Since starting this project I have
developed my work through experimenting, as I learnt so many new techniques and
got introduced to more fabrics and materials. At first I found it really hard
to make connections between drawings and practice, so most of my machine work
was connected to primary photos from the city. However the Friday drawing days
have helped me develop my drawings by being introduced to mark making, so in
hand embroidery I found it easier to relate my samples to my more recent sketch
book work.
I have edited and selected
ideas through simply experimenting and learning what style I like to work in,
which is quite minimal, keeping a lot of negative space in my work. Also
talking to the girls in my class about our work and my tutors has helped me
develop my work.
The most important self-discovery I
have made is that I feel I actually prefer hand embroidery to machine. I did
really enjoy machine and was intrigued to learn the two techniques, and thought
this would be my favourite part of embroidery as in a level I was forever using
my machine; however in hand embroidery it gave me the opportunity to embellish,
be more delicate in my work and also stopped me rushing samples. Hand
embroidery has given me confidence to produce more time consuming work (e.g.
French knots) and experiment with shape, composition and materials within my
samples.
I have realised that drawings can be
so broad. In a-level we were always taught that they had to be quite sketchy
and reflect an object/image, which I was never very confident with. However
after drawing days & speaking to tutors I have realised that we can draw in
any style we prefer, which I then experimented with and realised I really enjoy
mark making, photocopying and focussing on composition. I have also learnt that
negative space in sampling and working in a minimal way can be successful.
My contextual references have helped
me develop shape and composition in my work, I mostly focussed on lines and
circles in my samples but my drawings & photographs helped me with the
layout. Furthermore material choices were influenced by the colour and texture
in my sketch book work. My main development of colour was through my drawings
of light bulbs with me then developed further in my sketchbook and samples
through thread choices.
I feel I have managed my studio work
time well. I have always found it important to attend workshops, and I enjoy
working in the studio in my spare time as it’s far more spacious and I can get
advice on my work from my peers. At times I have found it hard to manage all
the work as I have a part time job, but over the past month I have become more
organised to ensure I am concentrating on the project. I have been using
lateral thinking throughout the unit, trying to be innovative and create
samples with an open mind, having a step-by-step approach at times, while still
referring to my research.
Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed
embroidery as a unit, and feel that I have benefited from being introduced to
the machinery and materials which has developed my thinking process and design
techniques. I feel embroidery may be the world I would like to go into in TIP.
I will be going into construct in a few weeks.
