hand Painted designs!!

Painted floral designs using an illuminating discharge technique and painting with DS acids directly onto crepe de chine silk.

(Left) First painted sample using illuminating discharge technique and painted onto crepe de chine silk with DS acid dyes. Including some sample embroidery. (Right) Final painted design with tulips using brush strokes and an illuminating discharge technique. the brush strokes give a dip dyed effect. 

Leaves & Berries

Foliage with beautiful berries and intense pencil crayon colour and shading. I experimented with different backgrounds and found that this contrast between vivid brushstrokes and intricate shading works really well. 

Matthew Williamson S/S 2012

Beautiful Ombre effects with landscape imagery. I love the placement of this collection and the colours.

Beautiful florals! hyper acids and liquid filter effects, I love the way the flowers are dragged into each other creating an ombre colour effect.

Today's Editing

Placement Ideas, looking at changing the scale, colour, repeated aspects.

Placement created following a trend on concealed prints, creating a  'hazy' aesthetic.

This print was created following a trend on concealed prints, using blur filters on photoshop and tracing paper to create a foggy look. The initial print wasn't working and I think this may be due to the colour and the fact it was so far removed from the thumbnail ideas I had in mind. I feel this 'hazy' print works better and the colours compliment each other much better.

Preen: Where my inspiration begins!

Preen, S/S 2013 Collection

Preen is my favourite design house and they give me so much inspiration. I love the innovative prints, the patch work elements and combinations of textures.
This collection is one of my favourites and has given me a lot of inspiration for my own floral collection. I love the large flowers with the bold stripes in conjunction with the very detailed and chaotic prints within the same collection.

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!

Placement Ideas: Looking at repeating my design, changing the scale and the colour slightly. 

The design: created using a background of inks and gouache with a screen printed swirl print and hand drawn pencil crayon flowers. I really wanted to have a flower design within my collection that were extremely over sized and aesthetically dynamic.

Placement Ideas: Looking at mirroring the flowers, how will the design work as a repeat? 

I created this design looking at a trend about concealed prints using tracing paper to make the design hazy/foggy. Beneath the outlined flowers are vivid stripes concealed by tracing paper. I really wanted to create a repeat with this design however the design process led me in this direction with a large placement as the final outcome. 

Repeats, Surface Design

Looking at Filter effects, repeating hand drawn polka dots and changing the aesthetic with Photoshop filters.

Inspired by Moschino Cheap and Chic range. Still life drawn with pencil crayons looking at placements, and repeated polka dots experimenting with shading.

Simple triangle/geometric repeat using gouache, inks and pencils. 

Final tiger!!

Hand drawn tiger and leaves using pencil crayons with expressive brush strokes and imported fabric detail within triangle. I have re-designed this tiger three times and I am finally happy with this outcome!   

Abstract Brush Strokes & Intricate Detail...

This print is part of my flower collection for my final MA module. I really want to create interest using mixed media and combining different textures, juxtaposing free/loose brush strokes with intricately drawn florals.  

Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane, amazing brush strokes! The use of colour and combinations of mark making is so inspiring and has inspired me to think about how I will combine digital print with hand fabric painting. 

Placement inspiration, layout and colour combinations. Graphic aesthetic making a huge impact.

New Work

Hand drawn flowers using pencil crayons with a painted and screen printed back ground.  Inspired by Preen and Christopher Kane's beautiful use of brush strokes in his S/S 2013 collection.  

T-Shirts

Rosa, my friend from work kindly agreed to model my T-Shirt into the city centre today to gain women's feedback...

Very mixed reactions...

There didn't seem to be a corolation in age to the reactions and comments that were given. The general concensus was: very bright, don't like the sequins

Every other comment was very varied, some people really liked the bright colours others were indifferent and some really did not like the colours. Some people really liked the tye-dye other's didn't- the majority did not like the combination of all of the elements- perhaps there is too much going on in one T-Shirt. I think the next time I print onto T-Shirts or create samples I will consider the depth and brightness of colours as I am layering techniques and create softer backgrounds to build on.

The majority also likes the embroidery, however they really disliked the sequins- the two people who liked the sequins, interestingly enough were an interior designer and a second level junior architect.

I think this type of print with all of the elements would be more appropriate for a different crowd, perhaps Bristol or london (Camden). This work is therefore not high street commercial. Any comments?...

A Touch of Inspiration...

I had a dream last night that me and Matthew Williamson were friends!...

I love his use of colour, print, embroidery and embellishment, and his dress designs.

I hope to create some embroideries to compliment my digital prints (from hand drawn, hand coloured drawing sheets) and to take them into garment shapes- Matthew Williamson has greatly inspired me- and the dream isn't some cooky metaphore! (Indian food has strange side effects!)

Experiements

Ok so an update...

In order to become a textiles surface designer in a studio in this generation I must learn the fundamentals of photoshop- however reluctant I may have been in the past it seems it is the only way to acheive my colour scheme and shading within printed textiles, also every studio uses the software and an inability to use it will not get me noticed...

So I need to bring my drawings into print and my level of detail. I have begun designing some repeats by hand and doing some tutorials from digital print publications. I am currently working on repeating my drawing sheets, as a starting point.

Here is the first repeating print by hand and I will keep you updated on the my digital progress- My aim to is combine digital print, screen print, layering of fabrics (imitating my paper cuts) and using the embroidery of my paper cuts for further embellishments. The first creative moduole is all about experimenting so my goal is to experiment with all of these disciplines. But first I must tackle photoshop...

Anyway first repeat by hand, honest opinions welcome,

Initial Ideas and Drawings!

I have recently moved down to Bath to study for my MA in Textiles and fashion design.

The first moduol was Research methodologies- an MA proposal and later today a presentation, yes I am extremly nervous!

I have begun to do some practical work inspired by the research I have gathered and the paper genious of Jen Stark, Rob Ryan and textiles works of Lizzie Finn.

My work is also inspired by my love of colour although I will be looking into trends and colour co-ordinates throughout my study to have some commercial work in my portfolio so...

This is what I have produced so far, some initial drawings inspired by a doodle I can't seem to stop drawing, nature, florals and animal prints. Also my own paper creations with a lil' bit of Jazzy Jeff thrown in there! circa early 90's Fresh Prince styley!

Carven- Spring 2012 Collection

I signed up to email updates with Print Source- www.printsourcenewyork.blogspot.com - and this is the latest emal they have just sent me, check out the colours on these bad boys!!!

This collection is beautiful- Chevrons everywhere!

More Discoveries!

Through more research I have just discovered an amazing artist called Lizzie Finn, I'm probably extremly late to this party!!!

Lizzie experiments with the hand-made and technology. I love the cover she did for Moloko, a beautiful mash-up of hand-made pieces and technology! Lizzie created the stuffed animals by hand from old how-to magazines and then constructed them into a digital composition with brilliant results. Also whilst on Lizzies' website and looking at other websites relating to her work I found this really tripping video (see link) from a magazine called, 'I Want You Magazine'.

http://vimeo.com/7369844

Also check out Lizzie Finn's website for amazing embroideries!

Discoveries...

Ok so now I'm in Bath studying for my MA in textiles and fashion design...

I'm currently writing an essay and I have created a new blog to run along side it although it will be quite a short blog in respect to the essay- around 12 days ish long- but like an unwanted crimby prezzie it's the thought that counts!

I have become ever more interested in paper cutting and the incredible effects some artists have been able to acheive. Rob Ryan is my favourite! I have found this video on you tube however I'm struggling to put the video onto my blog. I'm going to attach the link of the video onto this blog to see what happens...
http://vimeo.com/30184370

Etsy Shop is go!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok gang it took forever what with opening a bank account for the shop and what not... but the shop is finally live! feel free to scan through my products and spread the word! In the future I think I will create some clothing for the shop but for now I'm starting fairly small. I may put some of my art work up for sale to see if I gain any interest but for now lets watch this space!

"Funky Ginge"- Etsy shop on the way...