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The process of the skirt

I thought that it would be interesting for you all to see how I got the skirt to really push out with some volume, whilst having minimal fabric!!

I up-cycled some net curtain and threaded some wire into it to make a frame in a sense, helping me boost the volume in the skirt. it was made with three semicircle frames, alongside extra wire to boost the framing and keep it bursting out, so it doesn’t droop down. to make it easier to get into the board, with the help of my father, I looped the ends of the wire and used the hole in the loop to keep it nailed into the board. And in the end, it stilled looked so pretty!

Chapman brothers

so, with a need for extra artist responses, I decided to look at the chapman brothers. However, I wasn’t so keen on this.

Why? well, because I hated defacing precious photos. while the chapman brothers did this on etchings from many years ago, I had to do this on scanned in family photos which meant a fair amount to me. Yes I know these etching did hold a lot of value to someone ages ago, but I suppose I feel like i’m ruining sweet moments.

The chapman brothers would mutilate these etchings by turning them into clowns, with bold, yet dismal colours, really taking away the effect of the original work. I don’t really know if I like their work and how they literally replace the original faces for clowns.

sometimes people deface photos because they are angry, they had fallen out with that person. I must admit, i’ve done that before.

With the chapman brothers work, there is a massive shock factor to it. mostly because the media is such a change, and the way the artist characterises the people too. the use of the whites and the reds are used strongly in a lot of his work, alongside the blended blues, it’s defiantly a shock.

Sublimation Prints

The act of heat transferring your print onto a fabric, but the fabric MUST be synthetic. The heat press is set to 192 degrees, and to print the sublimation, you should leave it in for 40 seconds to ensure all the colours stay in the fabric.

The task was so fun! I was able to get a fair amount of my fabric printed, even though I wanted to print more, I couldn’t afford to pay for more sublimation paper. So, to improve, I should really consider budgeting a lot more to make my outcome look more professional. I think that what made it more fun was that I could see the paper fading as I printed it onto my fabric, and then seeing all the colours get fainter the more I printed.

Sadly, with each page you use, you only get 3 prints per page before the colour goes grey and you can’t print anymore. It was so interesting to watch the colour fade and go grey, and it really makes you think more into the emotion side of the project. It makes you think of memories, how they change, how you remember so little, or so much, thus making the emotions a feint or dark colour.

Happy memories, what colour are they? Take orange for example. Over the years, does this orange eventually become a bleak, greyish orange? And then when you’re reminded, does it become as vibrant as it used to be? Now, look at blue. Blue is a colour that that connotes sadness, it connotes upsetting things. When you think about it, blue is a depressing colour, the deeper the blue, the stronger the emotion is, the more scarring it is. However, as the years pass, you see that that these blues are getting lighter, these memories don’t hurt that much, they get easier. So, look at how the lighter pink sublimation appeared on the scanner, it looks like the it’s too pure, it’s too good to be true.

Mood board practice

As mood boards are very beneficial to fashion students in the second year of study, I decided to have a practice with composing this mood board. I decided to use the flowers and the model as these images linked nicely to my wedding theme of my final work.

The positive aspect of this work is that it is all laid out with white space to allow for an ordered and professional appearance. This was to make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye, which is meeting the standards expected of me to reach merit level.

To improve, I could have used the correct tools (such as a graphic tablet) and neatened the edges of the flowers and the model in the centre of the board. The saturation of the yellow and green lines could have been brighter, but the printer failed me on this matter. The printer wasn’t set correctly to the CMYK settings, and so it printed darker than expected. To improve this, next time I will ensure to check the printer settings before printing the work.

Heather: Self-taught Seamstress and Pattern Cutter

Heather visited the Plymouth College of Art to speak to the Fashion students in a seminar to discuss her work, her life, and how to run a business.

As a self-taught seamstress, Heather, who was a waitress in the 90s, decided that Fashion School was for her. Upon leaving her job was a hard-working waitress, Heather embarked upon these studies to learn more about fashion, including the cutting of patterns.

It was interesting to hear Heather speak about her own business experience, including her own collections of clothing for her business, Mono – which is based in her native home of Canada. This was particularly interesting to me as I have been inspired to consider creating my own business. In fact, since this seminar with Heather, I have produced my own collection of fashion designs available to be purchased online. The link for this is here: https://www.redbubble.com/people/kezonthemoon/works/26612661-two-gals-the-futuristic-look?asc=u

I was fortunate enough to have a one-to-one discussion with Heather, during which she gave some insightful guidance for improving my own designs. I was so grateful for her comments and have used them to great effect. This guidance included collaging designs together to come up with a final incredible design to boost my work and make it the best that it could be.

Manchester Bombing response- 23rd May

After hearing about the horrible news of the bombing last night, It really puts a shock into you. It’s not fair, these attacks aren’t nice. Why do this when there are children there? Children god damn it.

What is their problem? nail bombs? This isn’t ok for these people to do such an act. They chose this stadium because people couldn’t get out easily. They chose it because people would have been trapped. It’s horrible, we need justice.

Need

Justice

I made this sign in response to the attacks, I made it as if it was a response to Gillian Wearing. Gillian made work like this, with unsuspecting messages, and this is a harsher, more heartfelt response to her work.

Using the words “ I WANT JUSTICE” is about as strong as I could make it. I have no other words, these words... they scream in my head, they make a cry like no other words could make. I want a change, these attacks distress me so much, i’ve had enough of it.

Hearing about the victims, the 8 year old who was killed, this wasn’t ok. I was really devastated hearing about this, as it made me realise just how close I was to Manchester, it makes me think “am I next?”

I just want those who survived, or family members who were affected to know that we are all here for you. I want you to feel safe again, I’m sorry this all happened, just please let us stand with you to fight for justice, fight for the ones you lost, the ones you didn’t know, the ones who survived. Just please stay strong, you know you can do it.

#Manchester #we stand with you #manchester attack

Embellishment workshop

Embellishment, what is it?

It’s the act of changing the surface, thus, making it prettier, or wackier, or funky.I chose to do a workshop on this today to see if I can explore a bit more for my final illustration.

Embellishment can be used in styling, making, illustrating, you name it. It all makes your work stand out if you use it correctly.

Blonds, Libertine

This is an amazing example of embellishment on nails, and shows how it’s become a new trend. I personally like how the fluff is applied to the nails and they look so neat.

Mary Benson- SS16

Using the combination of embroidery and embellishment, Mary Benson created this beautiful line of clothing, and accessories to go with them. The stitching in itself is intricate, alongside the glasses with the gems pressed into them, adding beauty to the whole show.

My personal favourite- Ya-pei Tseng

The reason why I was pulled towards this garment was simply because of how the leather is stitched into the garment. It’s usually really hard to do this, and seeing it actually done on a garment is amazing. The colour contrast from grey to yellow really stands out, and I really feel drawn to it.

Furthering on to the workshop, I found it really fun! Being able to use the eyelet machine to weave shoelaces and other strange materials into my fabric was exciting to do, and gave me a chance to learn french knots with the embroidery silks. This was really fun because I got to explore and make samples with my spare houndstooth fabric and weave into it.

Here are some examples of my french knots being explored.

For the golden fabric, it was such a pain to use. Simply because of the gold plastic on top was pulling through to the bottom, making it harder for me to finish the french knot as the silk tangled with the fabric, however, it really stands out. I particularly feel drawn to the pink silk on the second photo as it really stands out, as the light makes the pink darker as it’s layered over, making a really pretty shadow.

For the silver fabric, it was so satisfying to use. This was because it had such a soft, silky texture on top, and then the more rigid fabric on the bottom only caused a small issue (the needle eye ripped off!) Furthermore, I simply loved the contrast if these fabrics. This was because the bunched up knots were hard, and the silver fabric had a soft touch to it, really bringing in a contrast.

#embellisment #embroidery #fashion #illustration

Todays target!

Every day I set myself a target to complete for the day. I make sure this task is easily reachable, and something that makes my day worthwhile. This is what i’ll be doing all day, and I have just created my a2 illustration, and I am preparing my creative cv now.

This is vital for my time management side of my work, and helps me boost my work with my weekly evaluation and analysis.

Boarders workshop! This was a fun workshop to use photoshop and possibly use the easiest tools to make these cool moodboards!

These images are badly edited, but this was because I was using a trackpad instead of my graphics tablet. Personally, this is the most fun i’ve had in a while, making these moodboards. This is simply because I had minimal editing, and simple colours. I feel like this also relates to my FMP as it is all wedding themed, and these are wedding bouquets, simple and pretty. Hopefully I will be making more of these with my illustrations in the future. With these boards, I am personally drawn to the top two, they have a charm with them, it’s sweet. Maybe if I refine them, I can use them as wedding cards, now that would be sweet.

#digital art #borders #digital borders #flowers #art

Looking into pleats

Today I was working in a pleats workshop, I chose it to make my illustrations look more professional, also helping me understand how pleats work.

So, what is the difference between a tuck and a pleat?

A tuck is sewn the entire length, looking like a pleat.

A pleat is only secured at one end unless smocked, and is left to be malleable.

There is three types of basic pleats, the knife pleat, the box pleat and the accordion pleat. These are the fun ones that are simple to make. I found that the most fun one to make on paper is the box pleat. At first I was confused making it, then it clicked and I understood!

The methods of pleating

1. Hand pleated

2.Pattern Pleating (for big stock and quicker work)

3.Machine pleats (mass produced, the machinery is also for nylon like fabrics which are malleable)

This video shows off how the pleated dresses are made for Dior. This video is great because it shows the pattern pleating technique, also showing us how they make these perfect pleats. In the end of the video, you can see the beautiful dresses with their bold bright colours, with their volume, their scale and the contrast of the downward pleats, whilst they have stripes that go across the dress.

Catwalk Pleats A/W 17

Maggie Marilyn- a newer designer, focussing on ruffles made by pleats, but also placing them in unusual places. I really like the way it’s cleverly placed too, pulling you into her designs.

Valentino- They pushed the boundaries this year and made pleats with velvet. This was risky as the velvet would be destroyed by the folds, but this dress turned out amazing. These garments are also woven with many fabrics too, making them really interesting.

Y-Project- designs aimed at the youth, they also focussed on pleats using very contrasting fabrics with their designs, creating quirky clothing.

If you haven’t been keeping up with trends, this year was all about ruffles, and not many designers went for, well, pleats. However, pleats will be coming more into fashion next year!

Catwalk Pleats A/W16

Just a quick show of my personal favourites from last year, showing the pleatwork.

Undercover AW/16-

I love the way they followed the pleating pattern of the top onto the trousers, it really emphasises the look of the pattern too.

Valentino A/W16-

with their soft, luscious fabrics, Valentino hit the nail hard with the hammer making these pleats flow, but also have volume, they really put on a pretty show.

Loewe A/W16-

With their soft pleats on the skirt,Loewe has also successfully made a show with their flowy, windswept line this year, making their garments a showstopper!

Self Evaluation-Easter Holiday

With the easter holiday now over, I will evaluate here what I did in the two weeks.

This was a fun break! I did try to get work done, and it was slightly successful.With my work, I decided to try and really get some samples for my work. This was slightly successful, as in the end I had gotten samples, but! they were mostly curtain lining and small offcuts. However, I can still use these for my work, and use them for smaller illustrations. With the other parts of my work, I have also tried to draw more illustrations and try to draw other wedding dresses from around the world, showing off the different variations.this has been really fun though, it’s let me bring my creative flare out.

How will the exhibition relate to my FMP?

Personally, after seeing this exhibition, I feel it won’t relate to any of my work, as it hasn’t really inspired me at all. I don’t really feel like this will benefit me as I am not looking at colours and shapes, I am hoping to incorporate illustrations and portraiture relating to older aged people.

Promontory- An exhibition from Stuart Robinson

An exhibition specifically made for Plymouth College Of Art. Combining art with maths, he creates shapes bursting with colour and light. A beautifully composed exhibition with hidden names only seen when you pick up the leaflet.

This Exhibition can be held for all ages to see too, giving off a warm affect.

Cluster (2017) Wood, emulsion

This is personally one of my favourites from the exhibition, with its soft colours, but 3D shapes, it pulls you in and makes different shapes with the shadows. The name is given for a very obvious reason. the shapes are all ‘clustered’ together, but not enough for the shapes to feel claustrophobic, in a sense.

Stuart Robinson is an artist currently based in Penryn- Cornwall, and is a mixed media artist. Having studied fine arts in the university of East London, he decided to move to Cornwall to finish a Diploma in art and design in Truro. Using the ideas of imagery and media across art including aspects from landscapes and popular culture, he condenses them into objects and form. Following on from all of his work, he has just published his book ‘Ham fisted Half Cocked’ which delves into his life and explores his work.

With all these beautiful colours, you find they are soft colours, not sharp, vivid ones, bringing a welcoming effect. However, with this exhibition and the small amount of space, it could get too loud, and too clustered, limiting you. A suggested amount of people for this would be 15-20 people before you get too crowded in this small environment. Additionally, this room can get very hot too, with all the lights they have installed in the room, so be wary on what you wear, or how long you choose to stay there. This little exhibition is designed to pull you in and attract you, even if it is small. Additionally, this exhibition leaves you curious with what little information you have been given, or not given. This exhibition didn’t have a curator, so I left rather confused, unable to understand where Stuarts ideas arised from.

I found that this was a lovely exhibition, it is definitely worth it if you are a curious person who likes these simplistic pieces of art, and like attractive, neon lights.

Fairtrade week

Fairtrade is an amazing company. It gives back to the farmers who produce food, but also people who make clothing, and other produce. Most of the food in the UK is actually produced in LEDC countries around the world.

so, the farmers are the ones who live in Agricultural countries are the ones who struggle the most if the cost of their produce suddenly drops due to globalisation.

the LEDC’s are relying on the MEDC’s to get paid to live, but without fair trade, they don’t get enough money, and are essentially really underpaid, making these farmers live in poverty, unable to afford water, or education for their children, or enough money to get more than one meal a day.

Fairtrade give the farmers an opportunity so that they can get a minimum pay, but they’ll never get underpaid from this, they’ll never drop under the minimum price, helping the farmers get enough money to eat, sleep well, and help their children get a good enough education, allowing their children to progress in life.

“these people... they’re treated like animals”

Fairtrade support factory workers too. These people who work to make garments, they work for bigger companies who sell around the world. without Fairtrade, they would be worked to the bone, barely getting anything back from buyers, barely being able to pay to see doctors for their illnesses, or their children's illnesses. We pay a fair price for our clothing, they get a better pay, it’s simple really.

Some artists that respond to Nature and travel

Andrew Whyte

Known as the Legrographer, he takes images everyday of a lego man who takes photos of nature, as if everything was his size. He is a great mobile photographer and loves incorporating the world with lego. I personally like his work, as he makes all his photos look like they are all in a smaller world, making the small lego person look the same height as us.

Richard Long

Karoo Crossing- a fifteen day walk in the locality of Guarriaberg- 2004

Richard Long uses nature in his art, spending days and days getting people to walk across the same patch of land until it makes paths. it’s a very visual way to use nature without wasting it. I really like his work as it is interesting to see change through nature while not digging it up, or painting it, or harvesting it. He simply walks on it.

Grade Criteria

Context-

Your project theme, the concept. It needs to reflect the discipline I want to work on, it needs to have research for my specialism

Research-

Primary-from drawings, interviews, exhibitions, photographs.

Secondary- Internet, books, magazines

These together, analysed help to either inspire me and help towards work, or not at all. but I must remember that primary research is something I must work on! it is very important, or else I will fall back on my work.

Problem solving-

analysis will be evidence of my problem solving. But I must remember that I need to sample loads to make sure I can respond to problem solving. I can also state about issues on the computer and screenshot them to make sure I state the issues I had. If I was to make a garment or an animation, I would also need to include storyboards and lay plans.

To try and get a distinction, I would need to take over the project myself, I would need to be detailed, I would also need to document my time management, such as checklists and time planners.

Practical skills-

This could include pattern cutting, sewing skills, print work, illustrations, makeup and hair, or mood boards. this all goes towards my work, but what I want to focus on, you will see the most.

Evaluation and reflection-

This would be any research I have done that needs to be evaluated. This includes midway evaluation & my final evaluations. Doing this shows i’m in control of my project, and tells you I know what I am doing, what i’ve done wrong and what I could do to improve.

A day in a life

Following on from my ‘a day in the life’ this is a video of me and my grandad talking about family photos, and what they meant to him. This is really heartwarming because it really cheered my grandad up seeing all these photos from his past, and slightly more recent photos that were sent about family members around the world.

I feel like this was a very successful video because it showed the connection between emotions and photos, and how these photos can trigger happy memories.

However, this video could have been improved. To improve this, I feel like I could have angled the camera to the side to also show my grandad more in the video, and how his face changed a lot when I showed him certain photos. This would have also included him in the entire video, whereas in this one, he only sticks around for glimpses of the video.

101 ways of visual responding

Having documented 24 hours of our day, and then when we arrived on Monday, I had decided to visualise it.This was a particularly tough task as I had mostly traveled that day, and I had only responded to it twice, as all the fun interesting visual tasks were always taken away by others.

FMP-First thoughts and themes

what are my first thoughts on the final major?

it’s slightly scary, being given free reign of choices here, but knowing I can focus an a speciality, it makes me feel a little calm. I know I can focus on what I want, but I still know it is terrifying being able to make my own bibliography, telling what I want to do, not going off and doing work because I was instructed to do so.

being given until the 17th June terrifies me, as it is such a long time, and I know that it will whiz by really quickly and will catch me off guard. i’m worried that I will get bored of the topic i’m doing right now, and I cannot change my mind after, as I will need to change everything, such as my bibliography and my project proposal.

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