24/11/13 Practice

I have continued my sampling given a stronger consideration to the composition of the pieces rather than just being a square or a rectangle. I looked at the work of the painter Sean Scully whose work is based on basic geometric shapes repeated in a variety of ways.  I found this interesting to look at as each shape within the work could illustrate a different section of information but all displayed in one large piece.

Using rubbings from my machine stitched samples I have explored varying compositions. The textural results have potential for development and further sampling, whether making them larger, adding colour or stitch.

 Sean Scully

 

17/11/13 Practice

This week I have been focusing on my context.I am aiming to create a collection of wall pieces that are based on using the thread as a measuring instrument. Alongside this I aim to create a series of paper based work. I want my work to have meaning and the information embedded within it and to be created in response to a set of data. The following designers are all working towards a similar context of where I see my work sitting.

Fay McCaul is a textile designer who uses traditional knitting methods to create textile surfaces for wall coverings, partitions and installations.  Her work can be found online at Bespoke Global as well as being seen at trade fair such as Clerkenwell Design Week and TENT, both in London . She also works to commison and will customise the work if required.

Fay McCaul

Emily Barletta is a artist who uses stitch as her method of drawing. Her hand embroidered work is created alongside scupltural crochet pieces.  Her work is shown through various exhibitions in America, most recently Repetition and Ritual at the Minnesota Musuem of Art. As well as being sold through online outlets such as 'Mammoth and Co' and 'Garage Gallery'.  This highlights that there is a market for stitched paper drawings to be created alongside more substantial work.

I visited the Special collections exhibition ‘The Language of Process: How New Materials and Technologies are Changing Product Design’. Within the exhibition there were two pieces by Fluid Forms, an Austrian company who focus on creating ‘design your own products’ based on factors such as location. It was a very worthwhile visit as it allowed me to see other products that are being aimed at being bespoke and commisioned and to see how they are marketing their products to the customer.

                                                     Fluid Forms

10/11/13 Practice

I have carried on using the idea of wrapping and using the thread as a method of recording. I used acrylic as I wanted illustrate the idea that you can reveal the process and see the workings of the piece. I am pleased with the outcome of my pieces and feel that they could be worked into even further. The layers could increased to make it more detailed and layered thus showing more information and creating a more interesting aesthetic. 

 

I discovered the work of Annika Syrjämäki who looks at data and then weaves with the information to create large scale pieces of textiles. The data is not always visible and allows the viewer to discover another layer to her work. I intend to have this element in my work, so that initially the work looks good but when looked into further the content behind the work becomes as important as the aesthetics. 

 

                                                Annika Syrjämäki

3/11/13 Practice

I have to explore the relationship between the thread and the surface further and how the thread interacts with different materials. I have begun to explore wrapping the thread and the results that can be achieved from this and I have enjoyed this process as I feel there is  potential to keep exploring and pushing the idea. By wrapping the thread I feel that I have a stronger connection to the material and that the drawings and flat surface embroideries are brought to life as the samples become more textural.

 

I have been able to further explore what a line can be and the work of Katherine Hinsberg demonstrates just how diverse the concept of a line can be. During the exhibition Cloth and Memory at the Salts Mill, she used a single red thread to represent the dimensions of the space of the room and then wove the thread.  Through using the line of the thread she has represented both the space and the history of the building, as it was originally a textile mill . The idea of using thread as a method of measuring  is something to explore, in particular in response to my thread wrappings.

Katherine Hinsberg

27/10/11 Practice

This week has been a bit of a struggle and I don’t feel that my ideas have developed as much as I hoped they would. I have been exploring new materials but I am yet to come up with any successful samples from these materials. I think that I have not been patient enough and I need to be more persistent for stronger ideas and solutions to come from them. For next week I intend on work on using more durable and sustainable materials to move my ideas forward in a more professional way.

I began to work with everyday found objects, such as balloons and straws, to represent the data information. The samples I made were not that successful as I did not explore the potential of the materials and it was still apparent that I had used these everyday objects and I had not transformed the aesthetic of them enough.

20/10/13 Practice

Moving on from last week I have begun to enlarge my drawings and work on my colour scheme. Whilst the drawings still have a linear quality to them the lines started to appear as shapes which I like as it has given me more to work with. I have also worked on my colour scheme as before I was just using the colours that were available to me. From maps and travel schedules of Manchester, I extracted colours from the keys as it will begin to give more of an identity to my work.

I visited the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Spinningfields and it was a very worthwhile trip as it exposed me to what current artists and designers are making and how they are selling and promoting their work. I particularly liked the work of Ness Donnelly who intricately stitches geometric patterns onto paper to create images for the wall. Her context and method are similar to how I am intending my work to be seen and it has given me something to aim for and be motivated by.
 

                                                                      Ness Donnelly

13/10/12 Practice

 I have started to manipulate and analyse the timetables collected of travel networks in Manchester. I soon moved on from working with these as there were too many numbers and figures to comprehend.  I looked at mapping a space and in particular the spaces I am familiar with, such as in my home. This became more interesting as it felt personal to me and I could make interesting relationships out of a mundane activity.

 

 

I looked at pedestirans movement in a public space and recorded the activity in Albert Square, St Ann’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester. From the drawings I didn’t feel I as though I had a personal connection to the spaces and as the space is not enclosed there was no closure to the line. My drawing below illustrates the direction of the pedestrians and the width of the line indicates how fast they were travel, the thicker the line the faster they were moving.  Sol Lewitt is a American artist who reguarly uses rules to create his work, this often involves instructions and creating a line. Through working with data , the work then has a restricted quality to it that cannot be changed. By working with figures and and information I will have to set certain rules in my work, such as line thickness or colour for the data to be portrayed.

 

Sol LeWitt

 

 I read extracts from Mark Buchanon’s book ‘Small Worlds’ which looks at networks and how everything is connected in our world. It was interesting to read as although the networks they were looking at were more scientific it gave an interesting insight into how and why networks are used and how closely related everything is.  The quote below made me think about my work and has helped to give myself a greater understanding of what my project is about.

‘Geometry is used in a whole range of data visualisation which we use to organise our perception of the world’

 

6/10/13 Practice

After my first tutorial, it became apparent that I needed to define the context for my work and decide where exactly I would like my work to sit. Once I started to fully research it became clear to me that my work is more suited to a retail environment rather than a gallery setting. I see my work to be aimed at the commercial interior market with selected bespoke pieces. ‘Snowhome’, ‘Howkapow’ and ‘Future and Found’ are all design led independent shops with an emphasis on interior home products. These shops are examples of where I would like to see my work as they support British design and emerging creatives.

Claire Norcross creates lighting for both domestic and contract interiors, selling her work via design led interior shops (such as Utility Design) and through her own website. Alongside this Claire also creates one off commissions.  Although she is creating a product the way in which her work is how i would like to market my work.

Furthermore, I began to collect and compile a range of data and maps to start analysing. Initially I was planning on investigating certain locations, but after more thought I have decided to concentrate on networks and journeys as I feel this is broader and will give me more information to explore.

Unit X- Craft Fair 17/5/13

Within the unit one of the most interesting aspects were the professional lectures to have the chance to listen to the views of professional practitioners is very helpful as they know first hand what it is like to work in the current market and they have passed on some very useful knowledge, in particularly Manifold Studio and Ismini Samanidou.  One piece of invaluable advice that was given to us in almost all of the lectures was that you have to be proactive about having your work seen, whether it is networking at events, having an up to date website or ensuring you apply for commisions. From the group sessions and tutorials I found it interesting to see the work of other student from others courses and find out more about what they do as part of their practice and to see the wide variety of media being used. At the group sessions although I was present I feel that I could have contributed more to voice my thoughts and opinions.  

As a result of this project I have learnt several things about my practice. I have discovered that I can adapt and take on the challenges of a new brief and be able to work for a new context using new ideas. I also think that my organisational skills have improved as there were several parts of the project that needed to be completed at the same time, in the past I have often left everything to the last minute but with this project I planned my time more efficiently.

An aspect that I need to improve is that I should push myself to further my work as at times I can become complacent with what I have achieved, this will be particularly important to improve on for my final year.  Furthermore, I would like to develop my confidence in public speaking and giving presentations as this is an essential skill to have to be able to show and explain my work at its best as well as being vital in securing commissions.

From my work in this unit it has reaffirmed that I would like to continue exploring the connection between hard and soft materials, colour and pattern. Moreover, going into third year I would like to carry on investigating the idea of data and mapping as I feel that there is a lot of scope for it to be explored further. The unit has also confirmed that I would like my work to sit within the field of making and to be seen at galleries as well as be available for commission. Over the summer I intend to discover and view the work of artists and designers working in the same context as my work.  

Overall I have enjoyed the unit and although I did not fully know what the project would entail at the beginning, I am very glad I chose the Craft Fair brief as it has given me the chance to further my practice in a collaborative and exciting way. 

My final Presentation. 

Unit X- Craft Fair 16/5/13

In the final stages of the project I have refined my ideas down to a large scale wall piece. I have moved the idea on so that the work focuses on the location of the National Trust properties in the North West of England. By connecting all the properties together,  a spatial quality is given to the piece seen by the geometric pattern. I have created a wall piece using 3mm ply wood with 3 adjoining squares which are connected with cotton thread. Although I originally planned to take the colours from the Kelim rugs in the National Trust Online Archive I decided against that as I discovered that recently the iconic National Trust logo has been up dated using a range of 9 vibrant colours to give it a more modern feel. From the 9 colours applied to the logo I chose the combination of blue, purple and orange as when put together they provide a striking outcome. I think that one of the strengths of my work is that the overall design and concept can be applied to a range of locations and ideas therefore giving it scope to be developed even further beyond the project. Furthermore the size of the piece can be adjusted, by adding or taking away pieces depending on the size of the area being mapped. 

A weakness of the project is the quality of wood that I used, although the plywood which I have used is practical in terms of it durability and weight, the piece would have had a more professional outcome if I had used a wood of a greater value and a more interesting surface such as oak.

Alongside the wall piece I have created a small framed hand cut paper piece to sit alongside my work. Although I began the project with the initial starting point of the National Trust, I have furthered my ideas so that the work will appeal to a wider audience. Using the same method of plotting locations, I have proposed mapping peoples ‘personal data’. Through this idea the work becomes more personal and affordable. For example, the data may plot a persons favourite places, a memorable journey or significant locations in their life. The work would be open to commission to allow for each piece to be customised. I have kept the geometric design and the colour scheme the same as the wood piece so that the work has a sense of cohesion and continuity.

I feel that my project is appropriate for the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair as there are several designers and makers who have exhibited their work here who are creating wall based art in mixed media and have a range of products and price ranges in their collections, such as Ella Robinson (http://www.ellarobinson.com/) and Clare Knox Bentham (http://www.clareknoxbentham.co.uk/).  Both artists have also created a collection of smaller more affordable pieces such as jewellery to sit alongside the larger pieces of work

I think that my presentation on Thursday went ok, I said the majority of what I had planned to say, not necessarily in the right order and my sentences became slightly jumbled. If I was to do the presentation again I would ensure that I had written some cards with some clear points to help me keep on track and allow the presentation to flow more fluidly and I would ensur that I maintained eye contact with those watching. It was however good to see all my work compiled together and seen as a whole rather than lots of scattered parts.  If I was to do my project again I would ensure that I carried out more research at the beginning of the project so that I could progress my concept further for the final piece as I would have had more time for development.

Unit X- Craft Fair 03/05/13

Continuing with my project I have researched further into the facts and figures surrounding the National Trust and this has proved to be of far more interest and generated more ideas than my previous lines of research. By looking at numbers, figures and the distribution of the National Trust properties it has allowed me to start mapping the organisation and I have been able to portray  my work in a more precise and analysed manner whilst also giving a stronger connection to the National Trust. 

I am still working towards a wall based piece that will represent the distribution of the properties in the UK. I have also considered creating a smaller form of my idea that could be seen as framed artwork. From the Interim Crit, a fellow student suggested that my pieces could work well as textile products (such as a tea towel or a print) to be sold in the National Trust shop. I had previously not considered this approach, but it is something I will research further into as it could be an interesting more affordable collection to be seen alongside the larger pieces. The Interim Crit proved to be very useful as it made me analyse my work and realise what were the important and most successful points of my project, as well as the weaknesses. From compiling my work together onto boards, it has also allowed me to see what I now need to do to finalise my intended outcomes. It was also interesting to see fellow students work, particular those on other courses and view the range of ideas and concepts that have emerged. 

I have begun to develop and sample my ideas using a range of materials. I am still working with the idea of incorporating wood and stitch, but as wood and using the laser cutter can be a costly, time consuming and more permanent process I have used fabric and paper as an alternative to sample with. By using these materials I can begin to get a feel of the scale and the relationship between the hard and soft materials.

I had a dotted grid cut out on the laser cutter so I experimented with ways of displaying the information using stitch on a wooden surface. Although it has been useful to see the relationship between the wood and the stitch and colour, the grid is restricting and too simple in terms of the patterns that can be made. I have decided that for my next wood cut sample, I will consider the design more thoroughly to ensure that each piece is more of how I envisage the final product to be.  My samples are becoming more geometric in their pattern and have started to slightly resemble the patterns of the Kelim floorboards. I have introduced the bold colours of the floorboards to create a stronger link with the National Trust.

The samples that I feel are more successful are those that combine bold colours and line as this allows the viewer to be immediately captivated and drawn in to look closer at the piece. I looked at the work of Casual Data who undertook a project called 'Sense of Patterns' which looks at the behaviour patterns of humans in public spaces, in particular journeys carried out in cities. Through their research they have created strong visuals  showing daily activities that we all undertake without even thinking about. I particularly like the designs where there is a build up of line and repetition used with strong colours as this makes the work  adds more depth and interest to the work. (http://casualdata.com/senseofpatterns/)

                                    (Images from Casual Data)

UNIT X- Craft Fair 19/04/13

During the previous project I was exploring the relationship between hard and soft materials which resulted in using the laser cutter, wood and thread. I wanted to further my practise and explore this concept as I felt that there was more to discover and evolve within this idea. From the National Trust online archive I discovered some painted wooden floorboards that were inspired by Kelim rugs, which are tapestry woven rugs originating from the Middle East. I was drawn to these items by the bold painted colours combined with the natural colour of the wood.

However they were limiting my drawing and research as there was already an established pattern and colour palette to use. I decided to go back to the origins on wood, so I visited Stowe a National Trust property near Buckingham and took some interesting photos of the site including some of trees that focused on the texture, colour and pattern. From the images I have drawn and started to make small samples to portray the essence of the images and encourage people to look closer and appreciate our natural surroundings.

I am focusing my work for placement within the GNNCF, with a focus on an interiors based product and basing my ideas on the inception and heritage of the National Trust. From the research I have carried out so far I plan on experimenting further by using different substrates (such as paper and wood) combined with thread to further my knowledge of these materials. I will explore different textures, patterns and colours. I do not currently know what the final outcome of the project will be, but I envisage that it will be a wall based piece suitable for the market at the GNNCF.

The professional lectures have been very useful and have strongly encouraged me to think about the professional world in which my practice will sit.  The main point that I have recognised from the lectures is that you have to put yourself and your work out there in order for it to be recognised, it will not happen by itself. Manifold studio portrayed how being part of a studio can have many benefits such as sharing equipment, costs and logistics of running a studio. Furthermore they have the chance to promote themselves through the studio as well as their individual selves thus expanding on the exposure of their practice. Alice Kettle advised us to ‘have faith in yourself and your work’, this advice from such a well-established textile artist is definitely a value I am going to try and maintain. Alice’s talk also reaffirmed that my work is best suited to sit within the field of gallery based work and commissions.

I received some vital feedback from my tutorial; the main point was that I need to have a greater connection to the National Trust, as the photos I took could have been taken in any outside area. I have begun to research further into  the facts and figures surrounding  the National Trust and the placement and location of  properties.