with the technique of tailor tacking, along with the idea of the stark contrast of the white on the black background aloud the circular shapes to jump out and off the surface. This to me looks like gravel and small stones.





In this sample I combined the techniques of hair pinning and tailor tacking these techniques work really well together and the piece has an interesting composition and looks almost like a road mark. To take this further I could cut the edges of the ribbon and make some more similar samples so it could work in  a set. This type of long thin vertical composition is something I find myself using quite allot and is almost part of my hand stamp it is something that I feel comfortable doing so in future I could try and experiment more with composition .

Introduction to machine embroidery week 1

Going into embroidery the group was initially split into two large group of hand and machine and then into four smaller sub groups within each technique. I was in the machine embroidery group, going into the introduction for the machine I thought that it would be quite arduous to learn the workings of the Bernina sewing machine as I had previously used the same machine throughout my practice however I was wrong. I found out new thing I didn't know about the machine such as how to disable the the spool to unclog the built up cotton and how to tighten the tension on the spool.

For the first week we were given the fundamental machine stitches straight, zigzag and satin stitch to create fifteen sample, I got onto the machine and started by sewing off some quick technical samples for my file which would in then include a variety of stitches I would learn throughout the 6 weeks embroidery introduction. I found this quick and easy

For my first sample I used a variety of materials including wool flannel and silk organza. I looked at my original photographs and took the tactile nature of subject matter in the photos and translated it into my work. I layered the materials together and sewed them vertically then cut the material and sewed horizontally allowing folds to happen. I used the colour scheme of greys and creams to give a the effect of stone. I found it interesting how some of the edges of material frayed and others were flat and how they worked with one another, this is something that I i would experiment with in my future samples.

For this sample I continued to work with the idea of frayed edges against straight. I decided to keep it as a thin vertical focal point against the black wool flannel to draw the eye up and into the work. I feel that the frayed Hessian edges works well against the organza to create rough surface against a soft one. I played along with the stitch width on one line of satin stitch which created an interesting mark on the background and the contrasting white against the black allows the stitch to stand out away from the dark background playing with tension stitch width and length is something i found interesting and was something I took forward into my work.

I went over my my drawings and found one of my twenty lines chance cards drawing which was simply twenty vertical straight lines with fine liner, although it was simply it gave off an organic feel and so I decided to translate this into a sample, I chose a white cotton and sewed thin pleats to create a repeat pattern, the idea of pattern is something that interested me and is something I would take forward and expand on. Although this is quite simple it is very effective and has an organic innocent effect.

I decided to post this close up of a sample because I feel that it has a good quality of line and shows a subtle experiment with stitch width and tension, and the use of a gradual colour change thread help to show a subtle continuation of line.

Overall I feel that I let the thought of doing fifteen samples weigh on my mind and so I thought more about getting fifteen done then the planning and quality of my samples, and so my samples suffered for this in my later samples toward the end were rushed and unclear to see the link to my context. Although I feel that fifteen sample lowered the quality of them I did learn an important factor of time management and so in future I plan to concentrate more on this.

Origins unit chance cards

We started the origins unit with the exercise of drawing from chance cards which had simple instructions on how to create a drawing for example, a drawing made with 5 different types of pencils.

 

This was an idea I struggled with to start, I was over thinking the process and worrying about what I could do before I even started the process of looking for inspiration. Once I calmed myself down I walked into manchester and firstly took some inspirational photographs which also signified chance cards.

 

 

 

 

 

  

I looked more closely at the textural qualities I found rather then an object in its entirety as this gave me a lot of inspiration of how I could bring this into my drawings in abstract circular forms and then into stitch for example French knots, or circular forms of fabric appliqué. The next step I took was to create some chance cards drawings. 

 

 

85% of the page covered.

I took inspiration from my photos and the circular forms to create this mark I decided to go more for an abstract mark making technique rather then trying to realistically copy the photograph I used printing with black ink in a repeat pattern and used a grey crayon to add some detail and shading, the used a broken line for the circle as I feel this is more true to the inspiration and the rugged worn effect of the paving stones, although this is what appears to be a simple drawing it is also effective as it had a good composition and clear link to my previous photographs. I experimented with scale of circles and I could easily translate this into stitch with the use of French knots and the shading could be ladder stitch.

 

20 lines.

After creating a flat drawing I decided to experiment with the used of 3d and different textures and materials. I used marking tape a variety of brown paper and corrugated card. I pulled the edges on the card to leave an organic line this shows as a focal point to drawing, the colour scheme also links well to the idea of being organic.

 

5 minute drawing.

I made some first hand drawings whilst out in Manchester including several quick 5 minute drawings looking at the bark on trees, I experimented with scale and a variety of drawing utensils including pencil, paint, mud. The use of the black fine liner in the centre creates an illusion of depth and pulls the eye into the drawing for that reason I feel this is quite successful.

 

20 lines.

This is an example of a 20 lines chance card which was one of many experiments with the same chance card rule for this one I simply first added some subtle watercolour to treat the paper I them added some soft lines while the water colour was still wet. This let the fine liner bleed into the paper and create a softer graduated line. This could be taking forward into stitch as it implies to me a fluent line which could be achieved with the embroidery foot on a machine.

Overall I feel that this exercise aloud my to review my way of drawing and identify my hand stamp as quite abstract and more about mark making and an illusion of texture.

I had the opportunity to be able to look through other students sketchbooks i found this very exciting and fascinating, the variety and diversity of work I found in my peer groups sketchbooks was obvious to see. I found that lots of my peers were incorporating contextual research photographs and artist influences etc. This could be  something for me to incorporate into my own sketch books for future reference.

My sketchbook represents my thoughts ideas and process' moulded together and although it may not be the neatest or the prettiest the sketchbook is the place to make mistakes and explore it does not have to be perfectly set out it needs to show exploration, and development , in future I will think of these fundamental qualities and try to push myself and my work other then just concentrating on my mistakes. This process helped me make my mind up on the textile worlds, choosing embroidery would be the way forward for me as it is the best world I feel my drawings would be best represented.