Combinations

P R I N T  W I T H  S T I T C H

To create this piece I firstly printed the backing linen cloth with reactive dye and manutex. I then put it in the steamer... cold water... hot soapy water...cold water... dry. Iron.

This piece was not originally meant to turn out like this, but once again I'm happy with my accident. I screen printed my mini motif onto a muslin cloth, and originally I wanted to present this piece with my muslin layered over the top of this backing fabric. In my head, I would be able to see the colours of the backing fabric through the muslin. However, after printing both pieces I could not see the backing fabric at all through the muslin. So, instead I decided to experiment with appliqué. I cut around the edge of my mini and pinned and sewed it onto my backing fabric. 

As I have previously talked about in a post before, it is interesting to consider whereabouts I could imagine this print being used. So far, I have thought of it being used on the face of a linen bag, or perhaps a repeat onto a quilt, or pillow of some kind. Even on a fashion garment, but I think it is more suited to home/soft furnishings. 

Another point I have taken from developing this idea, is that by layering up fabric it gives it more depth of quality and the fabric almost has a different look to it, than it would if it were just a print on the same piece of linen. I really like this aspect of layering and so I am glad I have sampled this and worked through a new thought process. 

Devore

T E S T I N G

Today in the print room prior to leaving, I realised I hadn't tried using Devore.

This process wasn't new to me because this was one process that I had actually experimented with before. However, this didn't mean I could remember how to do it. As per usual however, I googled quick instructions on how to Devore and I decided to give it a go, and somehow it actually came out ok. 

http://www.georgeweil.com/fact_file/Devore.aspx

One mistake that I did make and will remember for next time though, was not to use an iron at its maximum temperature as the fabric will go nearly brown instead of yellow. 

The art of accidents

M A K I N G  M I S T A K E S

Today in the print room I decided to just go 'all out' and this is what happened... 

I managed to create a whole space full of colour. After my last beautiful manutex print was ruined I soldiered on to try again, this time triple checking the fabric type.

I am really happy with my outcomes from today, despite only screen printing on top of two of my samples, I have learnt more about the way I enjoy working and developing; finding my own way through textiles. I have realised, that the more intriguing and creative the process, the more and more I enjoy something. I experimented with salt to make the dye disperse which created beautiful artistic 'accidents'. I think that my title to this post reflects me as an artist because I have found out many new things and created new ways by accident or experimentation and so I have also realised that this plays a huge role in finding yourself and creating your work to its full potential. 

Table full of colourful samples and prints mostly from today.

Digital designs

M Y  I D E A S

This week I had my first digital design printed onto fabric. It was amazing to watch and also to see how the whole process comes together. I was quite astounded as to how simple it actually is and it has definitely motivated me to get more digital samples done. 

One aspect of digitally printing which I liked, is that the colour comes out very rich and does not fade. When screen printing particularly with reactive dye, after only one pull the fabric will look beautiful, however after the washing process has been completed it seems to fade at least a little. Whereas the digital print images look just as good as the original design. Another aspect which I love, is that I have been able to develop my digital designs much further than my screen printing ideas which is another reason as to why I prefer working digitally. Creating new brush presets from new and developing work is much more exciting than sticking with the same motifs. 

    

This is one of my first paper designs which is going to be further developed into more digital samples. I really enjoy creating these ideas and I find it really interesting to envisage whereabouts you can see your print. For example for this print, I could imagine seeing it as a repeat pattern on a 'shabby chic' plain shift dress. Or even on a cushion cover. Although I personally adore my colour stripe, I know that it is not for everyone and so when designing I will have to watch out that my designs are not only liked by just me. I think this process will be easily managed by listening to lots of feedback consistently.

Following on the thought of my colour stripe, in this design I have chosen to use only a few selected colours, and this therefore shows my development through my thought process since the beginning of this project ...

Below, I have found a vintage style paper print which is taken from the internet under 'Vintage Print'. After looking around at other designs and going back to my vintage and original style, if i get the opportunity I think I would now like to add text to some of my design ideas. I think that text adds more feeling to the work. I would also like to play with lines and experiment with numerous line layers similarly to this image. 

Before next week I am hoping to be able to print some of my developed digital designs out on fabric. If this goes to plan I would also like to perhaps sample one screen print on top of a digital print. I think I would prefer this technique compared with creating a pattern using my motifs and only using my screen. 

Manutex prints

S A M P L E S 

Last week we had a tutorial on manutex printing and right from the beginning I knew I would enjoy it when it got round to my turn. And I was right. 

So far I have spent far too long in the print room for the meek amount of samples (good ones at that) which have been produced. I was very disheartened by this and since printing and sampling I have at least recognised where my strengths do and don't lie. 

On the one hand, pigment printing and using my motifs, I can forever try but I don't think I will ever use it for a whole project as I am too impatient. I seem to smudge or ruin every single one. On the other hand however, I have really enjoyed allowing my colours from my colour palette to just be enjoyed simply as they are and spending time creating various backgrounds instead. 

If I could do this project again, I now know that I would space my motif's out much more on my screen as one of my biggest problems in trying to screen print was that I could not see anything through the screen when trying to position it correctly. This therefore made it extremely hard to be accurate and completely shattered my hopes of a perfect pigment print.

However, when I tried manutex print using reactive dye, I realised it was much more for me. Brighter colours... Vibrancy... Bold... Interesting! Here was my first go with my mini's

As I said above, I really enjoyed creating my own backgrounds. I found that once printed they surprisingly looked almost digital. I much preferred this type of printing as I could multi task more effectively, I knew I had to wait for the screen to completely dry and so I would leave it overnight so by the morning it was ready to use. Time management was much better and I was much less impatient. 

The print above was my best print... 

Right up until I ruined it. After being so worried that my print wasn't actually going to come out, I had forgotten to double check the handbook and didn't realise that these dyes would not work on synthetic fabrics. You can imagine what happened next... After steaming, I washed my fabric ... cold... hot and soapy... cold and by that time, there was no colour left! All I had was a blank piece of lilac fabric once again

 At least I now will never forget again which fabric goes with which dye. 

Presenting my work

I N T E R I M 

This week I have been putting up my work for my peer review. It was interesting, both to look at other peoples work and to get feedback on my own. I found the interim relatively nerve racking to begin with, displaying work is always a worry. However I was quite pleased with my first go. It gave me the opportunity to really look at what I had produced and overall I was happy with the feedback I was given.

Really pleased that we got to have a first go at putting our work up in the space. I found it really useful in terms of time management and preparation. Next time I know I will have to be prepared to leave even more time so that I am able to mount my work efficiently. 

Feedback given from peer review: 

1. Not quite clear on process of theme in sketchbook (i.e. how the cars, compass and stamp links )
2. Colour stripe has been used effectively 
3. All samples link really well to visual research on wall and in sketchbook
4. Can see the journey through the sketchbook to the prints
5. More experimentation in the print room and link back to colour stripe more in prints
6. Like how the motifs and diamond pattern have been combined 
7. Work must stay exactly inside your own wall space. 

I found the feedback I received really valuable. It was good to know that I was on the right track but it also pointed out points that I wasn't aware of, such as the unclarity of the process of theme in my sketchbook. I will definitely improve on this and try to make my thought process clearer. 

Putting up my work also highlighted to myself which areas of work I needed to develop. I feel that I need to produce some stronger samples in the print room this week, both digitally and using my screen.