Screen image

I wanted to create another screen image that was inspired by the lace I saw in the Whitworth Collection, specifically the one with the hidden faces in it.

I decided to use the faces from my past designs in my new design so I decided to use the rams skull as this was a prominent figure around Nostel Priory, the stately home where I did my initial research. I first started by creating my images like lace with the holes, marking those down in black. But once I had finished my design and edited it on photoshop my designs in printing had changed, the backgrounds had become more important in creating the different textures. If I were to use this lace design it would be hard for it to stand out against the textured backgrounds as the dots are so small.

After knowing this I decided I needed to reverse the colours, so when I would be printing with the design, I would have more background to work with and the holes would stay plain. I reworked this on photoshop but the lines became unclean again and would need too much editing which I dont have time for. I have decided to carry on using my spirograph screen design, using different techniques combined, but especially devore', illuminating, manutex and testing the extra materials that were inspired by Norma Starszakowna.

Textures in Print

I have now started trying to create more textures in my work. The manutex printing on muslin worked very well as the fainter colours became more translucent through the fabric.

Norma Starszakowna

I found a book in the library on an interesting print artist called Norma Starszakowna, she works using lots of textures and I thought using some of her techniques in my work would help my development. I also thought it would help to give my work a more aged look like some of her pieces. She uses a lot of heat reactive pigment in her work, a long with different techniques to crush the fabric to create more texture. She also uses metal leaf in her work. I have now thought about testing the following materials out in my own work:

• copper or silver leaf
• spray paint
• different paints to mask parts out and then wash out to leave the remaining print
• wax to do the same 

Screen image

I have now started experimenting trying to create patterns using spirograph images I have created. I wanted to create an image for screen that was inspired by the spiderweb like lace that I saw in the Whitworth Collections. I wanted to modernise this design and also link it with the work I had already done. So I decided to work with spirograph images as they are created just by lines, and then fill some spaces out.

Fabric Sampling

I have now started testing out different textured materials to see if this would help me to create new textures. Some of these worked really well especially the ones with the bold colours and patterns.

Whitworth Art Gallery Lace Collection

I managed to organise a viewing of the lace collection at Whitworth Art Gallery to help me with my visual research and ideas for sampling. The visit proved very stimulating as I have now thought of many new ideas for my sampling. I viewed lace from Honiton, Italy, France and Hungary.

This piece reminded me of spiders webs in old stately homes, maybe I could introduce this into my designs?

This piece looks like it has devil faces hidden in it, maybe I could mix my drawings of rams skulls and tigers heads with lace designs? It also reminded me of the Raphael drawing I saw in a book in MMU's special collections which has hidden ghostly faces in the back ground. 

I also liked the pieces that included gold threads, metallics would work really well in my work, it would give it an even more decadent feel.

This piece was so bold and beautiful, it was made by 12 rose point motifs mounted on velvet. It made me think about sewing back on top of my work. 

I loved the effect this lace cuff gave as it is layered up, I need to think about how I can layer up my designs to create more designs that can flow and be copied.

Print Processes Experimentation

As I didn't get to learn hand printing in my first year, I wanted to spend my first week experimenting with different processes. This helped me to get a feel of how I wanted my work to look. I realised I didn't want my pattern to be the main focus, but the textures created by layering up the pattern. I think I am starting to create some interesting textures using my colour scheme and linking it with my theme, making it look more aged. After getting more confident I started experimenting with different materials using the devore' process.