For this project we were given the theme Technology and/or Nature, this theme will then influence our work. Due to the coronavirus pandemic there is very little primary research you can get on technology as you cannot visit places such as museums. For this reason I decided to focus only on nature for this project as I can easily collect primary research as nature is everywhere.
Within the theme of nature I decided to explore the season of autumn for this particular project as it is the current season. Everything about nature and the season of autumn has influenced my practical work from the colour scheme to the shapes of leaves.
I have created a variety of different samples using many techniques, some techniques I had never tried before whilst others I have used previously.
One of the techniques that I believe was most effective was the collagraph printing because I managed to create quite a few interesting prints from the blocks that I made. My favourite print I created was using the my string leaf block. I then went on to use a few of the collagraph prints to create digital repeating patterns.
Another technique that I thought was quite quick, easy and effective was heat transfer dyeing. I really like the samples I created using this method because you can create some very interesting and unusual patterns and designs. My favourite sample I created using this method was of two leaves which had been put in the heat press with a weave of dyed papers. When I took the sample out of the heat press I realised that the leaves had been dyed with the colour of the weave so I put the leaves dyed side down on some fabric I then put it in the sublimation printer and it had created a lovely sample.
A technique that I did not particularly enjoy was monoprinting because you cannot see if it’s is working until you have finished your design and lift the paper. Until then, you can’t tell if you had put too much ink on the table and therefore all the small lines you drew have merged together. I also found it is hard to draw and not lean on the paper. In my personal opinion I don’t think it is a very effective method of printing as it is a one time print, where as with some other methods of printing you can reuse a printing block as many times as you want.
One technique that I found not that effective was Dyed shibori because I did not achieve a defined shape or pattern. However, I have seen many examples of what you can create using this particular method and the results can be really effective and I hope to trial more with this method in the future, to see if I get a better outcome. Next time, I would trial with closer stitches and also wax coated embroidery thread in order to try and achieve this.
If I did this project again I would do my secondary research and artist research before I created my samples. This would have given me a better understanding of the techniques, what fabrics are best to use to and also to have an idea of what a piece of textiles would look like using the technique. This would helped me have a better idea of the things you can create using a particular method and the amount of detail that can go into one piece, which I can take into account when creating my sample.
I believe my primary research for this project has been effective. I collected some fallen leaves for my observational drawing and some other fallen natural materials for my mark making. I also took a of variety of photos of nature and autumn leaves, some of which are very close up, whilst others are further away. I have tried to use my photos in my work were I can and also use them as inspiration. In future projects I could explore further other types of primary research such as a survey.
One artist that particularly stood out to me was Glen Alps, who developed and named the collagraph print. Glen’s collagraph prints are very detailed and also what particularly caught my eye is that most of his 2-D prints have a depth perception so it looks 3-D, this must have been quite difficult to create that effect.
Victoria Siemer, who is a graphic artist, who caught my eye, as her work is so effective. Victoria reflects a landscape into a shape. I took inspiration from her work and included into my geometric shape some reflections of the sections I chose from my image.
I think that this project went quite well. I have learnt quite a few new techniques, some samples I created went well whilst other did not work so well but I have always worked out were I went wrong and how I can improve my samples and work in the future.
Unpicking Fashion 