Data

Initial Visual Research

For our next project 'Data', we had an introductory lecture to the new project. During the lecture we thought about different ways data is collected. It can be recorded in text form, movement or time. From the lecture one group of artists really stuck out to me and made me want to research more into there way of working. 

1234LAB

1234LAB, are a group or architects that have used the idea of drawing movement to create these 

unique 'wearable' necklaces. They're made by using 3D sound-mapping. The idea of this process
means any word or phrase uttered by one person can be ‘worn’ by another. Voice recordings were 

mapped out in a 3D ‘point cloud’ which thickens and twists according to the different tempos and
pitches. The data points were joined together to create this necklace – it was then transformed into a
3D object using rapid prototyping production

8hertz -2010
Polyamide

To develop this idea myself, I would have to record a series of voices, transfer them onto a computer into a sound program and record and draw the different tempos. I could use the idea of not taking the pen of the paper and creating a continuous creative line drawing, which i could then develop into wearable's. I love the way that this has a though behind it, the idea to wear other peoples thoughts and words, it gives the piece another meaning and gives it makes it instantly a statement object and very special to who ever wears it.

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Geoffrey Man

 Attracted to Light

Geoffrey man has created this light, named 'Attracted to light'. The idea behind the light is simple, but very creative. He recorded the movement of a moth as it fly to the light, then from recording the movement, he transfers this data into a 3D light structure. I personally love this work, due to the meaning behind it. From visually looking at it you would have no clue what the idea was behind the creation. But after knowing the work and ideas behind it you straight away can picture the moth flying around the light and you can see exactly how he started to plan his final outcome. I really like this way of working as movement by other people is always unpredictable. Geoffrey probably had an initial idea of how this would turn out, but then it would develop further and due to it being the moths movement that controlled the piece it becomes something very special and unique. I would love to develop on this idea of recording movement and making it my own in a 3D shape. This is also a lovely piece due to the finished piece is so simple and lovely to look at, however a moth flying around your light would be very annoying. Hes take a very simple idea and made it his own. 

Illustration of the moth.

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On Kawara's I Got Up At...

  

On Kawara, uses the idea of post cards to record data in a unique way. The artist sent 90 post cards of a series of time to the same address every day. On the post cards he recorded what time he got out of bed. After he had sent the 90 post cards he ended up with a large amount of documented data. By using text to document his data. He also used movement to document his date, by moving around to different countries whilst traveling. The post cards all containing a photo of the city he was in. This amazed me when I looked into it, firstly due to the amazing trip he must of had, and how he has it all documented forever. I want to take the idea of writing certain moments of the day down for an amount of time. For example, writing the time i got up everyday for a month? This would create my own data and my own record of my life. 

Evaluation of Origins Unit

Origins - Embroidery

From looking through my work, and evaluating what I have done and achieved over the whole unit, I personally don't think I have shown my full potential. I found this project extremely hard to get into and I found it hard for myself to bring out my best qualities in my work.  

Firstly I found it very difficult to work with a black and white pallet. To start i found two block colours hard to expand and develop, however as time went on during the embroidery unit i found using black and white can be a lovely way of working as it develops your use of texture. It also helped me work is a sensitive way using materials and different threads to create new interesting shades and colours of black and white. 

However, whilst i was dissapointed and finding it hard to develop my use of colour, i really enjoyed working on the machines. My favourite new skill being able to use the Taylor Tacking foot. This foot gave a new and exciting way of working, as it created a new element to the samples. I would want to work with this foot again, just to experiment with different colours and create dense and heavily concentrated piles. 

Throughout the project, I was finding it hard to link my embroidery with my 'Journey's' however, I have realised from looking back that there is always links in work, if its just a line or a way of drawing. I realised that in my work, I didn't need a link from start to finish i found that my work showed elements of my journeys project in small ways, for example; the way i used continueous messy line drawings, then they way my samples were messy and hepatic. I have also realised with art and design, things arn't always going to go the way you would like them too, but from this project and experience i have learnt you have to push through the things you dont like and carry on. As some of the things you havent liked previously can come up again for development.

From having my review, and getting my mark for this project it has made me determined to push myself in my next textile world. However I believe i have learnt alot of valuable skills in embroidery, even though I didnt push myself as much as i would have hoped. I am going to use it as a lesson, and i have learnt that the harder you work and the more effort you put in the easy your project will be. 

Embroidery

Hand Embroidery 

For my first Textile world I have chosen to do Embroidery. I chose to do embroidery as I love sewing and working with the machine, I also wanted to develop my hand embroidery skills. Also it gives me a chance to try something very different and learn lots of new skills. 

For the first 3 weeks of embroidery I will be doing Hand embroidery. The sample above was my first try at using Bondaweb. I used the colour scale from my journeys project of Liverpool and created this small sample using multiple fabrics, Bondaweb and subtle hand embroidery. I liked using Bondaweb however I found it fiddly and hard to use for layering, if i was to use it again i would try to use bigger pieces. I think it would also be a useful technique due to the way it can be developed and pushed, for example it can be used in different scales and can always be worked into using different techniques. It is also a handy way of working if things need extra support or need more stability to work with.

The next sample above is my attempts at hand embroidery through 6 different fabrics. I used fabrics ranging from lace to faux fur. I found learning these new techniques easy, however i struggled with the chain stitch. I find hand stitching harder than using a machine. If I was to do this sample again i would have done it larger and done the same stitch over and over in different directions to push myself. As i feel this sample is lazy and could have been alot more exciting if i had pushed myself and done more experimenting.

The next two samples above are samples of French Knots. I really enjoyed making these samples and think the use of black and white makes them stand out well on the fabric. I really love this sample and the way that the french knots look, I would use this stitch again in my work as it creates a beautiful texture, although it is a little fiddly after a while it becomes easier and i found it was somewhat relaxing to do.

Pound shop materials 

For the next part of hand embroidery, we had to go to a pound shop and spending no more than £5 collect multiples of items that we could transform and make into other things. From the pound shop I bought, a Halloween chain and brillo pads. 

From the brillo pad I pulled it appart to reveal the fine fibers. These fibers reminded me straight away of a messy hepatic drawing. It also straight away fitted with my previous work of using continuous line drawings. If i was to have pushed this further I could have used the wire to draw, for example follow the line of my previous drawings with the wire to create one off unique line drawings. 

These halloween chains were hard to develop as they were plastic. So i began by cutting into them and changing there shape and meaning. This was hard to develop as straight away you're in the 3D mind set. I found myself trying hard to create something 3D and life like, that people would understand and that people would be able to link with my work.

However I felt I wasnt developing these in the way I wanted too. I then photo copied the remaining chains and brillo pads, this then helped me think in a way of which i like. Drawing. I used the idea of drawing from the photocopies. Taking the 3D items back to 2D. This being another way of drawing using the photocopier. I loved using the photocopier as straight away you could develop your work in a matter of seconds, changing the contrast and the brightness on the machine, blowing the image larger and smaller. Its a brilliant resource and I plan on using it again.

These are pages from my sketchbook. I wanted to develop these in drawing and maybe involve hand embroidery. 

Homeless Woman

I spotted this Homeless woman whilst I was on my journey to Uni. She had all of her bags with her and a large file full of found objects and scrap pieces of paper. On these pieces of paper she was writing what she had done and where she had been that day. As I studied her longer I realised she had also been drawing and writing on her hands, her wellies and on her bags. Her writing was small and very compacted onto the paper.  She was very intreaging and I wanted to read more into her life. This crazy was of documenting her journey made me think about my current work.. how i could develop my journey by writing everything down? Then I realised I could link it with my current work. I developed my work by using limited amounts of paper and packing everything into a small space, to create this heptic way of documenting. I did this with collaging. 

by using these photocopies I wanted to develop my collaging skills. I used stretched paper and used the photocopies to create this sample. I then began to add small bits of hand embroidery to add to the texture. 

From this I wanted to develop further by drawing. This sample was hard to do as i used tiny collage pieces. However if i was to do it again i would push it further and work on a larger scale. I personally love to work small and in a intricate way. I think I need to push myself out of my comfort zone to get the best I can from my work, and at this moment I cannot develop until i used different scales.

For these drawings I used quink, water, fine liner and bleach.

 I then developed these further by using photoshop to give them different effects and change the way they looked more. Going back to the original brief of changing the appearance of the first object. I loved changing the look of these images. I love the way they look lit and have a new meaning. They develop straight away into work that looks somewhat marine/under the sea like. 

Again this is a drawing of the brillo pads, using ink and bleach. I really like this one and it develops it well and changes the appearance of the brillo pad, and again looks like it has elements of under the sea, like a jelly fish or hints of tropical marine life. This being due to the use of colour and the use of small high lights.

Machine Embroidery 

For the first week in machine embroidery previously in the course we had to make 15, 12x12 squares using sentences, from this we had to develop them by using a simple straight and zig zag on the sewing machine. From these we then had to make 18 more concentrated and careful pieces using a taylor foot on the sewing machine.

The taylor tacking foot is used for creating heavy piles and build ups of thread, its mainly used decrativley. After practicing with this technique we were then set the task of 18 12x12 samples using this and the embelisher. The embelisher for me was my favourite as it was spontaneous there was no planned outcome and i like to work with idea i don't know what will happen.

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As much as I love working on a sewing machine, I found this very very hard. Working with two colours isn't what i am used to, so for me i found it very difficult to come out of my comfort zone. To start with I was sewing in straight lines, and strictly sticking to the 12x12 box, as the samples developed i found myself using texture to create the boxes and small hints of embroidery as detail. I have found a new love for Taylor Tacking, and i strongly believe this will be brought into my future work frequently as it is a lovely stitch to work with and is very diverse. I also believe I will carry forward the use of the embelisher as not is it only quick it is spontaneous  the use of spontaneity is something that is always useful, as i have learnt when you're stuck, it will help you develop and give you ideas which you hadn't thought of. As I looked back and reflected, I could have pushed these samples so much more, for example; I could have gone back and used my favourite technique of drawing, and photocopying and draw elements of the samples. This idea will stay in my mind and maybe i will be able to use it in the future.

I believe i could have excelled more in this area, I believe i haven't showed my true potential. But by doing this and knowing I have more to give it has made me more eager to push myself in my next project.

Journeys

A Journey to Liverpool.

We set off to Liverpool at 9:30 and firstly walked to the Walker Art Gallery, whilst in the art gallery I was really interested in a small section of the gallery named 'Drinking Tea & Coffee'. In this small section there were intricately designed cups, saucers, jugs and plates.

We set off to Liverpool at 9:30 and firstly walked to the Walker Art Gallery, whilst in the art gallery I was really interested in a small section of the gallery named 'Drinking Tea & Coffee'. In this small section there were intricately designed cups, saucers, jugs and plates.

 

Designed in 1700, these British hand painted cups were copied from China. The one above that I loved most due to the amazing gold hand crafted detail was designed by Henry & Richard Daniel. I want to use the patterns on this cup and saucer and use them to document my journey.

After spending a few hours in the Walker Gallery we walked across town to The Tate, one piece really stood out to me, which was the photo above. A series of bright coloured photos of life, named 'Common Sense' by Martin Parr. All these images where printed on laser jet paper and arranged to compliment each other. The images he had taken where of the small things in life that you sometimes don't think about. I was also attracted to the piece due to the use of colour and the way that all of the photos are very bright. I also loved this piece due to every photo making you realise something or remember something of my childhood. I also thought about using the technique of photographing small things people never really remember to create and document my journey to different places.

Drawings from the Liverpool journey.

These drawings were done on the way to Liverpool on the coach. I used water pencils, fine liner and a bottle of water with a paintbrush to make these drawings. Before the journey I had prepared the papers using masking tape, gum tape and bits of maps. This gave the page more texture to work on. Along the journey I documented things i saw on the way from the coach window. Then later on i developed it more by sewing into it and blowing up larger on the photocopier. 

From viewing work at the Tate gallery Layla Curtis's work inspired me to include maps within my work. Layla uses original maps and re creates them by moving countries to different places. 

Map Drawing

From studying Layla Curtis's work with maps, I drew a map of Liverpool City centre, I then developed this by using photo shop to combine photographs of the day.

This is combined with a photograph of chewing gum on the floor. Whilst walking round Liverpool I noticed that the floor was heavily littered with chewing gum. From combining these two images I think it gives the piece more meaning and develops drawings of the day well

This map was combined with a photograph I took of the Walked Gallery. By adding this photo to the map, I feel it portrays my journey well. 

Quink Drawings 

I also wanted to develop on my drawing skills of buildings from the City. I used Quink, a large cocktail stick, water colour and fine liner to create a drawing of a church in the City and small detailed drawings of the floors detail. Eg, cobbles and chewing gum.

Patterns in the sky

For the summer project, were were told to make a kite to fly on the park for the first day of the course. I decided to make a kite based on something that does make patterns in the sky, a butterfly. I used wire, tough materials and sewn them together on the sewing machine.

Flying my kite high above the Arndale Shopping Centre

Flying my kite through Allsaints Park

Flying my kite through backstreets of Manchester

Digital Portolio

My name is Amy Bamford and I am applying for the course of BA Hons Textiles as I feel this is where my strengths lie. I have always had a passion for Textiles and Art. I enrolled at Pendleton college and studied Art, Textiles, English Language and Psychology, Art and Textiles were the two subjects that I excelled in. This was evident in my A level results and also in my GCSE results, Art and Textiles being my highest grades. I am currently on a Art and Design foundation course at Manchester Metropolitan University. I am currently developing my skills in the Textiles and Fashion pathway and this course will give me a year’s extra experience in this subject area.

I want to gain more experience in my favourite subject area of Textiles by continuing form my foundation course onto the degree course at MMU and hopefully be able to pursue a career in textiles print. I am very interested in the course at MMU as it has a wide choice of pathways from knit, weave, and embroidery that I will be able to develop my skills further in and gain more knowledge into the textiles industry. The textiles course at MMU also appeals to me due to the broad first year in which I will learn many more techniques . Already being a student at MMU has given me the opportunity to use the brilliant resources that the university has to offer, this also influenced my decision to apply here.