Digital Designs

P A P E R 

Alongside my sketchbook work I have also been keen to produce lots of digital prints. So far I have really enjoyed the digital tutorials as I feel although I have never used photoshop before, that I prefer working in this way. I really like to play around with the images which always gives me new ideas of composition or creating new brushes. We have been able to create colour swatches on photoshop which come directly from our colour stripe; this enables the whole body of work to be consistent.

Below are a few of my first paper samples :

(excuse quality of images cant work out how to upload directly from photoshop yet)

Obsessions with colour

C O L O U R  P A L E T T E 

I had to choose a picture and represent the colours proportionally on a colour stripe to create my colour palette..

However I had no luck in finding my 'perfect' image, and I almost wanted to use a colour stripe from my sketchbook from the work I had produced at the beginning of the course. I loved all of the colour variations but they all came from one single image. Knowing I would never be able to reproduce this as one entire colour palette, I went in search of more pictures....

At long last...

 being the indecisive person that I am, I finally sifted through enough images and I found this one on the internet under Guatemalan Textiles. This image is bright, bold, and for me its 'character' is happy. Although, I am a little sad as I would have preferred my image to be a primary source produced by me, especially after repetitively going over the idea of originality. 

Research

M Y  I N T E R E S T S

We have been asked this week to start to think about a colour palette in which we have to base our journeys project on. Firstly, I began to think about what colours I would use to create the style I like. How mistaken I was. After chatting with the tutors I realised I needed to rethink my ideas all over again. I had discovered that the colour palette we chose must reflect through our body of work and style. It would create character and set a mood for our project. 

In order to choose a colour palette, we had to find an image and work from that with gouache to reproduce these colour tones. I was told to only pick an image which I loved every colour of and one which I knew I wouldn't get bored of as we had to use it for several weeks.. 

After being notified of this new information, I knew exactly where I wanted to begin looking for my image, and I trawled through page after page of world textiles.

These images all come from the book "World Textiles" A sourcebook. 

 

Producing Motifs

H A N D  &  I L L U S T R A T O R 

This week we have had more tutorials about designing our motifs, and this is solely what I have been concentrating on in order to transfer my best designs onto screens for printing. I have found this to be quite a challenge, particularly working without colour! After learning about positives and negatives of the screen, I am going to attempt to try to balance the ratio of black and white equally although I realise this will be difficult considering the fine lines used in the compass drawings...

                       

           Close up shots of one of my motifs produced so far for the print group...
                                         (image previously shown at a distance)

This is my second compass drawing by hand, following the first compass drawing I chose to redesign a second after the first one I felt was quite successful. Again trying to balance positive and negative.

 

This week we also began to use illustrator, I managed to reproduce another compass design after much difficulty and time. But I definitely feel like it was worth it and although I don't think I will use Illustrator a huge amount in my work to come, I do feel a sense of achievement after getting the 'knack' it eventually... 

Images

' F I N D I N G  M Y S E L F '

Out on my travels I have come across some brilliant finds... Which are also enabling me to develop through the project

The image above has been taken from Viva Vintage Italy magazine which I overheard people gossiping about whilst browsing around Cow... http://wearecow.blogspot.co.uk 

Exploring the attic was a bonus, this vintage suitcase inspires me 

because of its original design

Even at a Chinese buffet it is possible to be inspired. During a meal out in town I came across the restaurant owners collection of notes from around the world... 

This image is taken from the internet, however I decided to post this as this 1950's style spike wall clock reminded me of my compass designs... 

Motif Making

C O N T I N U I N G  M Y  J O U R N E Y 

After thinking about my 'journey' a little more in depth I am now thinking about journeys in many other ways... My umbrella sketch has progressed from the idea of ' A journey through Seasons' ...

I chose an Umbrella as England seems to only have one season ... 

Throughout all of my drawings I am still attempting to continue this idea of original style. 

Brogues to me, are the best shoes. They are fine in all types of weather, comfortable, but best of all I believe they have this kind of artistic quality that other shoes just don't have. The pin sized dots and immaculately cut edges mixed with the leather really excite me...

 Love of vintage ... becoming obsessive...

What could possibly be better than old vintage bicycles.

 One of the earliest methods of transporting yourself around; these sketches have evolved from my idea of 'journeys' through travel ...

Initial ideas

M O T I F S 

 Starting to think back to journeys once more...

After flicking through enormous amounts of antique work and old vintage furniture, I realised I would like to incorporate these ideas and inspirations into my own textile work. After 'finding myself' a little more, I am now looking at types of 'Journeys' through travelling, and using images based on this idea. The mini was an iconic car built in the 1960's, one of the most memorable periods in modern history which I also find extremely inspiring and so I have chosen to use this as a hand drawn motif. 

The compass motif below, has also developed out of the idea of using images from travel. 

Going back in time...

 Ships were the only way to transfer goods between countries, and therefore were an important means of travel. I wanted to look at compasses because they come from ships and so for me, compasses symbolise originality and beauty.

Following these thought processes my first designs have taken on a vintage style in hope of therefore continuing to put my own twist on original images which I love to look at so much.

Artist Research

E V A  H E S S E 

When beginning my project on 'Journeys' I delved into my artist research and Eva Hesse's work interested me greatly. Hesse's work demonstrates remarkable power and feeling which tells us of an inner life, sometimes fraught with anxiety. She was fascinated with the female and the inward and due to illness at such a young age I interpreted her work to portray loneliness in her time of need. 

Below is my inspired piece, which in fact demonstrates strength in the way which I believe Eva Hesse needed through the time of her struggle with illness. 

To me, holding hands symbolises equality, strength, help, love and comfort. This is where i then decided to take a quick glance at 'Emotional journeys' to begin my project.