1.3.5 Weave Samples

Weave Samples

Unfortunately I have found the first half of Unit X, weave, rather tough. When I designed my warp I chose to make it natural and add colour through the weft, I also chose to make it wide with five different width sections to add variation to my work by using all or only some of the warp. As I began to work on samples I encountered my disappointments with my colour pallet and patterns.

Coloured Weft Samples

My first set back was my warp, as it refused to stay tightly woven near the spaces (above left-hand image), to rectify this I worked on a maximum of two section of the warp. This did not effect my work much as I was still able to add subtle textures through the weave pattern and textures through the yarns. However I was bitterly upset with my colour pallet, I found it extremely difficult to add the bright fairground colours to my pale warp while keeping the design effective. Again I found a solution to this problem, Dying (top images). I found this to be quite effective as the ombre colour reminded me of the flowing of the thrill rides.

1.3.4 Creating the Warp, Finding the Weft

Weft Components and Warp

For the first half of Unit X I have been placed in Weave, the first job in weave was naturally to make our warps; mine consists of natural colours and a spaced and cramped composition. I have chosen this as the spaces links to the precision structure of the thrill rides as well allow me to have great variation in my passementrie sample widths. Also I have begun collecting different yarns to use for my weft, all of them link to my textured theme of Thrill Ride Reactions; from the goosebumps, hairs standing on arms to the metallic taste and stiffness of muscles. 

1.3.3 Developing Ideas

Structure Inspired Images

Here are some of my initial drawings, based around my theme, they are directly inspired by the robust structures of the towering thrill rides found at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. In these examples I have experimented with layering, repeating and distorting sizes, I chose to do this as the dense accumulation of rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach was lively and repetitive, with parts of rides overlapping and multiple sizes alongside one-another. Now that my option choice of Weave and Stitch has been confirmed, I can develop these patterns into my weave samples by using them as subtle decoration within the weave and as bold embroidery backgrounds in stitch. 

Sue Hotchkins

Within this project I would like to have two meaningful and connected sides to my work. One being the pattern and structure of the samples, that will naturally be inspired by the form of the thrill rides themselves. The other will be the texture, reflecting the reactions to thrill rides through all the signs of fear I have discovered. One artist that has triggered ideas and designs for this side of my work is Sue Hotchkins, I chose her due to the worn appearance she uses, which has been done extremely well; displaying both uncontrollable natural wear along side controlled embellishment. This avenue of continuing to work on a samples finishes is an area I am eager to experiment with. After researching artists and designers work on Pinterest I have been able to extract many ways I can translate my signs of fear into my samples that will make them tactile and meaningful. 

1.3.2 Defining A Theme

Moodboard 

After the visit to Blackpool Pleasure Beach I began to focus my research efforts towards a theme of Thrill Rides. I began first by looking at visually inspiring Rides; focusing on colours, shapes and patterns. I soon began to expand my horizon and investigated the workings and reasons for thrill rides; during this avenue I came across an extremely useful article that has placed my work in a very different direction

http://sciencefocus.com/feature/thrill-engineers

Online article

This article highlighted to me features of a thrill ride such as; surprise, danger, G-force and fear. The fear of thrill rides was, as they pointed out, the most vital factor to creating a successful ride. I thus began to search of the signs of fear and aspects from these signs that could be translated into my work.

Important Notes

My final theme is a combination of actual Thrill Rides and the reaction of fear, I have allowed this theme, at the moment, to cover a board area. Looking into the shape, pattern and location of the thrill rides and the reactions of the heart and skin; Which I have discovered are the most effect ways to monitor people reactions, from the beat of the heart to the slight changes in skin temperature.

http://www.pinterest.com/brontemorgangeo/thrill-ride/

My Final Fantastic Pinterest Board

1.3.1 Unit X: Fairgrounds

Blackpool Pleasure Beach 

Initially when I began my research I looked into all the areas fairground from side shows to thrill rides and animals and games that were often featured. At this point I felt rather uninspired as my Pinterest board displays; I kept jumping from idea to idea unable to find anything to settle on.

http://www.pinterest.com/brontemorgangeo/fairground/

My Initial Pinterest Research 

The outing to Blackpool Pleasure Beach was a great opportunity for me to be able to see the many possibilities the 'Fairgrounds' brief could offer. The combination of presentations and tours given at Blackpool Pleasure Beach have help me to focus my mind. A presentation at the start of the visit really caught my attention; centred around the development of the part and the constant desire to make “Bigger and Better” rides. My interest in the rides at Blackpool were amplified during the tour. I consider myself to be very lucky as I have only been to an adventure park once, when I was much younger, and thus my first impression remain untarnished. When walking around the park I became overwhelmed and fascinated by the scale and shapes of the Thrill rides, the mass investment alone conveyed the importance of the rides at this particular Fairground.