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Research
Wind drawing machines
These are the wind drawing machines I made, and the ink marks they produced. I used wooden sticks and wrapped tape around them to make a teepee shape. I then wrapped cling film around and tied different pens and paint brushes with ink to the end. The wind moved the pen/paint brush across the paper and made various marks.
We made these machines because they are wind powered- which is linked to weather- and also made out of scrap material and not electronically powered, hence making them better for the environment.
WWW: My drawing machine successfully made a range of marks.
EBI: Make the structure more sturdy so it doesn't fall over in the wind.
Shadow drawings
To link to the theme weather, I made shadow drawings. Shadows are created by blocking the sun, and the sun is linked to the theme weather. I made my own shadow drawing of my hand using charcoal then the whole class made a huge shadow drawing. In the videos above, I filmed people in my class letting go of the drawing, and the paper being moved by the wind.
WWW: I have made drawings which contrast the paper and present shadows I observed first-hand.
EBI: Make the drawing more realistic by spending more time outlining the shadows.
Ellsworth Kelly
Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015) was an American painter, sculptor, and
printmaker. He focuses on minimalism and emphasises line, colour
and form in his work.
One of the exercises he does in his work is cut it into different
shapes and rearrange the pieces to create a new composition. An
example of this is his work on the right, where he cut paper with
brushstrokes on into '49 squares'.
Line and Pattern- In this piece the main visual language element is
line. The lines from where the paper had been cut are evident, as
well as the prominent painted lines. The lines make the work look
abstract and also links to the visual language technique, pattern.
Colour- In this piece of work Kelly has used muted colour. The
background is a muted ivory tone, and the lines are a dark black.
The contrast in tones makes the lines stand out a lot from the
background and also expresses the different sizes and shapes of
the lines.
Shape and Composition- Kelly focuses on shape in his works, and has also done so in this piece. Here the prominent shape is squares, however for some of his work he uses rectangles. Shape is ultimately what makes up the composition of his work, as each square is composed differently and the rearrangement makes the brushstrokes misaligned throughout the composition, but also then creates new, smaller shapes and lines across the whole piece.
What I like about his work- I like Kelly's use of shape and pattern in his work, and also the minimalistic approach he takes. I think his work links well to pattern and design which I could use in my own work to transfer into fashion design and other design elements.
How I will use Kelly's style to inspire my work- To respond to Kelly's work, I will cut the shadow drawing we made in class into squares and rearrange them to create a new composition. I will also present contrast in my work by placing the dark marks against its juxtaposing counterpart- following the same misaligned technique Kelly uses with his lines.
Brushstrokes Cut into Forty-Nine Squares and Arranged by Chance, 1951
Ink on cut-and-pasted paper on paper
34.9 x 35.6 cm
These are the compositions I made in response to Ellsworth Kelly's work.
Handmade Sketchbook
This is the homemade sketchbook I made out of materials such as: cardboard, wallpaper, masking tape, string and bubble wrap. All of these are scrap materials which I have reused, hence showing I have considered the environment in my work. When I finished making the sketchbook, I collected Primary research in response to the theme clouds and weather.
WWW: I have created a unique sketchbook using recycled materials.
EBI: Fill up all the sketchbook and collect more research by creating more drawings linked to clouds and weather.
Secondary Theme Research- Weather
Definition of weather- The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain snow etc.
Etymology- Old English 'weder' (condition of the sky), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'weer' and German 'Wetter' also to the noun 'wind'.
Antonyms-
Rain- dryness, aridity, sun
Sun- dark, rainy, dull
Synonyms-
Weather- atmospheric conditions, meteorology, temperature, humidity, climate, elements, forecast, wind speed
Rain- precipitation
Sun- beams, rays, warmth, light, daylight
Snow- snowflakes, snowfall, snowdrift, blizzard, sleet, avalanche, snowslide
Ethical and environmental factors linked to weather:
History of weather and climate change- At the start of time the Earth was extremely hot because there was a lot of volcanic activity. This meant that the Earth was mainly made up of carbon dioxide. However over the years fossils started the trap the CO2 and the forming of oceans meant that the carbon dioxide dissolved even more, reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Also, the amount of oxygen in the air increased due to photosynthesis, hence making the planet inhabitable and the temperature lower. Although, because of the continued use of fossil fuels and other factors over the years, the planet's temperature has increased again due to more CO2 being released into the air which is a greenhouse gas, hence resulting in the greenhouse effect. If we keep effecting the environment by burning fossil fuels etc. the earth's temperature will increase even more, leading to it being inhabitable.
Extreme weather, greenhouse emissions and ethical choices we can make- Extreme weather can be caused by the Earth's lower atmosphere becoming warmer and more moist. This is a result of greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. This creates more energy for storms and other extreme weather. To help reduce greenhouse emissions people can: burn less fossil fuels, waste less materials such as non renewable plastic bags, waste less energy (e.g: only keeping the cooker and TV on when you are using them), choose walking and cycling or public transport to reduce car emissions and eating food which is produced using less energy. In my own work I am going to focus on using sustainable and recycled materials to ensure that I am considering environmental responsibility.
Reflecting on my research so far
Project 1 and 2- In project 1 I enjoyed creating an idea factory using 3 words to help me generate ideas. I thought this effectively helped me think of ideas and also gave me freedom to show them. I also liked my piece I made for the Museum because I was able to use my own ideas to create a multi media piece.
In Project 2 I enjoyed the end of the project where I was able to make final outcomes linked to my interest in fashion. This allowed me the freedom to explore what I might like do pursue in the future and I was able to express the theme self through these designs. I also enjoyed creating repeat patterns and developing them digitally because I also enjoy the graphic design side of art. Furthermore, I enjoyed creating Lino prints in the style of German Expressionism.
For FMP, I would like to continue focusing on fashion and design in my work, and I might also want to create digital art as well as these are the 2 areas I am interested in most.
Anne Van Galen
Anne Van Galen is a Dutch fashion designer born in 1987. Her work above is part of a series where she explores a fictional world where it constantly rains. These pieces use transparent materials with diluted colours.
Colour- Both the items of clothing above use muted colours. The piece on the right is more transparent, whereas the one on the right is more translucent and is a sheer white colour. I think the use of colour makes the clothing minimalistic and futuristic, as a result of the colours being very plain and clean. The clothing is also paired with a white background which further intensifies the 'purity' of the colour. I think the colour pairs well with rain because the colour of rain is also very subtle and clean.
Shape and form- The item of clothing on the left has a lot of form, with the material being emphasised beyond the body's natural shape. However the image on the right shows a dress-like piece which falls vertically. This emphasises the direction of which rain falls and also reminds me of rain ponchos that people wear when it is raining. The simplicity of this shape also compliments the body shape as well because you can clearly see the form of the body beneath the clothing. I also think the form of the top on the left also is effective because it shows a more complex side of both human and form in fashion.
What I like about the work- I like Galen's work because it explores different forms, as well as having a unique approach to fashion which differentiates from 'common fashion.' I think it is especially clever how she uses transparent materials to not only accentuate the natural body form, but also the idea behind the work and how she links it to rain so creatively.
What I will use to inspire my own work- For my own work, I would like to create a narrative behind is as Galen does. I would like to choose a state of weather and then use it to inspire my work. Also I would like to use interesting form in my work as Galen does.
Christopher Raeburn
Christopher Raeburn (born 1982) is a British fashion designer who is known for reworking fabrics to create clothing. The 2 outfits above are part of his React Now series, which highlights climate change and the uncertain times of present. The pieces in this collection are 'developed to meet the demand of extreme changes in temperature', and the pieces I made from reworked materials, which further enforces Raeburn's message of trying to help the planet.
Colour- Both outfits use a red and white colour scheme. I think this is very effective as a result of the simplicity of the white and the brightness of the red pairing together to create a stand-out colour block pattern. Also the black tape across the coats with the white writing uses contrasting colours to stand out.
Pattern- Both the outfits don't have lots of pattern but the subtle patterns such as the writing on the coat and the contrasting red and white on the trousers work well together. The writing clearly portrays Raeburn's values in relation to sustainability, and also adds a striking effect as a result of the bold letters.
Line and Shape- Both the outfits use a lot of lines in the design. The coat on the left has different lines around the many pockets, and the coat on the right has perpendicular lines surrounding the writing. Also the trousers use diagonal lines and the shoes use horizontal lines which makes up different rectangular shapes. The lines and shapes makes the outfits look aesthetically pleasing, even despite the simplicity of the lines.
What I like about the work- I like the form of the outfits, and the oversized look of them. Also I really like the colour scheme because the white and red fit together well.
What I will use to inspire my own work- I would like to use the form of the outfits to help inform my own work. Also I like the graphics which have been created around the outfits, so I may also use that as inspiration as well.
Idea Factory- Dystopian, wind, cut
These are the 3 pages I made in response to the words: dystopian, wind and cut. I also have attached images next to each word as a source of Secondary Research, which helped me generate ideas.
WWW: I have created a lot of initial ideas linked to all 3 words.
EBI: Develop and add more details to the designs.
This is the developed piece I made in response to my ideas linking the words: dystopian, wind and cut. I merged my ideas to create this piece. This idea shows a keyboard which is 'cut' and pulls you into a 'dystopian' world. This world consists of broken trees where there is a lack of oxygen and an infestation of insects. Also it is a world where there is extremely heavy winds, which is a way to portray a world where human's actions have led to the end of time due to deforestation and human's part in global warming.
WWW: I have combined my ideas together to make a unique concept.
EBI: Next time spend more time adding detail and tone to the work.
Natural History Museum and Design Museum trip in London
Natural history Museum
I took these photos whilst visiting The Natural History Museum. I really liked the crystals as they were very intriguing and some of the patterns and shapes reminded me of weather ie. the stone with a lightning type pattern on it. I also found out interesting facts about the Earth and the atmosphere which also links to weather.
The Design Museum
This is the Primary research I collected from the Design Museum. I took photos of the fashion and posters which interested me. I like the pattern used in the clothing, and the abstract shapes and stand-out colours. I will use these patterns to inspire my own work as I really like the vivid graphics used.
Reflecting on my research so far
The most interesting part of my research so far was visiting the design museum. I really like the unique clothing and the colours and pattern used, as well as the vibrant posters around the museum. I also enjoyed the Idea Factory exercise because I was able to create a narrative behind my artwork. In addition, I liked researching Anne Van Galen's work as I like how she creates a narrative behind her work as well.
What I plan to make- In my own project I will use Van Galen's work to inspire its I would like to create a narrative in my work. Instead of focusing on 'a world where it rains all the time' I would like to focus on the cold weather and 'a world where everyone is constantly cold'. This is because I have a condition called raynauds which effects my circulation, hence making me extremely cold. In my work I would like to explore this theme so people can become aware of the condition. I would also like to create an idea for warm clothing, which also has exciting patterns on and looks trendy because I personally think it is hard to find fashionable clothing which is warm, especially whilst having to wear lots of layers.
Inuit culture and clothing
The Inuit are indigenous people who live in the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America. As a result of these regions being very cold, the Inuit have designed clothing which is adapted to cold weather.
Shape and form- I like the shape of these clothes because there is lots of form and I like how the shoulders are emphasised. Furthermore, I like how the outfits are oversized and I would personally like to look at more shapes of Inuit clothing to inspire my own work.
Pattern and colour- I think the patterns are really interesting and it makes the outfits stand out. Also I like how they have incorporated different colours into the outfits. The complementary browns and blues are really effective, and I especially like the leaf pattern with green and brown as it links to nature and expresses the outdoor elements.
What I like about the clothing- I really like the pattern in the clothing because it is unique and gives the outfits character. I also like the textures of the clothing and the layers used.
What I would like to use to inspire my own work- I would like to use the bright colours to inspire my own work. Also I might use the form of the clothes so inspire my work, such as the length of form around the arms.
Ethical consideration- In my work I will make sure I will not use any cultural appropriation, as I will only use the clothing to inspire my work. I will use this research to help me generate my own ideas and I will not copy any aspects of the clothing.
This is the mood board i created to help me generate ideas.
Fashion Magazines
Heading 2
For my final piece, I am thinking about making my own magazine. Above are some images of magazine front covers.
Colour- I like the use of colour in these magazine covers as I think they stand out. The neon green title in the 2 left magazine covers are really bold and I also like the makeup in the right image as the iridescent colours match the writing well. I also like the orange and green colour scheme in the 3rd magazine as well as the pink and yellow in the 4th magazine because the colours are very bright and striking.
Pattern and shape- I really like the pattern in the middle magazines as I like the floral aesthetic of the clothing and they both remind me of spring and weather. The magazine on the left uses a subtle abstract pattern in the background which creates a fun and exciting look, and the magazine on the right uses shape within the outfit to create a sense of form.
Composition- The magazines on the left and right are more close up images and focus on attentive detail whereas the two magazines in the middle focus on the outfits. All the magazines have a bold heading which is positioned at the top of the page and different sized fonts around the rest of the magazine cover. These compositions make the magazine covers look interesting as a result of the different sized fonts and the varied composition of the images which pair well with the background.
What I like about the work- I like how the magazine uses stand out colours and patterns to intrigue the viewer. The graphics used on the front page catch the eye and therefore attract the viewer to read on.
What I would like to use to inspire my work- I would like to use the bright and vivid colours to inspire my own work and I will also use the composition to help me generate ideas for my own work.
Kate Banazi
Kate Banazi was born in London and studied at Central Saint Martens. She is self-taught in silk screen printing but also uses other mediums such as digital design. The two pieces of artwork above have silkscreen elements overlaid digitally to create a digital and textured effect to the art prints.
Colour- The print on the left mainly uses cooler colours however the print on the right uses warmer colours. The contrast between the royal blue and the yellow makes the shapes stand out but also emphasises the brightness of the yellow. The pinks and oranges in the right print remind me of a sunset, and the small amount of blue and green adds to the 'summery' look. I like how both of the prints use complementary colours as it creates a mesmerising contrast to show how important the visual language element, colour, is in this piece.
Shape- In both prints Banazi has focused on shape. There is use of typography here with the left print silhouetting a 'B' shape and the right print creating a '2' and '3' shape. The letter/numbers there are various organic and geometric shapes that are made evident due to the contrasting colours. I think the shapes in both prints blend well together to make interesting compositions, but this blending also doesn't compromise the individual shapes making it seem like an illusion: people may first see the smaller shapes in the prints or they may see the intended shape of the letter/numbers first.
Line and Texture- As a result of the techniques Banazi has used, both prints have uniform lines, due to the digital element, but also some more textured lines, due to the silk screen printing. The variation of lines are effective as it clearly adds texture and body to the work whilst also giving the prints a tidy and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
What I like about the work- My favourite part of the work is the colour used. This is because Banazi has successfully used a variety of colours and careful chosen which colours to use alongside to present very eye-catching pieces. I also like the texture in the work as it creates a unique aspect to digital designs and typography.
What I will use to inspire my own work- I would like to use Banazi's work to inspire my lino prints. I would like to create different textures in this work whilst also using pigmented colours. I also think Banazi's work can give me inspiration for the future when working digitally as graphic design is one of the areas I am interested in.
Presentation skills
These are some pictures from exhibitions which inspire my presentation skills. The top 3 images are from the Design Museum which I visited. I like how the patterns are displayed against a plain background, and how some are framed on the wall. Also I like how the garments are shown next to the patterns to show the development of the project. I have also attached an image from a Charlotte Humphreys exhibition (the image at the bottom) and I like how the work is framed with a white background and some have contrasting frames, against a plain wall. I've also attached an image of an exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum of ANTONIO's fashion illustrations. I also like the use of contrasting frames here and the contrast between the colourful illustrations and the white background. Finally I have attached an image of gloves being presented as well as a fashion garment with the designs behind the final outfit.
How I would like to present my work- For my work I would like to frame some of my digital fashion designs, lino prints/collages, and photography (which I edited my pattern onto). I would like to have a white mount on these and also have them framed on a plain and light wall. In front of the framed 2D work I would like to have the mittens I made on casts of my hands, placed on a table and stand. This is so you can see all the work together presented neatly and effectively despite being quite simplistic, as I think this effect will help bring out the colour and detail in my designs, by using plain, light colours as the background to my work. Also I think this will show how my collection of work links and the story behind it.
Facts about ethics and sustainability in fashion
- The clothing and footwear industry account for a combined estimate of 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
- Fashion is the 3rd highest-polluting industry in the world
- Approximately 3/5 of all clothing items will end up in an incinerator or landfill within a year after being produced
- It's estimated that less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into something more
- Statistics predict that fashion waste may increase to 148 tonnes by 2030
- Clothing production has doubled in the last 15 years despite garments being worn less and discarded quicker
- Only 15% of the population recycle their clothing
- The textile industry produces 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year- this is more than both international and maritime shipping combined
- Production of textiles uses over 3,500 different chemicals
- Out of the 40 million garment workers in the world 2% are paid a living wage
- 68% of fast fashion brands don't maintain gender equality at production facilities
- However there are some positive changes in the industry- 60% of millennials say they want to shop more sustainability
- A lot of brands are moving towards being more sustainable- 12.5% of the global fashion market has pledged to make changes by 2020
- The brand Patagonia have been using recycled plastic to make their clothes since 1993- they were the first brand to make the first polyester fleece out of plastic bottles
- Using recycled cotton can save 2,500 litres of water per t-shirt
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