Data

Mood Board. 

My mood board for the start of the project, based on jewellery.

Drawing

-Artist Influences - Egon Schiele

Egon Schieles way of drawing really influenced my work. 

I am used to drawing in a precise heavily detailed way. By looking into his work and his fast but effective drawings, I wanted to develop this way of drawing in my work. I decided to use photographs of my jewellery, and this fast way of drawing to create small images, of the jewellery. This technique doesnt only give you a new more meaningful image it helped to push me away from strict ways of working. 

 

Development

Using techniques from Egon Schiele's work, I drew certain images from the jewellery collection using fineliner, quink and water colours. I also added the two stripes of colour at the sides of the page to show examples of all the different colours entailed in the real photographs.

Watches 

Necklaces- Simple line drawings using a 0.05 fineliner and a quick carefree way of drawing.

 This image is a drawing done again using water colour  I wanted to try and recreate the image of the purple diamond, however I found once again by using a less strict way of drawing I got a much more interesting image. I firstly did the left hand drawing, however I didn't enjoy painting this as I found myself struggling to get a perfect match. I then decided to expand on the idea I had earlier in my work, by taking colours and creating stripes.. but instead using the colours in a way to resemble the image. This flowing way of painting seemed to work better and helped develop my idea of colour.

This image is again another piece using Egon Schieles way of working and again using a colour stripe. I would say that this is my favourite drawing so far due to the colour stripe being so unique and I personally think the drawings of the necklaces are the best I have done so far.

From my previous work I have decided I want to try and create colour stripes using the water colour technique. However I want to base my colour stripes on diamonds. Diamonds and jewelles have multiple colours in them all blending and shining at one to create a certain other colour. I want to try and sample these colours and this idea in my work.

Artist Influence - Diamond Suply Co.

I found this image whilst browsing colour artists on Pinterest. I loved the way the colour bleed into each other. It reminded me very much of my colour stripes previous in my work. I also like the way it seemed trapped and somewhat controlled due to the sections in the illustration painted and the ones not. I like the contrast between the white and the sudden blend of colour. 

Diamond Supply Co.

Using this technique, I created my own diamond shape and previous colours used through out my work and created a large scale version of the artists work previous. I enjoyed working like this, however I found keeping the colours in certain spaces was difficult due to how watery the paint had to be to blend well. I really love the way the colours all look good together and blend well. This way of working really helped me to develop my work. It helped push my idea of capturing the colours in a diamond and helped further the idea of colour blending and controlled shapes. I played around with this technique and did a small sample in my sketchbook and this large scale version on A2 cartridge paper. 

Sketchbook Diamond 

 Artist Influence- Amy Sia 

I fell in love with Amy Sias work straight away firstly due to her amazing use of colour, then secondly due to fact it reminded me straight away of my colour stripes and what I had been trying hard to achieve. Her work is incredibly eyecatching and beautiful. It also fueled me further into thinking of pushing the idea of colour and collecting colours from certain images of diamonds. Amy works with print and uses it on a large scale to create things such as scarves. I love how everything is done by using bright colours too. This is also something I am very interested in looking at, how to develop the colours so they look bright and eyecatching. Just like a diamond.

Using white acrylic paint and water colour I pushed Amy Sia's idea of working on a large scale. I also decided to work free hand without any restrictions. I created these large colour blobs. Some of them I think to have worked well for example the purples really blended well and look good together. However I dont think the use of to many colours at once like the middle section look well together. 

 I wanted a new idea to push my development of finding colour. I found this illustration whilst browsing colour blogs. However it had no artists name or reference for me to look into it gave me the idea of collaging images I had already used.

I decided to create my own collage, using my photographs and small cuts of different colour stripes I had done previous. This way of working was on my favorites. This unique technique helped me into thinking about taking colour from this. Mixing up different images. I love the way this turned out due to how well it resembles a diamond.

Influenced by Amy Sia and her work with bright colours. I used my previous work of the collage diamond to pick out these bright colour stripes. That in themselves look like cuts of bright exotic diamonds. I really like the way I have pushed my project so far from the original photographs. I also really like the bright bold colours.

I also had the idea of hand dawn diamonds to go over the top of the colour stripes. By drawing on acetate it made it easier to see and understand my ideas by being able to see and change the colour of the diamond by moving it around.

Whilst I was creating these colour stripes. I used masking tape to keep the controlled blocks of colour. After I had finished with the masking tape I stuck it to a seperate sheet of paper not even realising that next to each other the pieces looked really effective. I then scanned these stripes into the computer and brightened the colours and image transferred them onto a sample piece of cotton. This again gave me a new set of colours and textures from the pushing of materials.

The current textiles world I am studying is construct but due to me being poorly I couldn't attend the weaving workshops, so whilst at home I decided to try a small sample of weave using yarns and colours i have used throughout my work. 

I love the textures and samples that weave creates and I wish that I had been able to do it and develop my work using this technique. 

Using the scanner and the left over threads from my weave, I just quickly thought of a way of redeveloping the shape of a diamond and the colours I have selected throughout my project. However this small sample of scanning threads didnt turn out as I thought it would have.

Knitting

Using the knitting machine was a new thing for me and I firstly found it very difficult, there was a lot of frustration and a lot of times where I wanted to give up. Firstly we learnt the basics of normal stitching, casting on in an easy way, different tensions and different yarns. We then when our confidence was building moved onto harder techniques. 

This was one of my favorite techniques we learnt. The Ladder stitch. I really want to develop this with different colour yarns that I have used previously in my project.

I then came across a yarn that was made up of multiple colours. 

It was amazing and fit so well with my current project, I began to experiment and push this yarn as far as i could without it snapping or breaking whilst trying to knit with it.

I created samples using my colour pallet from my project and blended yarns togther using 2-3 yarns at a time to create thick unique samples. Whilst always keeping this multi coloured foil yarn in use.

However, from trying all these samples, yarn blending ect I still found that just simply using the foil yarn on its own was my favorite technique.

Due to the nature of this yarn, it was very very difficult to work with. So I was struggling with a way of making it my own. I wanted to push it further.

I was researching knitting artists when I came across Miriam Chor Freitas.

Miriam uses the art of crotchet to create peieces of jewellery. It reminded me of rings, the detail and the idea of the basic shape of diamonds.

I started to draw rings, in a care free way. I wanted to show all the different connecting lines in the rings. I then used yarns I have used previously in the project to create small crocheted detailed pieces. I love to crotchet, and I really want to be able to add this technique to my knitting.

I wanted more detailed photos to look from so I re photographed some of the rings. I placed them in mount board so I was able to get better shots of the top of the rings.

I also then re drew from the new photo graphs.

Using the previous technique I used learnt from Egon Schieles work, I drew the rings just quickly by picking out basic lines and shapes. I think these drawings look really unique and different. Even though it isnt a perfect studied drawing I think its still recognizable as to what they are and where the detail is.

Julia Wright

Julia Wright uses crotchet to create unique one of a kind pieces of jewellery. I love the way she uses the crotchet to give different textures. I really want to develop this way of working on a small scale added to my current knitting.

Developed Sample

This photograph doesn't portray the colours of the samples well, however. I developed my samples further by working with the mistakes on the knitting machine and adding crotchet. I preferred the tasseled edges to my samples and the small unwanted holes. I worked with them and added crotchet in a frilly way to compliment the now useful mistakes. I also added a new technique I learnt called Partial Knit. This creates a more uneven surface to work with as it sort of bunches up the knitting giving it in my eye more of a unique style.

 I loved working with the knitting machine and learning how to use it. At first I didnt enjoy it as I thought I would never be able to use it. Learning all these new skills has opened my eyes into a new view of textiles. I think knit is something I will be very keen to explore again in the future.

I believe this project has gone a lot better than the last project of journeys, however due to me being very poorly for 2 of the main weeks of the project I feel I have let myself and my work done due to me not being able to make a weave. However apart from that I think I have developed my work well. If I was to do my project again I would have concentrated more on developing my drawing instead of sticking with one way. I also would have pushed my ideas further. For example the collage diamond was one of my favorite pieces however I only tried the technique once and then moved on. Overall, I think I have achieved what I wanted to do which was explore the use of colour, and push the idea of data 'Something Given' as far as I could. 

Data

'Something Given'

For the new brief Data I decided to look into the word and its full meaning. After doing some research I found that the definition of Data comes from the Latin meaning 'Something Given'. 

'Something Given' - I have decided to set my project based on the idea of all the jewellery that has been passed down through out my family.

Selected pieces of my family's necklace collection

I want to explore the detail and the meaning behind each piece of jewellery. I think that this will fit well with my new textiles world - construct, due to the fine detail and unique ideas behind each piece. I will start by taking photos of the jewellery individually and then in groups acording to what sort of jewellery they are. From this I plan to work on small and large scales of using different materials to draw these images, to help develop the project further.

 Collection of family rings.

             

Broaches, Earrings & Oddments 

Collection of silver spoons

Collection of bracelets

Scanning Jewellery 

After taking multiple photos of selected pieces of jewellery, I wanted to capture there image in a different way. I used the scanner to capture some of the finer detail on the jewellery. 

                       

Rings- 1920-2012

Great Grandma and Grandads Wedding rings- 1920

Grandmothers Catholic Necklaces- 1950

My Grandmothers watches.

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.

-

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.

-

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.

                                                                                 -

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.