I have really enjoyed this project. Ive been able to be really creative with my sampling, and I have also managed to get to grips with photoshop. I feel that I have stuck to my brief and I think I have managed my time well and consistantly through out this project.
My origional aim was to 'create a range of experimental designs for interior surfaces or products by using an object that is broken', I landed up taking apart a broken television, and created a series of patterns that can be used across a series of interior and designs for products. In order for my patterns to be versitile amoungst interior products, I had to use a range of different techniques, involving digital and machine, so that the patterns would look presentable on fabric and on a solid surface.
Overall I am really happy with the work I've produced this term.
I regret not being as productive in the first two weeks of the project as I feel that I was slightly isconnected, as I had a bit of trouble writing my brief, however I managed to make up the time in the end. For my next project I want to try and be more reflective, as I feel I havent fully demonstrated what my thoughts and feelings were properly during this one.
putting my work into context
I have been selective when choosing which print to use for what surface. I tried using one of my fabric samples as wallpaper but, obviously, it didnt look right. Ive used my lighter coloured designs on the lamps because they are more of a realistic option.
Tiger Print Competition
I combined my live brief and my self directed project together. This made sence because the tiger print project involved creating an everyday surface pattern aswell.
I was put into the short-list for the competition, which is a result im really happy with.
I was put into the short-list for the competition, which is a result im really happy with.
The aim of the Everyday Surface Pattern Brief was to design a contemporary surface pattern for a male or female recipient that could be used across a range of our everyday products including
gift bags, wrapping paper, stationery products or greeting cards. It asked you to focus on a theme and it gave some examples such as spots, stripes, male icons or female icons, but I decided to focus on electrical components and circuit boards because it related to my self directed project. I have used the circuit boards found in an old television that I took apart and my colour scheme is taken from the components found in there aswell. My intensions for these prints was for stationary, and overall I am happy with their appearance.
My aim wasn't to create a collection, as that wasn't what the brief asked you to do, but to create three completely different prints that origionated from the same source.
gift bags, wrapping paper, stationery products or greeting cards. It asked you to focus on a theme and it gave some examples such as spots, stripes, male icons or female icons, but I decided to focus on electrical components and circuit boards because it related to my self directed project. I have used the circuit boards found in an old television that I took apart and my colour scheme is taken from the components found in there aswell. My intensions for these prints was for stationary, and overall I am happy with their appearance.
My aim wasn't to create a collection, as that wasn't what the brief asked you to do, but to create three completely different prints that origionated from the same source.
Market research
I thought it would be a good idea to research the rooms and products that my designs are intended for. I didn't want to restrict myself at the beginning of the project for who my target audience was going to be, but as my motifs have been developing, it is very clear that they are more suited for children. I could see my designs used for interiors or on products such as for stationary.
combining samples
Some of my digital samples didn't turn out exactly how I wanted them to and some of my soldered samples didn't turn out that brilliantly either, so I decided to combine the two.
I think I have created an interesting technique because you can just see the digital print where the motifs are. Ideally, I should have made the motifs bigger, so that you could see more of the digital print, but as a subtle effect, I think it works well.
They're better than they were before anyway!
I think I have created an interesting technique because you can just see the digital print where the motifs are. Ideally, I should have made the motifs bigger, so that you could see more of the digital print, but as a subtle effect, I think it works well.
They're better than they were before anyway!
More Faric Samples
I really enjoy fabric sampling because I allows me to be really creative. This time though, I have firmly stuck to my colour pallet because I want my samples to be able to make up a collection at the end of this project.
I am actually pleased with all of my samples, The only thing I wish I'd done differently is that I wish I'd made more!
Embellished carpet underlay outlined with free machining technique
I decided to experiment with carpet underlay because I noticed that it included most of the colours from my colour pallet. I think it creates a unique effect that works well
Carpet underlay with a multi-head stitch-out on top. I think this works well. I think I should have put more motifs on it though because the underlay is a bit too busy. I think more of the white motifs would have given it more of a tamer feel.
I created the background by embellishing strips of fabric through some polyester soft touch fabric, sold in the A4 and more store. I think it works well next to the carpet underlay. I had originally hand stitched into this sample with wool, but it looked awful, so I cut the stitches out and replaced the design with one from the ETHOS. I left some white, pink and blue bits in from where I'd done some French knots, because I think they work well as subtle decoration.
I created this background in the print room by using reactive dyes, painting a screen, and then transferring it onto the fabric. This is a technique I learned in first year. I put some creases in the fabric so that when I pulled the dye through, it would miss some sections out. I wanted to make the pattern look a little bit different and I think it works well. I then went over the fabric with the embellisher so that it would become more textured, and also pull the fibres closer together, making the colour stand out a bit more.
I am actually pleased with all of my samples, The only thing I wish I'd done differently is that I wish I'd made more!
Embellished cotton outlined by free machining
Embellished carpet underlay outlined with free machining technique
I decided to experiment with carpet underlay because I noticed that it included most of the colours from my colour pallet. I think it creates a unique effect that works well
I really like this suede fabric. I've created the motifs by using the free machining technique
Carpet underlay with a multi-head stitch-out on top. I think this works well. I think I should have put more motifs on it though because the underlay is a bit too busy. I think more of the white motifs would have given it more of a tamer feel.
I created the background by embellishing strips of fabric through some polyester soft touch fabric, sold in the A4 and more store. I think it works well next to the carpet underlay. I had originally hand stitched into this sample with wool, but it looked awful, so I cut the stitches out and replaced the design with one from the ETHOS. I left some white, pink and blue bits in from where I'd done some French knots, because I think they work well as subtle decoration.
I created this background in the print room by using reactive dyes, painting a screen, and then transferring it onto the fabric. This is a technique I learned in first year. I put some creases in the fabric so that when I pulled the dye through, it would miss some sections out. I wanted to make the pattern look a little bit different and I think it works well. I then went over the fabric with the embellisher so that it would become more textured, and also pull the fibres closer together, making the colour stand out a bit more.
Looking for Work Experience
I thought it was time I started looking for some work experience in order to develop my skills for the real world. I haven't emailed that many people yet, but I plan on getting in touch with a lot more people in the near future!
I have been tailoring my covering letter to each artist or designer because I think that each person has something different to offer.
I have also emailed my tutor Fiona if I could go and see how/ where she works in London with one of the other girls in the group. I think this will be a really exciting experience and I am really looking forward to go.
My sent emails for work experience opportunities
Soldering iron saves the day
I really wanted to use the laser cutter, as I got inducted on it earlier this term, but I haven't really got the time, and it seems to be a really expensive technique.. uni charge £10-£15 per session, which I think is completely ridiculous. Nothing uses that much electricity.
Anyway, I've got a soldering iron at home that I used to take the circuit boards apart, and I wondered if I could use it to manipulate fabric.
I think this technique worked really well. My soldering iron cut through most of the fabrics really well, the only one it didn't work with, that I tried, was Ice wool. I don't think it will cut through very will with natural fabrics, because it only burned the cotton I used.
I think that the real leather samples I tried worked the best, because it burned through and melted the suede, creating a shiny surface. I could see this as a subtle pattern on leather stationary, book covers, or even as a statement panel on a sofa.
Anyway, I've got a soldering iron at home that I used to take the circuit boards apart, and I wondered if I could use it to manipulate fabric.
I think this technique worked really well. My soldering iron cut through most of the fabrics really well, the only one it didn't work with, that I tried, was Ice wool. I don't think it will cut through very will with natural fabrics, because it only burned the cotton I used.
I think that the real leather samples I tried worked the best, because it burned through and melted the suede, creating a shiny surface. I could see this as a subtle pattern on leather stationary, book covers, or even as a statement panel on a sofa.
Combining my components with the originals. I think this makes the piece look really interesting. it adds texture and makes the surface look unique
developing my motifs onto the ETHOS Multi-head
I took these designs from my original collections of motifs that I made by using illustrator on photoshop. I'm really excited to see how these turn out on fabric. I'm not too worried about needing any more patterns because they can be duplicated and combined together anyway.
Sonia Delauney
..created interesting geometric prints by using bold colours. They have a cartoon like appearance to me because they look like the shapes are outlined, which is a really interesting use of negative space. In think that the fabric she has printed on dyes really well. I've seen some of the fabric in the digital print room and some of the colours run quite easily and obviously.
I think that the swimming vest looks really interesting. the pattern looks like its been embellished onto the vest. I also think that the colours used in her pieces are quite similar to my own.
I think that the swimming vest looks really interesting. the pattern looks like its been embellished onto the vest. I also think that the colours used in her pieces are quite similar to my own.
Edwardo Paolozzi
This artist creates really interesting screen prints by using bright, bold colours and geometric shapes that make up a mechanical like appearance.These prints look like they make up a working electrical structure, and I think that the style is very interesting because the images have a fun, child-like quality to them. I think that in my own work it is important to keep my colours bold, and I am now really confident with my colour pallet.
What I have noticed about Edwardo Paolozzi's work is that he uses a lot of overlapping of images, I think that this works really well in his pieces because they vary a lot in size.
What I have noticed about Edwardo Paolozzi's work is that he uses a lot of overlapping of images, I think that this works really well in his pieces because they vary a lot in size.
digital prints
I created some interesting digital prints om photoshop. I found that I could duplicate the same print, and change the colours to get different effects. I then chose the ones that I thought were more successful to be digitally printed onto fabric.
I did two lots of digital prints, my first set was on cotton popilon, which I didnt think was very successful. The fabric felt like a cheap white cotton work shirt, and the prints came out slightly scewed. The patterns that I'd chosen to be printed weren't bery successful either, and I ended up combining them with some other samples and using them as a background, so they weren't a complete waste.
For my second time round I decided to go back to photoshop and create some different prints, by using my motifs, as opposed to my photographs. I chose a thick dense fabric for the prints to be transfered onto called cotton canvas. It feels like a strong, durable fabric, and it also holds the dye really well. I'm really happy with these set of prints
motif development
I used illustrator to develop my motifs by motifs.
I really liked the back of the circuit boards from my TV, so I decided to use them as my main source of inspiration.
I then coppied and pasted each object into photoshop, where I turned them all into brushes
I then created larger motifs out of clusters of the smaller components to make it easier to develop my patterns
Charlotte Smith technique
Charlotte smith uses drops of acrylic paints to create raised surfaces, essentially out of colour.
I found some paint that I've had for a really long time, and its used to create window stickers. When it dries, it creates a raised surface, and it also dries shiny, which I thought linked to the shininess of the glass from the TV.
It's a different technique I wanted to try. It feels really strange to touch, once its dried on paper.
I also had a go at recreating some photos out of the paint, to experiment with colour and shine.
I would like to use this paint more, because its so different. I think I like it because it's shiny, textured and colourful.
I found some paint that I've had for a really long time, and its used to create window stickers. When it dries, it creates a raised surface, and it also dries shiny, which I thought linked to the shininess of the glass from the TV.
It's a different technique I wanted to try. It feels really strange to touch, once its dried on paper.
I also had a go at recreating some photos out of the paint, to experiment with colour and shine.
I would like to use this paint more, because its so different. I think I like it because it's shiny, textured and colourful.
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