Getting Bigger

This past week I've been sketching and drawing to build up data for me to work from. I blew up some of my images from sketching ballerinas, and have been using these to work and expand upon. Reflecting upon images helps me to understand further where I need to take my ideas and evaluate whats already been done.

Getting from A - B

Some people start with ideas.

Some people start with making.

I believe I am a maker. Inspiration is never as stronger to me than when I'm making. In working on the machines I have found to help my ideas follow after learning and experimenting with techniques used.

The designer of the week this week is Pernilla and Asif with Cloud installation.
I enjoyed this for similar reasons to the previous Kinetic Rain. The video bellow is an interview with the artists and is interesting to see how they found their idea and how that relates to me and my practise.

Machine Embroidery Week 2

This week I started to think more about the qualities of the backs of the samples. I was still keeping in mind my drawings but starting more to relate my work back to the idea of data and think about the data of the back of the samples.

I created this sample using the embellisher. The wool jute fell apart on the embellisher but leaves a ghost like presence on the back of the wool. 

Here I layered 4 different fabrics together and used straight stitch to create a quilted effect. I then ripped through the quilting to show the layers and see how the fabrics react when placed next to one and other.

 I like the loose lines that form on the back when using a tailor tacking foot as opposed to the straight lines in the front. By altering the tension here I was able to bring up the light and dark threads creating a looser line that looks more like movement.

I enjoyed using the tailor tacking foot and completed more samples using the tension tool and seeing how effective it was on different fabrics. Here is just two examples of these experiments.

MOVEMENT

When you hear the word MOVEMENT, the word DANCE also comes straight to mind. 

I thought about drawing dancers and documenting their movement. I found youtube to be a good source, as I could pause movements as well as continuously sketch. I have been watching lots of modern dance videos and ballet including this rather nice one from a Chinese dance school. I also watched a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan lake by the Krion Theatre. I really like the marks I have made, especially when using Ink. I want to take these drawings further through manipulation and enlarging. 

Getting from A - B

Notes and further research I made during the first in a series of weekly lectures.

Divergent - I need to open up more
Convergent - And then be sensible and make active decisions when closing down.

Gilbert & George - working together in synchronisation..

I also took inspiration from the Kinetic Rain Video from Singapore Airpot.

I love the synchronisation and the shapes within the design. 

Machine Embroidery Week 1

This week I completed 15 samples using a Bernina machine in the new studio. I was trying to replicate the marks I made within my sketchbook based around movement and space using simple machine embroidery techniques. I was also investigating how different fabrics react to different stitches and marks. I found pile fabrics such as velvet difficult to work with as the lines sink into the fabric. however this is a quality that I feel with further experimentation can be enhanced. 

Constellations

I have found much more inspiration after looking at movement and first hand drawing from what I saw.

I want to take this idea further but still keep in mind my initial research of constellations.

I began drawing myself, tutors, friends and strangers moving around and documenting what they did. Always keeping in mind the idea of data, and that my drawings are an interpretation, yet also a documentation of the history.

This is a page from my sketchbook where I was quickly drawing a friend making toast.

I added colour after to try and distinguish the points and the scale of her movements.

I also began to think about mapping my movements. Drawing lines on a map of a certain movement mirrors a constellation of the night sky.

Thoughts

In order to move on with my project I need to think about this idea of data of the sky.
Am I inspired enough to continue with this as a theme?

In November I was wondering around London, and some street performers caught my eye in Trafalgar Square.
I really like how vibrant they were and constantly moving around in the space they were performing. They soon drew a large crowd and I felt inspired to sketch the movements.

The points that they moved to reminded me of the constellations that I had been looking at. I found my notebook with these sketches in and felt like I had to include my originals and recreate some of the marks I made. All though these sketches are from over a month ago, I am starting to realise the importance of working constantly as I can use something that inspires me at a later date.