Monday, 23 December 2013
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Reflection
Demonstration of technical and visual skills; materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills.
I'd like to think I've used a range of skills. I've tried to use a variation of materials and techniques where possible although i could probably use more. I try to be visually aware in everything i do, i generally put a lot of thought in to the composition of my work, although i feel i have perhaps not shown this to the best of my ability in this assignment. I view marks as a very quick expression of a texture, and do not put much though into how i draw it, i merely express what i see as a texture in a rough, quick sketch i suppose not really allowing much time to think about composition and sorts.
Quality of outcome; content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas
.
I have tried to communicate my ideas as best i can, expressing what is going on in my mind and the stages of how i got to the outcomes i did on paper/ fabric. I've tried to be as logical and simple as i can in doing so.
I do a lot of stitching in my spare time as a hobby, and would like to think i have applied the knowledge of stitching i have where possible.
Demonstration of creativity; Imagination, experimentation, invention, development of a personal voice.I consider myself a creative person, and try to be creative/ different in everything i do, thinking outside the box when possible.
I have tried to experiment with different stitches and fabrics, although i could always experiment more.
As this is only the first assignment, i am only just beginning to find my personal voice within this subject and it is something i look forward to developing and exploring.
Being experimental, inventive and creative is something that can always be improved upon and done more, and i will push myself to continually do so.
Context; Reflection, research, critical thinkingI'd like to think i have been constantly reflecting and looking back at my work as i have being going along, to see where i can improve and what i can use for future reference/ ideas.
i have shown a little research within this assignment, although not a lot, and this is something i will try to do more of in the future as it is a good way to get ideas, inspiration and references for future work and a better understanding of the subject.
I'd like to think I've used a range of skills. I've tried to use a variation of materials and techniques where possible although i could probably use more. I try to be visually aware in everything i do, i generally put a lot of thought in to the composition of my work, although i feel i have perhaps not shown this to the best of my ability in this assignment. I view marks as a very quick expression of a texture, and do not put much though into how i draw it, i merely express what i see as a texture in a rough, quick sketch i suppose not really allowing much time to think about composition and sorts.
Quality of outcome; content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas
.
I have tried to communicate my ideas as best i can, expressing what is going on in my mind and the stages of how i got to the outcomes i did on paper/ fabric. I've tried to be as logical and simple as i can in doing so.
I do a lot of stitching in my spare time as a hobby, and would like to think i have applied the knowledge of stitching i have where possible.
Demonstration of creativity; Imagination, experimentation, invention, development of a personal voice.I consider myself a creative person, and try to be creative/ different in everything i do, thinking outside the box when possible.
I have tried to experiment with different stitches and fabrics, although i could always experiment more.
As this is only the first assignment, i am only just beginning to find my personal voice within this subject and it is something i look forward to developing and exploring.
Being experimental, inventive and creative is something that can always be improved upon and done more, and i will push myself to continually do so.
Context; Reflection, research, critical thinkingI'd like to think i have been constantly reflecting and looking back at my work as i have being going along, to see where i can improve and what i can use for future reference/ ideas.
i have shown a little research within this assignment, although not a lot, and this is something i will try to do more of in the future as it is a good way to get ideas, inspiration and references for future work and a better understanding of the subject.
Reflective Commentary
I have never previously made marks, i always assumed it was more to do with art than it was textiles, and now having explored the use and ways of mark making i feel i have a better understanding and can see how i can benefit from using this technique in my textiles work. I would like to think for a first try, i have a achieved suitable standard of work in making marks.
I have tried to be creative in the ways in which i have made marks with the materials i have had at hand. Although this could always be improved. I have found working in pencil and paint easiest and the best way in which to express myself. This is what i have been most comfortable in using and probably used a little too much of, looking back this is something i have become aware of and in the future will push myself to use more of different mediums in which to express myself.
Sewing is something i do a lot of in my spare time, both by hand and by machine and so am comfortable with most of the stitches suggested and have a knowledge of what they are and what can be achieved with them. I thought expressing marks through stitches would be something i excelled at, however i do not feel i have done as well as i could have. The sample i made at stage 3 i found fairly easy and enjoyable, i felt a lot of freedom in my work and was happy with the outcome. However at stage 6 when making a sample, i felt a lot more restricted. It seemed the more instruction i had and the larger the material chose i had, the harder i found it to express my mark in a way i felt adequate at best. whether this was down to the mark i chose or the way i chose to express it, i don't know. But this is something i feel i need to improve on in the future.
Nevertheless, i'd like to think i have expressed my use of techniques and knowledge through out this assignment to a decent level and have been creative in what i have done.
Using my sketchbook frequently to make rough sketches has made me more comfortable in my drawing skills and is something i hope will improve as i continue this course.
As a point, i need to buy more yarns, and perhaps practice mark making/ working with these.
I am fairly happy overall with the work i have produced for this first assignment but would still like to push/ better myself in all aspects of my work as i go along from this point forward.
I have tried to be creative in the ways in which i have made marks with the materials i have had at hand. Although this could always be improved. I have found working in pencil and paint easiest and the best way in which to express myself. This is what i have been most comfortable in using and probably used a little too much of, looking back this is something i have become aware of and in the future will push myself to use more of different mediums in which to express myself.
Sewing is something i do a lot of in my spare time, both by hand and by machine and so am comfortable with most of the stitches suggested and have a knowledge of what they are and what can be achieved with them. I thought expressing marks through stitches would be something i excelled at, however i do not feel i have done as well as i could have. The sample i made at stage 3 i found fairly easy and enjoyable, i felt a lot of freedom in my work and was happy with the outcome. However at stage 6 when making a sample, i felt a lot more restricted. It seemed the more instruction i had and the larger the material chose i had, the harder i found it to express my mark in a way i felt adequate at best. whether this was down to the mark i chose or the way i chose to express it, i don't know. But this is something i feel i need to improve on in the future.
Nevertheless, i'd like to think i have expressed my use of techniques and knowledge through out this assignment to a decent level and have been creative in what i have done.
Using my sketchbook frequently to make rough sketches has made me more comfortable in my drawing skills and is something i hope will improve as i continue this course.
As a point, i need to buy more yarns, and perhaps practice mark making/ working with these.
I am fairly happy overall with the work i have produced for this first assignment but would still like to push/ better myself in all aspects of my work as i go along from this point forward.
Project 2 Developing your marks : Review
Can you begin to see the relationship between stitching and drawing?
The relationship between stitching and drawing is slowly becoming more apparent, the way different stitches can be used to create different tone, shading and textures, similar to that that can be created with a pencil.
Were you able to choose stitches which expressed the marks and lines of your drawings?
I'd like to think the stitches i chose were a good expression of the marks i made. I tried to vary the stitches i used in each drawing, and use stitches that worked well with the threads/materials i was using whilst still trying to get the best expression of the mark i could.
Did you choose the right source material to work from?
I don't think there is such thing as the wrong source material, its simply down to how well it is interpreted. Everything in your surroundings can be drawn as a mark and everybody will express that mark differently. I tried to use drawings from my sketchbook that had the most variation within them, that would work best in stitches. Where i didn't feel i had the best suitable marks in my sketchbook, i looked at others artists to interpret.
Do you think your sample works well irrespective of the drawing? or is your sample merely a good interpretation of your drawing?
No i think without referring to the original drawing, my sample looks a little lost. It does not work as a piece of art on its own, merely a representation of what i had drawn. I was concentrating more on the stitching i was using than creating a piece of art. Perhaps this is something i will keep in mind when creating future samples.
Which did you prefer, working with stitch to create textures or working with yarns to make textures? Which worked best for you?
I enjoyed using both stitch and yarns however i do prefer stitching. I feel that with stitching, you have a lot more freedom and can use a lot more techniques than you could with yarns due to them being too big/thick
Make some comments on individual techniques and sample pieces. Did you experiment enough? Did you feel inhibited in any way?
I tried to experiment with different stitches. I have a love/ hate relationship with the satin stitch, i love the way it looks, but i hate doing it as its quite time consuming and tedious so i did push myself to try and use this stitch more. I used a lot of this in my sample at stage 3 . I quite enjoyed making my sample at stage 3, i found it enjoyable and felt a lot of freedom in what i was doing and am pleased with the way it turned out. I didn't really give much thought to what i was doing, i just did it. I found the sample i made at stage 6 a lot harder. I knew what i was going to do, and how i would express it, but once the piece came together i was not as pleased with the outcome, i don't know whether the design was too simple or because i was working from a piece of my own work as opposed to somebody else's.
Do you prefer to work from a drawing or by playing with materials and yarns to create effects? Which method produced the most interesting work?I prefer to just play around, there's a lot more freedom in just making it up as you go along, seeing what works well together and what doesn't than trying to get a decent interpretation from paper to material.
Are there any other techniques you would like to try? Are there any samples you would like to do in a different way?At stated previously, i am not too happy with my sample from stage 6 perhaps if i created it purely from stitch as opposed to using bits of material i might be happier with the outcome.
I haven't used any chain stitching in my work so far so perhaps this is a technique i can try in the future.
Is there anything you would like to change in your work? If so make notes for future referenceI wouldn't say there is really anything i would like to change in my work thus far, I view the work i have done so far merely as experimental, trying out different techniques, stitches, the way different threads/ fabrics work etc as opposed to individual works of art. It is a gradual build up of skills and references for the future.Although if inspiration struck me in the future and i felt i could do a much better / different interpretation of stage 6 i would not be opposed to doing so.
The relationship between stitching and drawing is slowly becoming more apparent, the way different stitches can be used to create different tone, shading and textures, similar to that that can be created with a pencil.
Were you able to choose stitches which expressed the marks and lines of your drawings?
I'd like to think the stitches i chose were a good expression of the marks i made. I tried to vary the stitches i used in each drawing, and use stitches that worked well with the threads/materials i was using whilst still trying to get the best expression of the mark i could.
Did you choose the right source material to work from?
I don't think there is such thing as the wrong source material, its simply down to how well it is interpreted. Everything in your surroundings can be drawn as a mark and everybody will express that mark differently. I tried to use drawings from my sketchbook that had the most variation within them, that would work best in stitches. Where i didn't feel i had the best suitable marks in my sketchbook, i looked at others artists to interpret.
Do you think your sample works well irrespective of the drawing? or is your sample merely a good interpretation of your drawing?
No i think without referring to the original drawing, my sample looks a little lost. It does not work as a piece of art on its own, merely a representation of what i had drawn. I was concentrating more on the stitching i was using than creating a piece of art. Perhaps this is something i will keep in mind when creating future samples.
Which did you prefer, working with stitch to create textures or working with yarns to make textures? Which worked best for you?
I enjoyed using both stitch and yarns however i do prefer stitching. I feel that with stitching, you have a lot more freedom and can use a lot more techniques than you could with yarns due to them being too big/thick
Make some comments on individual techniques and sample pieces. Did you experiment enough? Did you feel inhibited in any way?
I tried to experiment with different stitches. I have a love/ hate relationship with the satin stitch, i love the way it looks, but i hate doing it as its quite time consuming and tedious so i did push myself to try and use this stitch more. I used a lot of this in my sample at stage 3 . I quite enjoyed making my sample at stage 3, i found it enjoyable and felt a lot of freedom in what i was doing and am pleased with the way it turned out. I didn't really give much thought to what i was doing, i just did it. I found the sample i made at stage 6 a lot harder. I knew what i was going to do, and how i would express it, but once the piece came together i was not as pleased with the outcome, i don't know whether the design was too simple or because i was working from a piece of my own work as opposed to somebody else's.
Do you prefer to work from a drawing or by playing with materials and yarns to create effects? Which method produced the most interesting work?I prefer to just play around, there's a lot more freedom in just making it up as you go along, seeing what works well together and what doesn't than trying to get a decent interpretation from paper to material.
Are there any other techniques you would like to try? Are there any samples you would like to do in a different way?At stated previously, i am not too happy with my sample from stage 6 perhaps if i created it purely from stitch as opposed to using bits of material i might be happier with the outcome.
I haven't used any chain stitching in my work so far so perhaps this is a technique i can try in the future.
Is there anything you would like to change in your work? If so make notes for future referenceI wouldn't say there is really anything i would like to change in my work thus far, I view the work i have done so far merely as experimental, trying out different techniques, stitches, the way different threads/ fabrics work etc as opposed to individual works of art. It is a gradual build up of skills and references for the future.Although if inspiration struck me in the future and i felt i could do a much better / different interpretation of stage 6 i would not be opposed to doing so.
Project 2 Developing your marks: Stage 6 Using threads and yarns to create texture
For this
exercise, i chose a drawing i had in my sketch book and tried to
recreate it using threads and materials of similar colours.
I tried to chose a drawing that featured different colours textures and shapes, so i would have more to play with.
I used a photograph of a pathway and made a sketch based on that
I used a photograph of a pathway and made a sketch based on that
I then pulled out a load of fabric and threads based on the colours in the image to create my work. I chose greens, browns and greys.
I cut bits of blind samples into oval shapes to resemble the stones. i used couching to attach these as they had a plastic coating that made it hard for a needle to pierce. I used thick and thin threads on these to give a different texture to some of them. I had some thick woven wool material i cut these into shapes also and attached these. i cut some of the fabric i used for the background into thin strips, knotted this, scrunched it up and attached it using french knots.
I then began to fill the top half of the fabric with french knots using green thread. I then using the same green thread and another thread of a different shade of green twisted these together and created more french knots, these we bigger and of a slightly different shade/ tone to the others.
Project 2 Deleloping your marks: Stage 5 stitches which create texture
I did some vertical stitching and horizontal with a satin stitch, I did this in both a thick and a thin thread. The thicker thread tends to look more dense, bold and solid than the finer thread.
I then did some chevron style stitching, mainly in thicker thread, but i had a little go with a fine thread at the bottom.
With the thicker thread, i started with the thread quite spaced out, then got quite tightly packed, to see if this effected the texture/ appearance of the thread. The light tends to hit the colomn of stitching on the right (pointing downwards) more, giving it a more three dimentional look. I then added another coloured thread, a different shade of pink to see if this effected the texture. The lighter colour acts in the same way as the light hitting it, making the pattern bolder and stand out more, bring it to life a bit more.
I had a play with some different coloured fine threads, arranging them into diamond shapes. The close compacted threads make them appear thicker than what they are. The choice of colours here almost makes this look like an optical illusion.
Project 2 Developing your marks: Stage 3 A sample
For this stage, i had to pick a drawing with strong linear qualities, preferably one of my own, that had a variety of different types of lines, i then had to express this drawing through stitching.
I couldn't find a drawing in my sketchbook that i felt met the requirements and that i felt i could comfortably express to a good standard through stitching and so decided to use an image i had found elsewhere.
This drawing is by an artist called Brandon Boyd. He uses a lot of lines within all his work, and so automatically thought of him for this project. I decided to focus on the hair of the woman in the painting for this project.
To create my marks based on this painting, i first chose my fabric, i chose a plain white fabirc for this, as i wanted to focus mainly on the line i was creating.
I chose a selection of blue/green and black/grey materials and threads. Simlilar to that in the painting, but also because i felt i had more choice to work with in this colour from the collection of fabrics/ threads that i have.
I used a mixture of satin stitches and running stitches to create this piece. There are a lot of twists, curves and wavy lines within the picture, all of which seem to just flow, lightly. I tried to recreate this using a satin stitch in different colours. I twisted ribbon and stitched this on, and added some straight stitches to the top left in a swirly pattern. I wanted to create marks that reminded me of water. i cut a piece of green fabric in quite a wavy fashion and added this to the bottom, i chose this fabric not only because it fitted with the colour scheme, but also because it also already features lines on it.
There are a lot of heavy black lines on the painting and its quite busy and so i added some black stitching to my work and with a thin thread, as not to ruin and draw attention away from my main marks, i stitched a twisted design across my fabric with quite linear features, i then added some more black thread across the material this time a thicker thread to make my design look busier and more linear.
I couldn't find a drawing in my sketchbook that i felt met the requirements and that i felt i could comfortably express to a good standard through stitching and so decided to use an image i had found elsewhere.
This drawing is by an artist called Brandon Boyd. He uses a lot of lines within all his work, and so automatically thought of him for this project. I decided to focus on the hair of the woman in the painting for this project.
To create my marks based on this painting, i first chose my fabric, i chose a plain white fabirc for this, as i wanted to focus mainly on the line i was creating.
I chose a selection of blue/green and black/grey materials and threads. Simlilar to that in the painting, but also because i felt i had more choice to work with in this colour from the collection of fabrics/ threads that i have.
I used a mixture of satin stitches and running stitches to create this piece. There are a lot of twists, curves and wavy lines within the picture, all of which seem to just flow, lightly. I tried to recreate this using a satin stitch in different colours. I twisted ribbon and stitched this on, and added some straight stitches to the top left in a swirly pattern. I wanted to create marks that reminded me of water. i cut a piece of green fabric in quite a wavy fashion and added this to the bottom, i chose this fabric not only because it fitted with the colour scheme, but also because it also already features lines on it.
There are a lot of heavy black lines on the painting and its quite busy and so i added some black stitching to my work and with a thin thread, as not to ruin and draw attention away from my main marks, i stitched a twisted design across my fabric with quite linear features, i then added some more black thread across the material this time a thicker thread to make my design look busier and more linear.
Project 2 Developing your marks: Stage 2 Exploring marks and lines through stitch techniques
I chose a white piece of fabric so i could concentrate on the different effects i could create with a piece of thread.
I attached this fabric across my hoop and decided to stitch by hand. I feel i can do a lot more by hand than what i can with a machine. Hand stitching does take a lot longer, but i feel i have a lot more freedom and so this is my preferred method.
I used threads of different thickness all different shades of red.
I used a running stitch, sewing in straight lines, circles, and then wherever my needle took me.
I experimented sewing in different shapes, the contrast between thick and thin threads, sewing in different directions and i experimented the the space between each row of thread. The closer the thread, the bolder and brighter the colour looked.
I tried to do each experiment with both thicknesses of thread.
I used threads of different thickness all different shades of red.
I used a running stitch, sewing in straight lines, circles, and then wherever my needle took me.
I experimented sewing in different shapes, the contrast between thick and thin threads, sewing in different directions and i experimented the the space between each row of thread. The closer the thread, the bolder and brighter the colour looked.
I tried to do each experiment with both thicknesses of thread.
Project 2 Developing your marks
I am familiar with a lot of the stitches stated, although some i haven't used in quite a while, i have a had a quick little practice using embroidery thread on a piece of aida just to make sure i can still do them confidently.
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| Harringbone stitch, cross stitch, running stitch and blanket stitch. |
Project 2 Developing your marks: Stage 4 Preparing to create textures
For this exercise, i had to find marks i had created in project one, and explore ways i could recreate them on fabric using stitching.
I had a go at recreating a few of these.
The first mark i decided to recreate was this one. Its quite heavy, bumpy and busy.
I had a go at recreating a few of these.
The first mark i decided to recreate was this one. Its quite heavy, bumpy and busy.
I decided to use this fabric, that is quite busy and covered with splodges that look similiar to those in the mark above.
The next mark i decided to recreate was this blue one. It uses a variety of shades of blue and is very bumpy in texture
I decided the best way to recreate a bumpy texture would be with french knots. I used a plain fabric as i wanted to tightly pack my knots, i used a variety of different blue threads and a grey to represent those in the picture. I wanted it to be quite busy, messy and bumpy.
The next mark i would recreate is this one. Its quite messy and fast. It features heavy, dark lines, gradually getting lighter.
I will use different shades/colours of threads to represent the different shades in the picture.
I will use different shades/colours of threads to represent the different shades in the picture.
There is a gradient of shading of scribbles in this mark. I used satin stitch to recreate the scribbles with different spacing between the stitches, giving it a messier, faster look. I used different shades of green to represent the different shades in the picture.
For this mark, i cut strips of green fabric, and assembled them on my hoop attaching them using couching, i rolled up various shades of green thread and attached these with couching too. i then used french knots to create the yellow dots in the background.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Fabrics
I have began to collect bits various bits of different fabrics that i will be able to use for this project and for future projects, instead of buying fabric new, i have found odd bits around the house. Luckily for me i work on a craft centre, and so there are a few shops around there that use a lot of fabric and have kindly given me there scraps/ cut off and will continue to do so in the future if i need more.
I have already collected a large amount of different colours. patterns and types of material.
I have already collected a large amount of different colours. patterns and types of material.
Embroidery
Embroidery and cross stitching is something i do a lot of in my spare time and so am quite familiar with. I am aware of the different types of stitching and needles used and do a lot of stitching by hand with a wooden hoop. I am looking forward to doing this in project 2, and hopefully will be able to use the knowledge i have to my advantage.
Project 1 Mark making: Stage 4 Working from your sketchbooks
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| Textural drawing based on images in my sketchbook. |
Mark making has never really been something i have given much thought before, i have always been aware of texture when creating textiles but as i do not consider myself an artist, and have never really done a lot of drawing its not something i have considered. Before starting this project, mark making is something i would've associated more with art rather than textiles.
However now, mark making has made me look at images and fabrics from a more in depth textural point of view, considering the feelings of texture, visually, and what it can convey.
I have tried to be inventive with the marks i have created, i used many skills i haven't used in years, such as rubbing and used some new ones such as bleach on coloured tissue paper. I also tried to be inventive with the ways in which i have made rubbing, printing or painting, using various different, perhaps unusual objects to create effects. I used twigs, sponges, wire sponges, crayons, pencils, crayons, toothbrushes, vegetables, leaves, bubble wrap, paint etc to get my texture on to paper. I'd like to think i have been quite creative in this area.
So far i would say i am fairly pleased with the work i have created. Like i have said before, i do not consider myself an artist, and so my drawing skills are not of an outstanding level, mark making has helped me feel more comfortable in my drawing skills in that i do not need to able to draw realistically to be able to get a texture, feeling, or create a mark in my sketchbook.
Printing was probably the medium i enjoyed working with the most, i loved the way different objects created different textures and how different they looked in different types of paint or ink, creating different moods. I feel like texture is very easily achieved in this medium and is very effective, as well as fun.
In this project so far, i have not tried creating marks using combing, and so in the future when mark making, this is something i would perhaps like to try.
These exercise will enrich my textile work in the future by making it easier for me to communicate texture to others as well as myself. If i see a texture i like or feel inspired by, i know i can quickly make a sketch using marks for future reference. When trying to envision what i want something to look like on paper, i know i can use a variety of marks to express myself on paper in a way which is easy to understand and visualise.
Mark Marking: Van Gough and Picasso
Here i have done a bit of research of artists who use marks, to use as reference material for my own mark making. i have chosen to look at the work of Picasso and Van Gogh.
Picasso
Picasso has done a lot of work which is quite abstract, using unusual and bold colours and various different shapes and lines to create his work
Here Picasso has painted a picture of a lady, he has used a lot of lines to create this picture. The lines used in the hair and hat help add texture, whilst the lines used in the face help create shape and make it look slightly more three dimensional.
Perhaps one of Picasso's most famous works of art, he uses a lot of bold colours and hard, bold lines. The lines used within this are quite sharp, there are a lot of corners, making this picture more abstract. The picture is of a weeping woman, however the colours used are quite bright/ happy . The emotion is portrayed through the shape and the way the lines are used / flow around the woman's features such as her eyes.
Van Gogh
Van Gogh is probably the most famous artist for using lines/ marks to create his paintings.
In this portrait, he uses a lot of short sharp lines to create texture in the hat and coat. the lines within the background are quite subtle. The lines used to create smoke coming from his pipe are quite large in comparison to all the other lines uses with this picture and so your attention is drawn here. Although quite large and thick, their light colour and quite rounded/ soft shape make them appear quite light, like smoke.
The lines within this picture are quite thick and heavy, helping give the impression of darkness. The lines used are also quite small this is useful in creating the rippling effect within the water
The use of lines are extremely visable within this picture, this creates a lot of texture within the sky
Picasso
Picasso has done a lot of work which is quite abstract, using unusual and bold colours and various different shapes and lines to create his work
Here Picasso has painted a picture of a lady, he has used a lot of lines to create this picture. The lines used in the hair and hat help add texture, whilst the lines used in the face help create shape and make it look slightly more three dimensional.
Perhaps one of Picasso's most famous works of art, he uses a lot of bold colours and hard, bold lines. The lines used within this are quite sharp, there are a lot of corners, making this picture more abstract. The picture is of a weeping woman, however the colours used are quite bright/ happy . The emotion is portrayed through the shape and the way the lines are used / flow around the woman's features such as her eyes.
Van Gogh
Van Gogh is probably the most famous artist for using lines/ marks to create his paintings.
In this portrait, he uses a lot of short sharp lines to create texture in the hat and coat. the lines within the background are quite subtle. The lines used to create smoke coming from his pipe are quite large in comparison to all the other lines uses with this picture and so your attention is drawn here. Although quite large and thick, their light colour and quite rounded/ soft shape make them appear quite light, like smoke.
The lines within this picture are quite thick and heavy, helping give the impression of darkness. The lines used are also quite small this is useful in creating the rippling effect within the water
The use of lines are extremely visable within this picture, this creates a lot of texture within the sky
Project 1 mark making: Stage 3 Using marks to create surface texture
I then, tried to create a drawing resembling the textures using marks, my take on them is not realistic, but instead an interpretation of the feeling of the texture.
I used various shades of blue crayon to recreate a bumpy sequined texture i had found. I used different shades of blue as representation of light, and to give perhaps a slightly more dimensional feel.
I then used pencil to create quite a rough texture. Using short, fast pencil strokes.
The final image in the corner, i used bubble wrap and paint to create quite a bumpy texture. i added some more 'bumps' with a piece of sponge and some green paint. i drew around some of the edges of some of the yellow bumps with pencil to make them look slightly more raised. i then with a paint brush, using quite quick messy lines added a checkered effect on top.
For the next exercise, i collected bits and pieces from around the house or used objects to base my textural drawing on. I used, bricks, fabrics, leaves, fur.
The top left i tried to create a texture of a cabbage leaf, the leaf was quite bumpy and so i used strips of bubble wrap(although you cant see this too well). The veins on the leaf varied, some were smooth, others were quite rough,boney i painted between the bubbles and the gaps i had cut with paint some smoother than others to represent this.
To recreate the texture of a rough paving slab, i used a cabbage leaf covered in paint and printed this onto paper to create quite a rough texture, i repeated this with different coloured paints.
To create the texture at the bottom, i used a sponge and some black in, i used both dabbing and sweeping motions when painting with the sponge, with different amounts of paint on to create the texture.
I quite enjoyed trying to create different visible textures using different mediums, i found it very interesting and artistic. It also allowed me to experiment with different objects and techniques and see which ones work particularly well, (like the sponge) and which ones perhaps aren't quite as easily effective.
I find it a lot easier to express myself or a texture, through paint and various objects, than i do through pen and crayon. Perhaps this something i can practise more so i feel just as comfortable working with both.
Project 1 Making marks: Stage 2 Making marks in an expressive way
I cut out a square about 8cmx8cm and used this as a temple in which to make my marks in. I begin by just using a range of different pencils; hb, 5b, h etc. to create marks resembling certain words; bumpy, fast, hard, soft, delicate,sad, smooth, sharp, happy, slow.
I had a few attempts at each word, creating my own interpretations through marks, i have marked each mark with the pencil used and the word i am expressing.
Some marks were easier than others to create. For example, a fast mark can be created by scribbling as fast a you can, or a soft mark by pressing very lightly with a light pencil. These are visibly obvious to whoever may be viewing them. However marks expressing emotions were slightly harder to portray. A lot more thought had to go in to them. would a sad line be light or heavy? would it look to angry if it was thick? would people other than myself understand what i was trying to portray. Nevertheless, i gave it a go.
Here are the marks i made using pencils:
I had a few attempts at each word, creating my own interpretations through marks, i have marked each mark with the pencil used and the word i am expressing.
Some marks were easier than others to create. For example, a fast mark can be created by scribbling as fast a you can, or a soft mark by pressing very lightly with a light pencil. These are visibly obvious to whoever may be viewing them. However marks expressing emotions were slightly harder to portray. A lot more thought had to go in to them. would a sad line be light or heavy? would it look to angry if it was thick? would people other than myself understand what i was trying to portray. Nevertheless, i gave it a go.
Here are the marks i made using pencils:
I used different scribbles to create levels of tone for each pencil. Here is what i created:
I found twigs were good at creating quite heavy, thick marks, these were good to create marks such as hard and fast, and one that i had previously found difficult, sad.
Whereas sponges were good at creating quite light, delicate marks.
I made collages, rubbings of coins, leaves and keys i had found. I did some printing using different objects i had found; sponges, kitchen roll, bubble wrap and my favourite, a cabbage leaf. i also experimented with something i had never done before, painting coloured tissue paper with bleach. I used different mediums to do this, using twigs and toothbrushes to create different patterns. I love the way some of these have turned out.
Collecting resources
Anything i can use to create marks or get inspiration from colour or texture in the future in my work.
I will keep trying to add to this collection as i go along.
Exercise: Working with a camera
For this exercise, i was asked to take photographs around my neighbourhood of natural and man-made objects, whatever i could find that represented certain words that i could use for resource materials.
These were:
Contrasts
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| The contrasts in this photograph, are not only the colours but contrast between the real and edible rings. I played with the contrasts on some of the colours in this picture, making the reds and yellows a lot brighter and bolder and made a repetition of the photograph to form a pattern. |
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| Again for this photograph i played with objects i found around the house. Here i took a picture of the keys on a keyboard. the contrasts lays within the colours here. black and white. I played with the levels of brightness and contrast here to make the contrast between the colours even bolder and more visible |
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| Here, i took a picture of a group of cactus' and surrounded by purple flowers. I like the colours in this photograph, the purples and greens and the slight blue tint around the edge from the sky you can see. I also like the different textures with the picture, the straight lines formed by the cactus', their lumpy skin and the flowers which look like little purple dots. |
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| I was lucky enough to spend some time in L.A, and came across some modern art of the streets. There were parallel rows of silver street lamps formed into cubes, i found this piece of art very interesting . I like the symmetry and the use of lines/ rows . i also like the pattern formed in the background by the row of palm trees and the contrast this adds to the image.. I shrunk the photograph and formed a repetition to create a pattern. I looks very warped, almost like an optical illusion. |
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| Here i took a picture of the sun setting on a beach, the trees silhouetted and the foreground almost, the the sun bursting from between the trees. creating light and shade. I made the blue sky a brighter blue and the yellow from the sun a bit brighter, making the colours slightly more unnatural of a sunset, but i like the colours, the contrast they create and the glow. |
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| Here a took a photograph of a large spherical object casting a shadow. I like the patterns and textures on this object and those created by the light and shade also. |
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| Here i took a picture of the lines created in the bark of a tree. I like how these lines are quite subtle, but create a lot of texture. They're all slightly different colours, thicknesses and have different spacing between them |
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| I took a photograph of the lines of the veins on a leaf. i like the symmetry the create. |
Looking down
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| Here i took a photograph looking down at the ground i was walking on, i like the different colours, shapes, sizes, textures and materials all present here. All of these aspects, would make for an interesting graphic/ textile. |
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| I took a photograph looking down at a plant, i added a couple of repetitions to create an unusual pattern. |
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| A prison cell in a museum, i took a picture looking through the bars to a noose, I like the shadows cast by the bars, and the patterns they create. Giving this picture more of a sense of depth. |
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| Looking through some branches to the sky; i like the different shapes created by the branches, berries and leaves. Creating a quite messy yet dainty pattern |
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| Perhaps one of my favourite photographs i have taken so far, i love the geometric pattern in the dome, and the shapes within this picture. The more you look at it, the more patterns your eyes seem to create within the frame. |
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| I took this picture looking up the arm of a tree i like the different colours and textures on the tree, and how the background, although out of focus looks as if it has been dotted on with a sponge. |
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| I took a picture of some lights reflected into water i like the way the lights and their reflection all seem to meet at a point in the middle drawing the viewers eye automatically there. |
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| I took a picture of the reflection of a tree in a puddle. I like how this image has quite a cold feel. The only colours really used are browns/greys. You cant see the actual tree in this image and so the pebbles almost act as a frame for the reflection, which is almost a picture within a picture. There are a lot of different shapes and textures present here also. |
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| I took a picture of the patterns on a persons coat. The way the light hits the shiny fabric adds some sort of slight depth. The band around the middle of the coat almost works as line of symmetry between the bottom and top half of the coat. It also breaks the image up slightly. |
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| Here i took a picture of some tree bark. I love the textures created with this, and the different perhaps unusual colours found. The orange dusting and the green moss also creature more texture, and seem to make that of the bark more visible. |
Looking into the distance
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| I took a photograph of a cliff in the distance, every time i look at this picture, i see it as a painting, i see the different textures in the trees in the background and foreground and how i would paint them. Although a cold picture, i like the warm colours in some of the trees and the different textures created in the trees, rocks, grass and water. |
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| My final photograph is of a fairground ride, looking down the ride into the distance, the chairs getting smaller as they go along. i like the bright colours used here, and the patterns created within the colours, in the chairs, the lights, and the bars. |
As a photographer, i found this task slightly difficult, looking at subjects in a way i never have before, it was easy to find patterns and textures in my surroundings, but looking through the view finder in my camera, looking at an image in a way i never have before was slightly harder. This is something i would like to improve on and something i will aim to do more as way of improving and hopefully looking at my surroundings from a textiles point of view in my day to day life.
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