Thinking By Making

Thinking By Making

During the next few weeks i will be using a set of photographs i took during the summer as the starting point to this project. I spent a lot of my summer abroad where i came across many beautiful buildings, for example, Malaga Cathedral and 'Old Monks Cave'. I will be focusing mainly on the detail and lines created in the surfaces of the buildings to help me create a range of samples as I work.

I am not entirely sure which specialism I wish to pursue at the moment, However at this present time I feel I am working mainly towards a surface pattern design within ladies fashion. My approach to this project will be to start with a variety of drawings and/or paintings in response to my primary images which will demonstrate the lines or textures I find could be most inspiring to work with and create the most appealing outcome. After I have identified some interesting marks, lines or textures I will then begin to experiment with materials, and use these lines to create possible patterns or interesting fabric pieces. After experimenting and gathering an idea of which direction I wish to go I will then look at other artists or designers in a similar field to influence new ideas and push my project forward.

I will also be using a combination of media such as paint, fabrics and stitching to create a more varied response to my own images and to my research.

In past projects I have used a very particular colour palette of more organic and natural colours in this project I wish to push myself to experiment a lot more with colour and work outside of my usual comfort zone. This is so I can get a taste of a new approach I wouldn’t usually take to see if I am capable of working within a more varied palette and under a different criterion.

At the end of this project I hope to have a selection of experimental samples I would have created over the coming weeks. These samples will show a variety of experiments with colours and show a range of different designs visibly taken from my primary images. Using one or two samples I will then demonstrate how I wish for my work to be used in context.

Alongside my work I will visit an exhibition that will help gather secondary research to inspire my work. for example, ‘The First Cut exhibition is an exhibition of different artists that cut and manipulate paper in a cutting edge fashion. This exhibition is of relevance to my work as I plan on combining both fabrics and paper.

This will be a continuous experimental project that will test my skills and creativity. I am also hoping to get out of this project a more clear idea of which aspect of the textile industry I wish to work and where my work will fit into that.