1.2.10 PE Task 2

Now at the end of my unit, looking back, I can see clearly how my references influenced me; composition being a large factor. When I entered print I was very unsure in designing the prints and was concerned that my ideas would be inappropriate. I wanted to approach print as a form of art rather than commercial textiles, thus I looked at artists and photographers rather than specified designers for interiors and fashion etc.

Eadweard Muybridge

As I mentioned I chose my context mainly due to its composition and its connection directly to my project theme, which is travel. Eadweard Muybridge was the first photographer I chose, and it was his work that help me to specify on a theme. The idea of movement fascinated me and all the different ways it could be documented, a number of my designs feature his trademark stop-motion runners and it was these figures that propelled my thinking to all the unusual ways motion/ travel can be recorded; for example I then researched surfaces which I walked upon and other objects I saw during a journey.

An artist that links nicely to this form of documentation is Todd McLellan, it was McLellen's work that greatly influenced my composition choice. The neatly aligned arrangements appeal to my natural way of working; methodical, I therefore found this his work truly in sync with my own practice. This discovery gave me more confidence in creating my designs as I felt my mathematical methods truly had a place along side my theme thanks to McLellan's assistance. His work is naturally gallery and one-off commercial work and thus his influence over my work would theoretically give mine the same employment. I do feel that my work has adopted robust elements that is well suited to that category; elements such as the consistent and harmonious motifs that keep strongly referring to my theme and as I have mentioned the reflecting composition.

Todd McLellan

My composition was further developed by Cy Kuckenbacker, a photographer that I found towards the end of my project. Initially my composition has been very mathematical and clear but upon the discovery of Kuckenbacker I was able to modify this to a busier more eye catching layout. Again Kuckenbacker work is gallery based and I was more than happy to accommodate an elaborate and individual design practice that began with McLellan. I was excited to include Kuckenbacker's overlapping and repeating into both digital and screen samples, unfortunately only a few samples captured his busy but measured signature. But it was enough to add further depth to my collection of samples. 

Cy Kuckenbaker

After this assessment it has become clear to me how important researching references is. I have found that by looking at other artists more ideas can spawn in my own work and that directly or indirectly their practice can embed my own designs. Upon realising this in the future I will implement more references from less obvious places and specialised areas to give my work more purpose and originality.

1.2.9 Final Collection

Digital, Hand and Screen Designs

I have only just got all my samples back today and now have to job of creating my final collection. To identify my final collection I was recommended to lie all my prints together; this method helped me to find 'dodgy' prints that did not correspond or were obviously weaker than others. Overall I am happy with my samples, the colour theme has been carried among all the samples well. If I was to change any it would be my screen prints as I was only able to get time in the print room at the beginning of the unit my samples have not been allowed to evolve as my style refines.

1.2.8 Digital Printing (2)

After the success of my first digital print I limitedly began to work on more digital designs. As I said I have developed my colours in the design to become in sync with that of the colour theme image and have employed the same unique techniques, the blue is slightly less green than the colour theme but overall all my samples work together well. This time round however I have printed on new fabrics; cotton satin and habotai. I chose these fabrics because they both gave both wonderful clear prints, which is really important with my designs as they rely of thin intricate lines, and have a great soft smooth appearance.

Digital Prints

Before I printed my designs I stretched them so that the image would not distort during the washing process, this effort has proved not to be waited as all my prints look wonderful and in proportion, essential as most of my motifs would look wrong if even slightly distorted. I have thoroughly enjoyed digital printing due to its precision and that simple fact that it is amazing.

1.2.0 Road Block

During the morning lecture last week we were given the task to draw, doodle and basically play with our hands. It is a method that has been proven to help us remember and store information better. I did some stitching and hold punching (bottom right), and think it was successful as I still remember what was discussed

A Rage of  Relevant Images

The lecture also spoke about the thinking process and after hitting a little road block I implemented the advice given; Kate spoke of a widening and closing method. At the beginning of this Unit we were given a vast brief of DATA and I closed it down to Travel, I have been using my research from my gallery visit to sustain myself up to this point but I have been guided by the lecture to widen my scope again. During my research (left image) I came across a Photographer Cy Kuckenbaker (top right), he takes pictures of planes landing throughout the duration of a day. I am fascinated by his work and all the busy overlapping, and it is this aspect I would lake to incorporate into my project. 

1.2.7 Digital Printing (1)

First digital Print

This week I printed my first digital design. I have enjoyed the process of designing them in Photoshop; the many possibilities and techniques that could not be recreated in the print room fascinates me. I was eager to use as many of these 'specifically' digital techniques as possible, such as the gradient tool and the selection tool that was brilliant for creating intensely intricate designs, by using these my sample will be vastly different from those in the print room. My only let down on this print is the colour, although there are loads more than the print samples I feel I could improve the proportions by making future samples lighter.