Reading through the module handbook the first aspect in which I noticed is that it is composed from a number of briefs. With the deadline being the 1st December although this initially seemed a relatively long period of time after reading thought the contents and taking in what is expected from us I know that I will need to manage my time wisely in order for me to obtain a pleasing final piece. Especially as this week shall be used for workshops, reading week is the following week, I must not loose focus!!
The first section of the brief requires us to provide 20 illustrated drawings, with a minimum of 5 computer generated images. I must say I am quite nervous about having to provide CAD images as I have not yet worked with photoshop, but i'm sure we will be tough enough to get through this stage! (hopefully)
For the second section the the brief we were given a list of words and artists in which were were required to select one from each in order to create a starting point.
I selected the word skeletal as this word filled me full of ideas from the word go! I could look into several sections of the skeletal frame, investigate anorexia as well as look at the structure of shells, butterflies and birds.
I chose the artist Thomas Heatherwick as I felt that his work was a contrast to that of the word skeletal. He works with jaggard edges and definate hard structures. I believe that working with opposing ideas will help me to generate diverse designs and will leave me with an interesting final piece.
We had our Line and Proportion workshop today. From the work constructed although I do not feel I shall be including any of the pages in my end portfolio I shall take several of the techniques home and use them in oder to compile different compositions.
With the Texture and Surface workshop I found the slide show presentation helpful. Taking notes on illustrators in whom work with texture opened my eyes into the different materials in which could be used and manipulated in order to create the illusion of something else.
I ran out of time when it came to rendering techniques into the table set ups, however today I brought my camera into uni so managed to take several snap shots. I shall work on my sketches at home, giving myself more time to work on each composition will leave me with something I am more likely to include at the end.
Out of the three workshops in which were conducted, I would say the Dressed Drawing Figures was the favourite. I feel that I managed to produce a selection of pieces in which might actually feature in the portfolio
The group as a whole had more of a positive outlook today. I recon this was because the task seemed more relevant to the course we are here to study.
Our project brief contains a structured timetable, this helped me to keep on track during reading week as there is a lot to get through in such a short space of time, I feel I may not have done as much as expected with out it.
I made sure that I completed all of my drawings during this week, however left the 5 images in which are expected to be produced using CAD as the CAD workshop will help me to produce pieces in which work with several more technical elements.
We had a rebriefing on the second section of the project today, this involved a brainstorming session on words. To be honest for me this workshop was a waste of time as I had already chosen my word and artist, producing several pieces for each. For the people who hadn't even chosen a subject yet I feel they are already pushing for time.
The Manipulating Image workshop was interesting!! Previous, I have never thought about isolating shapes from a given image in order to form garment ideas. I shall take this technique home and shall produce a range of ideas for both my word- skeletal and my artist Thomas Heatherwick.
I've managed to compile a selection of ideas in which I am really pleased with! I am already starting to think about how it would be possible to convert them into an actual garment. I would love to produce a garment in which incorperates some of the extreme elements for example exadurated hoods, jolted edges and massive shoulder pieces but I know realistically I will have to tone down my ideas as I do not yet hold the technical abilities in which would be needed to render such pieces :(
Although the Fabric Manipulating workshop was time consuming it was useful and was important in helping me begin the process of transferring my ideas from pen to stand.
I worked a lot with the pleating technique as to me resembles the appearance of shells and segments of the skeleton. I experimented with variations in sizing and pleating from different angles and feel that I was left with a more successful structure when working with the technique in one selected area. Doing otherwise left me with designs in which are to confusing.
The idea sheets workshop was an eye opener. I had preconseptions to what an ideas sheet was meant to incorperate, however this course asks for different and helped me realize that revisiting starting points would help to construct successful well thought through final pieces.
Over the weekend I managed to put together 5 idea sheets. Looking into the skeletal frame, shells, butterflies, Thomas Heatherwicks sculptures along with structures in which I came across while traveling last year.
These idea sheets started to general possible designs in which would intergrate my ideas into the three deconstructed shirts we were asked to produce a final garment from.
My pen's going ten to the dozen, ideas are rushing through my head. Designs working with structure, pleating, ruffles, folds.
Successfully managing to conjour up 30 designs, I now have the menial task of sifting through the good and bad for a final design to work with. I have constructed several good ideas and am finding it hard to depict what I don't want.
For me to come up with a final piece in which I feel happy with I have reflected on my design sheets. Combining several ideas with my sketches I have decided upon the basic structure of a shell for the body, the skeletal frame and how an anorexic covers the breast area with bandages and a heavily pleated shoulder piece in which I feel successfully manages to combine the ideas of the stair case designed by Thomas Heatherwick with similar patterns found on that of shells.
I've got my CAD induction later on today i'm quite looking forward to it. Mainly for the fact that i've never used photoshop before and feel that in that aspect I am pretty behind as everyone on this course seems to have years of experience.
I thought that we would would have learnt more in the session thought taking into consideration how much there is to learn I surpose it can't all be tought at once. Although not that much was tought bruse made sure that what he did go through was understood properly! I must say now I have become quite obsessed with the clone stamp tool!! haha
My final piece is finished!! It took a while to generate a design, however once that was sorted it didn't actually taking as long as I thought it would to assemble :).
I decided not to dye the the fabric, as the contrast between the white and the calico works well together in providing the idea of bandages being wrapped around the body as well as the structual aspects of a shell. However if I was to follow this project
through again I would have experimented with several dyeing techniques. I could have possibly dyed the bottom gahered section a pale shade of pink. This colour scheme would potray a look similar to that of the shell in which I gathered the most inspiration. Leaving the top section the same colour would still help to render the appearance of bandages.
I got my feedback after handing in the project...I couldn't have asked for better remarks off Angie :)!!!! She told me that my work annoyed her in the aspect that she tried so hard to pick a fault out, so she could give me some advice on what to improve on, but should couldn't find a thing :) so pleased!!!!! She didn't actually realize one of my skeleton drawings was a drawing until I told her, she had to take it out of the plastic wallet for closer inspection.
