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.