Presentation Evaluation

Presentations are definitely not one of my strongest points. I struggle with the confidence to present my work vocally infront of an audience no matter how small. Having completed my presentation I can say that for me it was quite successful. It forced me to review my work in a way that would make sense to others unfamiliar to my project. It also allowed me to make sense of my own work as being involved in such a long project can sometimes make you lose track and sense of direction. I do not find it easy to link elements of a project together in a way that flows. Sometimes a sense of direction or successful direction can only be identified and established at this point. I now feel more inspired about what I need to do in order to push my work forward. Even though we have weekly tutorials, it isn't often that I take in my whole project to that point as more often it's new work since the last tutorial. Having to include aspects of my whole project in the presentation encouraged me to be reflective and focused as a whole and identify a clearly directed path. I am not quick at stimulating work and listening into other peoples presentations on their work encouraged me to realise the potential in mine. It helped me to see how other people summarised their projects and what they felt their own key points were. It was also beneficial to see the ideas people had chosen to work with and how they manipulated this through creative processes. I feel that another positive thing to come from the half way review presentation is that I am also going to have some tutorials with Teresa. My work is clearly more directed towards a print outcome and although Lynn gives me a constructive input overall, Teresa will be able to fill the gaps of a printers knowledge. Based on the feedback I received on my presentation, my next step is to build upon this and successfully move my work forward with a new focused and informed approach. 

Developing my ideas towards a combined print outcome

To develop my ideas further I am going to move into the print room and work with different processes on paper as I am currently still looking into wallpaper or gift wrap designs. To this point I have been developing my visual research and taking elements into photo-shop, digitally creating patterns. I am looking to move my work into hand produced techniques to explore possibilities through screen printing.

I want to create a body of elegant samples. Flocking and foiling give a more bespoke touch to designs that would attract a higher priced market. I feel that to this point my work has not incorporated enough exciting elements to create professional samples. Not only will this process create a relief pattern but it can also create a visual 3- Dimensional effect. I perhaps feel slightly restricted on photoshop to making my patterns work to the market I would like to approach. Screen printing will enable me to include qualities to enhance my work.

Visualising my designs

It was important for me to see how my designs to this point would work in visualisations. I took some of my digital patterns and played around with imposing them into interior spaces. This gives my work more clarification in terms of fitting into industry. This is one of my more successful visualisations. Itook my lino prints are merged them together to create this digital pattern. I wanted to have development prints that showed the physical quality but at this point, photoshop is a quick and efficient way to generate and express my ideas. 

Fired Earth

As a stem from my original concept is decorative tiles, I looked at ceramic companies for inspiration to inform my imagery for lino printing. Fired earth is a company that has beautiful mosaic tiles for interiors. I took inspiration from this particular pattern to create the linear drawing which I will then translate into print. 

Rather than having one thickness of line through out, I gave the design more variation in thickness and shape.

Lino Printing

I have made a few carved lino stamps that I am going to work with on a larger scaled surface. As I am considering wall paper, I have purchased a roll of plain wallpaper to work straight on to. This allows me to work within realistic dimensions and visualize how my work would look on a wall. I tried to experiment with my colour ways informed by my photographs from Kelvingrove museum. In my development prints I tested composition and layering.

Designing from my Drawings

To put my drawings into some form of context, I started playing around with how they would travel across a larger surface, first of all by hand. For a quick production of ideas I photocopied some of my drawings and played around with repetition and composition. 

I then took the same motif into photoshop and created a pattern by mirroring and reflecting within a 52cm by 52cm work space set for interiors. The linear qualities worked best by doing this processes as there was a natural link between each drawing.

Adapting my drawing technique

I feel like a lot of my drawing style so far has been very controlled and neat. I feel this may be due to me working in the sketchbook and therefore I am subconsciously thinking too much about the page as opposed to my actual drawing. Therefore my next step to develop my work is to move on to larger scale surfaces. I think another way to move my work forwards is to look back at drawing exercises I have learnt before. This week I’ve been using techniques such as blind drawing and restricting myself to a time limit. It has loosened up my mark making which has helped give a bit more variety.

Based on the tiled collage I created inspired by Merci Paris I cut a square viewfinder in cartridge paper and drew within the box. I allowed myself to go over the edges which cut the drawing off in some areas. I wanted to mirror the idea of the drawing being contained to a square and being dictated by the shape of the perimeter. 

Tutorial with Rachel Kelly

After my tutorial with Rachel Kelly, I realised I was not looking at my work from a designers point of view. In order for my designs to develop successfully, now would be an appropriate time to work on large scale surfaces. 

I have stepped out of my sketch book onto individual papers which do not restrict my drawing space. In addition this will enable me to put my designs into photo-shop without the issue of losing quality when enlarging my designs.

At some point I am aware that I need to give more consideration to my colour pallet as I have limited myself to one colour range. This was originally intentional as I wanted to focus on other elements such a shape and pattern before complicating my thoughts with colour use. Although I am unsure as to what it will look like, I am aiming towards a collection of designs at this stage towards wall paper, and I am aware collections usually consist of at least 8 or 9 colours to a pallet. I am also going to give thought to how I use colour and composition across a surface area of standard wall paper dimensions to understand my designs in a realistic light.

Merci Paris Wallpaper

I came across wallpaper designs by Merci Paris. They combine the idea of tile formation more as imagery as opposed to a relief surface. I decided to take drawings that I had done and create a similar collage piece in response to what I have seen here.

Camden Markets

Camden Markets in London have been another point of visual research informing my project. I came across beautifully hand carved stamps which related really well to my initial theme. 

This has enabled me to think about the idea of stamping as a way of making marks and I want to push the concept of hand processes. It has been a long time since I have experimenting with lino printing but it has worked very successfully as I have been able to achieve an alternative line quality and an opportunity to bring in some texture. Lino stamping allows me to explore the element of positive and negative space as to make marks the surface has to be carved away.  My colour pallet has not been particularly informed in this sample which is something I need to work on for my ideas to progress.

Initial Drawing

My aim from my initial drawing has been to develop shape, line and pattern. I envision my work to be for an interior market so I have been thinking about components or motifs that could go into a design. I have been working a lot with fine line on to paper.

This is allowing me to create very detailed drawings but it is not giving me enough development within my imagery so I need to be more experimental in the way I’m working. I want to create original designs and my style at this point is too literal. Each drawing is also very detailed which is taking a lot of time. To move forward I am going to look back to skills from previous project which will give me confidence to work more fluidly. 

Kelvingrove Art Gallery

Whilst in Glasgow, I seeked further inspiration from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. I was looking at an alternative colour pallet, something vibrant with an impact. I initially felt, although my thailand photographs were perfect for inspiring my drawing in terms of pattern, they may not give me enough from a colour pallet. These butterflies had lively colour tones which I have gone on to experiment with.

Following on from looking at butterflies, I began to look at birds as they were a feature in cushion by The Hmong Tribe; a thailand based textile company who work with embroidery. I didn’t want to restrict myself but in doing so I feel I am trying to cover too many directions.

Having experimented slightly with drawings and painting studies, I have decided to move quickly back to architectural pattern in terms of imagery. I am aware that I will have a stronger project if the concept underpinning my ideas and decision making is clear and focused. However I do like the colour pallet I have extracted from the particular study above and may continue experimenting with this.

The Hmong Tribe

These are examples of the products made by the Hmong Tribe in Thailand. They are beautifully embroidered with vibrant colours and organic imagery. Dense embroidery gives each pattern a subtle relief surface. 

Where it all started....

For a month of summer I backpacked around Thailand with friends. It was a massive culture change but I loved experiencing a completely different place in the world. I felt that having a new and fresh starting point would help me to be inspired about my work which is why I wanted to base my visual imagery here. When visiting different places and monuments, my attention was caught by the decorative architecture consisting of engraved intricate patterns and mosaic tile surfaces. There was a very evident sense of pattern that could be seen in many aspects of their culture. There is a strong hand made quality that underpins most craftsmanship in Thailand. Each creative piece not only feels beautiful but also meaningful and time and effort is very evidently expressed in their workmanship. I want to portray this quality in my own work.

My next step was to translate what I had seen and photographed though drawing. My initial drawings were very simple in that they were fine line drawings of certain shapes and motifs from my photographs. I aimed for them to be very decorative to pin point why I had found them so interesting.