I have added a pleated pocket on the front, useful for a tuner.
Wednesday 3 June 2015
Ukulele bag
So I have finished my first Ukelele bag made with my own hand woven fabric, the weave was a plaited twill in red and a brown colour. Thankfully the recipient was very happy with it.
I have added a pleated pocket on the front, useful for a tuner.
I have added a pleated pocket on the front, useful for a tuner.
Saturday 6 September 2014
Make It In Design Summer School
I have not done much weaving of late as I have been busy taking part in the Make It In Design Summer School. This consisted of three briefs to create surface designs over six weeks, I took part in both the beginners and intermediate briefs, which meant I had six briefs in total.
It was really fun getting back onto Photoshop, and getting my paints and pens out again. I have started to build up my knowledge of illustrator as well, which I am finding a really good design tool. I have been asked to create a curtain design for someone, and am hoping to use illustrator for this.
The summer school has now finished, and I thought I would share some images of work I created during this time with you.
It is amazing how designs end up from their initial start.
For example the jewels design I started by experimenting with my camera, by taking a close up photo of some costume jewellery and leaving the flash on I collected images of circles of light, which I then copied with my paints. I then started to draw aspects of the jewels, such as the pentagons, and the light shapes caught in some round pearl type beads. I then layered them all together and created a kaleidoscope image for this final design.
It was really fun getting back onto Photoshop, and getting my paints and pens out again. I have started to build up my knowledge of illustrator as well, which I am finding a really good design tool. I have been asked to create a curtain design for someone, and am hoping to use illustrator for this.
The summer school has now finished, and I thought I would share some images of work I created during this time with you.
feather design
Tropical paradise design
Jewels design
It is amazing how designs end up from their initial start.
For example the jewels design I started by experimenting with my camera, by taking a close up photo of some costume jewellery and leaving the flash on I collected images of circles of light, which I then copied with my paints. I then started to draw aspects of the jewels, such as the pentagons, and the light shapes caught in some round pearl type beads. I then layered them all together and created a kaleidoscope image for this final design.
Saturday 30 August 2014
Henri Matisse - The Cut-Outs, British Folk Art, Made In Mexico and Making Colour
This was a whirlwind day - I had an itinerary worked out as it was my last full day in London I needed to make the most of it. I planned to see all of the above exhibitions, which meant I wouldn't have time to look around the rest of the galleries which housed them, but I would have to come back another time for that.
Matisse - Tate Modern
My first stop was Tate Modern for the Matisse exhibition, this was the first, but I hadn't expected it would be my favourite of all the exhibitions I saw. Although many of the pieces were recognisable, only by seeing the original pieces could you fully appreciate them.
He himself did not like the flat prints of the original work as much as the cut-outs, and I can see why. Although the prints are good, they lack the texture and some of the shading is lost in the prints. Each piece of paper he cut out had previously been painted and you can see brush strokes in areas, which bring added interest.
With the cut-outs he was condensing the complexities of objects into simpler shapes, when this is done, the background, also a single colour, has the same importance. The shapes that are created between the objects becomes just as interesting to the overall work as the objects themselves.
One of my favourite pieces was The Parakeet and the Mermaid from 1952, it is a huge piece of work. It was interesting to see the way the shapes worked around each other within the composition and the flow of the shapes directing the eye around the work and around the different colours.
It was also wonderful to see the windows he had designed, I imagine it would be amazing to see the chapel with the light coming in throwing the colour across the floor.
The Jazz room is also interesting, showing circus images used to create a book, along with his scribbled notes, although his writing has a beautiful curved flow to it.
I thoroughly recommend this exhibition, there is so much to see and learn about the works, I felt I could have gone round again.
British Folk Art - Tate Britain
The first room of this exhibition is a large wall with large objects on it, which were originally used as shop signs. At a time when literacy was low, signs such as these were used to describe trades on offer. They are imposing, but would actually make a great print design, I could imagine it drawn out and worked into a repeat. Objects such as a shoe, a key and a top hat are on display in a larger than life format.
Folk Art is an interesting term, in that it is seen as art of the untrained, but in context you can see that it gives a social commentary of the time in which it was created. A large quilt is hung on the wall, designed by a couple getting married it includes objects which represent favourite items or hobbies of the couple, it even includes a drawing, in stitch, of a cartoon character they enjoy.
I thought the sweetheart pin-cushions were particularly beautiful, in the 14th century pins were rare and handmade, so were prized possessions. Putting a pin into cloth was meant to be lucky, so a pin-cushion would bring luck to the person for whom it was made.
Another beautiful piece was the engraved cockerel made from bone, it was made by a French prisoner of war between 1797 and 1814, there is real craftsmanship in the piece, which is put together with such precision and accuracy.
Made in Mexico - The Rebozo in Art, Culture and Fashion - The Fashion and Textile Museum
I dashed around this exhibition somewhat, although it was lovely to see it, particularly as I have an interest in weave.
The Rebozo is a woven shawl, often inherited or given as a gift to the woman in the family, it is therefore seen as a sentimental piece of cloth with ties to the Mexican heritage, it is seen as a symbol of national identity.
The Rebozo is often decoratively knotted at the end or with other decorative features to finish them off such as beads, feathers etc.
This was a very different exhibition, I hadn't been sure if it was something I was particularly interested in when I first heard about it, but a friend of mine had been to see it and said it was amazing. I have to admit when she told me about it, it did sound good.
This was a fabulous and eye opening exhibition, through it you discover more about the pigments used by artists in the past and the differences between the different pigments used. Each room is themed in a different colour. It was really interesting to see how the pigments used had changed over time, where some kept a rich colour and others had faded, although originally they would have been the same colour.
It was also great being able to take part in an experiment at the end in the cinema room, this is worth doing if you are planning to go as you also learn some interesting facts about the way we perceive colour. What especially amazed me was the experiment with the dot - I'll say no more, go and see it!!
I had such a fun time in London, I would have liked longer so I could have explored more parts of some of the galleries as I only had time to go to specific exhibitions, but I will definitely have to go back again, although it may not be till next year.
I feel inspired to create, which is the main thing.
Matisse - Tate Modern
My first stop was Tate Modern for the Matisse exhibition, this was the first, but I hadn't expected it would be my favourite of all the exhibitions I saw. Although many of the pieces were recognisable, only by seeing the original pieces could you fully appreciate them.
He himself did not like the flat prints of the original work as much as the cut-outs, and I can see why. Although the prints are good, they lack the texture and some of the shading is lost in the prints. Each piece of paper he cut out had previously been painted and you can see brush strokes in areas, which bring added interest.
With the cut-outs he was condensing the complexities of objects into simpler shapes, when this is done, the background, also a single colour, has the same importance. The shapes that are created between the objects becomes just as interesting to the overall work as the objects themselves.
One of my favourite pieces was The Parakeet and the Mermaid from 1952, it is a huge piece of work. It was interesting to see the way the shapes worked around each other within the composition and the flow of the shapes directing the eye around the work and around the different colours.
It was also wonderful to see the windows he had designed, I imagine it would be amazing to see the chapel with the light coming in throwing the colour across the floor.
The Jazz room is also interesting, showing circus images used to create a book, along with his scribbled notes, although his writing has a beautiful curved flow to it.
I thoroughly recommend this exhibition, there is so much to see and learn about the works, I felt I could have gone round again.
British Folk Art - Tate Britain
The first room of this exhibition is a large wall with large objects on it, which were originally used as shop signs. At a time when literacy was low, signs such as these were used to describe trades on offer. They are imposing, but would actually make a great print design, I could imagine it drawn out and worked into a repeat. Objects such as a shoe, a key and a top hat are on display in a larger than life format.
Folk Art is an interesting term, in that it is seen as art of the untrained, but in context you can see that it gives a social commentary of the time in which it was created. A large quilt is hung on the wall, designed by a couple getting married it includes objects which represent favourite items or hobbies of the couple, it even includes a drawing, in stitch, of a cartoon character they enjoy.
I thought the sweetheart pin-cushions were particularly beautiful, in the 14th century pins were rare and handmade, so were prized possessions. Putting a pin into cloth was meant to be lucky, so a pin-cushion would bring luck to the person for whom it was made.
Another beautiful piece was the engraved cockerel made from bone, it was made by a French prisoner of war between 1797 and 1814, there is real craftsmanship in the piece, which is put together with such precision and accuracy.
Made in Mexico - The Rebozo in Art, Culture and Fashion - The Fashion and Textile Museum
I dashed around this exhibition somewhat, although it was lovely to see it, particularly as I have an interest in weave.
The Rebozo is a woven shawl, often inherited or given as a gift to the woman in the family, it is therefore seen as a sentimental piece of cloth with ties to the Mexican heritage, it is seen as a symbol of national identity.
The Rebozo is often decoratively knotted at the end or with other decorative features to finish them off such as beads, feathers etc.
Rebozo showing different techniques used throughout the shawl.
beaded detail on a Rebozo
Rebozo with decorative fringing.
A decorative box used to present a Rebozo as a gift
Also on display were some modern pieces created by designers such as Kaffe Fassett and Wallace and Sewell.
Making Colour - The National Gallery
This was a very different exhibition, I hadn't been sure if it was something I was particularly interested in when I first heard about it, but a friend of mine had been to see it and said it was amazing. I have to admit when she told me about it, it did sound good.
This was a fabulous and eye opening exhibition, through it you discover more about the pigments used by artists in the past and the differences between the different pigments used. Each room is themed in a different colour. It was really interesting to see how the pigments used had changed over time, where some kept a rich colour and others had faded, although originally they would have been the same colour.
It was also great being able to take part in an experiment at the end in the cinema room, this is worth doing if you are planning to go as you also learn some interesting facts about the way we perceive colour. What especially amazed me was the experiment with the dot - I'll say no more, go and see it!!
I had such a fun time in London, I would have liked longer so I could have explored more parts of some of the galleries as I only had time to go to specific exhibitions, but I will definitely have to go back again, although it may not be till next year.
I feel inspired to create, which is the main thing.
Thursday 28 August 2014
Kaffe Fassett at the American Museum
I was desperate to see this exhibition, it looked absolutely fabulous, and it was. Although it is not a huge exhibition, the amount of items that are crammed into the space was amazing.
The look of the space is exciting, as you stand back you see a riot of colour, as you move further in you see details, such as texture and pattern that make up the whole.
The look of the space is exciting, as you stand back you see a riot of colour, as you move further in you see details, such as texture and pattern that make up the whole.
It was wonderful to see his mood boards and inspiration items among the collection.
Each room is a different colour setting the theme and pieces are hung from the wall or draped on mannequins. I particularly liked the glass cabinets of items, it was fascinating to see these collections.
The exhibition was truly inspirational, and a back wall had quotes from him, which were also thought provoking, encouraging a designer to play with colour and not be afraid of it, and also not to be afraid to use a lot of colours together.
After the exhibition I went to look at the rest of the museum, it was interesting to look around the house as there are some really interesting artifacts housed here. I was particularly interested in the Folk Art room, as I was going to an exhibition of the same name at Tate Britain the following day.
London and Bath 2014 - Radical Geometry and the Poppies
I have just returned from a trip down south, I had really wanted to see the Kaffe Fassett exhibition in Bath, but it was so expensive to get the train down from Leeds, that it actually worked out cheaper to have a few nights in London and go up to Bath for the day from down there.
It was also a great excuse to visit the London galleries too.
I got down to London on the Monday around lunchtime, which gave me the afternoon to explore a bit. The first thing I did was head down to see the poppies at the Tower of London. They are very special, and a beautiful sight, especially against the backdrop of the Tower.
I headed from there to a small exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, Radical Geometry. This was a really interesting exhibition, as it was not something I knew a lot about. It covers Modern Art from South America in the twentieth century.
Artists in the earlier part of the century were influenced by Europe, artists were very political, such as the Marxists of Argentina, and wanted to liberate art from the traditional. They experimented with composition, and no longer wanted to think of art as something within a frame, but that could be any shape you wanted it to be.
Technology was also advancing at this time, and in Brazil it was a machine-aesthetic that came through in the work. Mathematical principles and the psychologists theory of Gestalt was used to create the work of what were known as the Concrete artists.
There were a number of pieces of 3D art, creating visual interest, along with the discovery of the shadows, which become a work of art in themselves behind the pieces.
There is a wonderful piece in the centre of the room called Nylon Cube from 1990 by Jesus Soto. Long pieces of nylon thread hang down to create a cube shape, which seems to shimmer as you walk around it.
The highlight of the exhibition was the final room, which showed the work of Carlos Crus-Diez called Physichromie No. 500 from 1970. This is an amazing piece of art created using Perspex coloured strips which stand out from the canvas at different heights. As you walk along next to the artwork it changes as the different colours come into view, it is beautiful and magical.
It was also a great excuse to visit the London galleries too.
I got down to London on the Monday around lunchtime, which gave me the afternoon to explore a bit. The first thing I did was head down to see the poppies at the Tower of London. They are very special, and a beautiful sight, especially against the backdrop of the Tower.
I headed from there to a small exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, Radical Geometry. This was a really interesting exhibition, as it was not something I knew a lot about. It covers Modern Art from South America in the twentieth century.
Artists in the earlier part of the century were influenced by Europe, artists were very political, such as the Marxists of Argentina, and wanted to liberate art from the traditional. They experimented with composition, and no longer wanted to think of art as something within a frame, but that could be any shape you wanted it to be.
Technology was also advancing at this time, and in Brazil it was a machine-aesthetic that came through in the work. Mathematical principles and the psychologists theory of Gestalt was used to create the work of what were known as the Concrete artists.
There were a number of pieces of 3D art, creating visual interest, along with the discovery of the shadows, which become a work of art in themselves behind the pieces.
There is a wonderful piece in the centre of the room called Nylon Cube from 1990 by Jesus Soto. Long pieces of nylon thread hang down to create a cube shape, which seems to shimmer as you walk around it.
The highlight of the exhibition was the final room, which showed the work of Carlos Crus-Diez called Physichromie No. 500 from 1970. This is an amazing piece of art created using Perspex coloured strips which stand out from the canvas at different heights. As you walk along next to the artwork it changes as the different colours come into view, it is beautiful and magical.
Thursday 7 August 2014
Harlow Carr
A visit to Harlow Carr, the RHS gardens in Harrogate.
It was gorgeous weather, and such a relaxing place to visit. It's lovely at this time of year with all the colour of flowers in bloom.
It was gorgeous weather, and such a relaxing place to visit. It's lovely at this time of year with all the colour of flowers in bloom.
Thursday 17 July 2014
New beginnings
I have been quite busy since my last post, which was over a month ago, I know that's bad, but I was being creative.
I really needed a change of direction, as I was getting bored with what I was doing, I think because it was almost a follow on from my final collection it felt like I had been working on it a very long time.
I decided to just choose a topic that would take my creativity in a new direction, so I have been looking at Art Deco.
Art Deco used a combination of line and curve, it took inspiration from everywhere drawing on both tradition and the modern machine age to create images that moved away from modernism's graphic styles to something that gave pleasure and escape. Art Deco was the period of the 1920's boom to the Depression of the 30's, during Hollywood's glamour years following the end of WW1.
It followed on from Art Nouveau with the influence of nature and natural form, but also including graphic, geometric and angular styles, such as those seen in cubist paintings.
This is where I have started from, I was very much drawn to the bold colours, which was a complete move away from what I had previously been doing.
And I have a new warp:
I started experimenting with striping across to find what combinations worked well. I have been developing my own lifting plans on Fibreworks.
I loved the way these colours worked together, I am trying to create more curved patterns across the weave to bring together the curves and straight lines, I am really pleased with how it is going so far.
I don't know what it is but it makes me feel really happy working with bright colours, it might be that along with the sunshine, which seems to be wanting to stay around for a while as well. Ahh isn't summer lovely!!!
I really needed a change of direction, as I was getting bored with what I was doing, I think because it was almost a follow on from my final collection it felt like I had been working on it a very long time.
I decided to just choose a topic that would take my creativity in a new direction, so I have been looking at Art Deco.
Art Deco used a combination of line and curve, it took inspiration from everywhere drawing on both tradition and the modern machine age to create images that moved away from modernism's graphic styles to something that gave pleasure and escape. Art Deco was the period of the 1920's boom to the Depression of the 30's, during Hollywood's glamour years following the end of WW1.
It followed on from Art Nouveau with the influence of nature and natural form, but also including graphic, geometric and angular styles, such as those seen in cubist paintings.
This is where I have started from, I was very much drawn to the bold colours, which was a complete move away from what I had previously been doing.
And I have a new warp:
I started experimenting with striping across to find what combinations worked well. I have been developing my own lifting plans on Fibreworks.
I loved the way these colours worked together, I am trying to create more curved patterns across the weave to bring together the curves and straight lines, I am really pleased with how it is going so far.
I don't know what it is but it makes me feel really happy working with bright colours, it might be that along with the sunshine, which seems to be wanting to stay around for a while as well. Ahh isn't summer lovely!!!
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