Week 5

Following Julie’s advice last week I began to translate drawn line qualities in my work whilst also exploring structure. Using some dark blue felt as a representation of the flat, bulky marks in some of my drawings and playing with the pintuck stitch to trap copper wire I am developing ideas of how thread can help build shape and structure in a sample. My satin stitch could have been refined in this sample, but I am interested in the 3-D qualities I have achieved in it, and how it may interact with the relationship between the body and space.

I have also began to explore sublimation print, interested in how I can add a 3-d element to a flat print. I feel like I am beginning to build a language I can utilise as a designer/artist. This felt piece is pushing on ideas of structure whilst incorporating print. 

Week 4

Today we had a pin-up session with both Mark and Julie’s tutorial groups which was a beneficial to see where my work is now at, and to get another perspective from a much larger group. I’m pleased Julie found my drawing style “contemporary and original” but suggested playing with digital/sublimation print to produce grounds, and to push exploration of translating drawings into material. She questioned my context and perhaps this is something I have to consider more; costume design is a possible avenue Julie could see my samples geared to. I aim to push experimentation this week and become a bit more playful with my materials.

fragment drawing, Julie found the line qualities interesting; I aim to translate this to materials

felt tip, graphite and blue gouche

Ethos sample with hand aplique; very pleased with this illustration

Inspired by a drawing of a lady on a postcard I acquired in the Barcelona flee markets I continued to develop my ethos skills this week with a colourful piece. I feel satisfied with the quality of the illustration, yet I need to explore more ways to experiment more with the ethos.

Week 3

This week following inductions on the ‘Ethos’ system (multi-head embroidery) I recognise the advantages of digital embroidery and translating my very figurative work. Following Mark’s advice from previous tutorials, I’ve spent a lot of my time developing my skills on the Ethos system as I find my drawings work nicely with the abilities to stitch wide areas of fill or intricate satin stitch I would not be able to achieve on the Bernina. I attempted mixing some text with my illustrations which initially did not work to plan and produced something quite illegible using the running stitch, but developing my skills of the program tried it in some other text in a satin stitch to much more success.

initial attempts with Ethos; I kept the design quite simple, so used a lot of abstraction of marks

further development on Ethos; I think my confidence on the software is growing.

referse side of Ethos design on stitch and tear; I find something interesting in the white space and the dominant black bobin thread