Back to my old tricks

Since it's my final year I thought I might as well do what I really like so I've went back to doing the work I must enjoyed. I'm using old family photographs in my textiles and combining it with text, print and embroidery hopeful it will all turn out ok but time will tell :D

Back on track

Its been a while since I've posted anything and the main reason is I broke my laptop, yep one of my main connections to the outside world has been lost...but fear not it is getting fixed and has been getting fixed for the past 3 months so god knows when I'm getting the thing back. A good friend of mine pointed out that you can get blogger on your iPhone, so here I am out of the blue...I'm hoping to post at least once a week if not more...I know this year is gonna be super busy as it's my last year and my dissertation year (gurrrr) but I'm determined to make it all work...fingers crossed :)

Finished Childhood Memories Piece

I made this piece last term. I wanted to create something filled with my childhood memories. It's not perfect but neither was my childhood so it kind of works. My childhood was happy in all its 90's techno colour so I hope that comes across :)

Drawing of the week (5)

Its a bit late but here we go....I was having a little Mucha moment when I did this drawing, I like how it turned out I'm hoping to add some colour to it once I figure out how to use the new illustration software I bought :) hope you like.

Artist of the week (5)

Drum roll please.....artist of the week this week is Audrey Kawasaki. Audrey is an fantastic artist who works on wood and creates amazing results.

check out Audrey Kawasaki website:http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/index.php 

Stitching

This is a embroidery I did last year for a project about childhood memories. The final piece for the project was a patchwork quilt, with hand stitches, machine stitches and some multi head stitches, I'll post about it soon  this is just a little teaser :)

Here is the original drawing I stitched from:

Drawing of the week (4)

This weeks drawing is of a bird on a branch, it's pen on paper and a bit of watercolour in the background , I made it some time last summer on a lazy Sunday afternoon...hope you enjoy :)

Artist of the week (4)

This weeks artist is...Marina Bychkova. Marina is an amazing doll maker, who makes all her creations by hand. I really admire Marina's craftsmanship, quality and over all aesthetic of her work.

Check out Marina's website: http://www.enchanteddoll.com/

Art Making Playlist

Being one of  biggest procrastinator I know, I tend to spend my time doing the most useless things. One of those useless thing is my "Art Making Playlist", this is the playlist I turn to when I want to feel creative.I have over 50 songs on it, so I put it on shuffle and these were the first 10 to play:

1. The story I heard- Blind Pilot  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DtclEVXh1g
2. A Thousand Tress- Stereophonic    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhBrOwlPz8U
3. Gabriel- Emmy the great  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSdnTZuXw7Y
4. All the Wild Horses- Ray Lamontagne   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-9IK02qkZc
5. Treat her right- The Commitments  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noJDCWOvzFQ
6. Try A Little Tenderness- The Commitments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tSvimZiY6k  
7. One Step Beyond- Madness  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ
8. Crimson and Clover- Tommy James and The Shondells  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGEeneO-t0
9. Trani- Kings of Leon  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su-PfHBuuV0
10. This Time Tomorrow- The Kinks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtNP5U_Khd0 

Drawing of the week (3)

This a drawing of a pair of shoes I bought but that were so uncomfortable I could never wear :( at least I got a nice drawing out of them :)

Artist of the week (3)

This week's artist is....Nava Lubelski. Nava work explores the relationship between the need to destroy and the compulsion to mend.

Nava Lubelski website:
http://www.navalubelski.com/

The Sketchbook Project 2012

This year I decided to join the sketchbook project for 2012. It's a really cool project where people are given the chance to create a sketchbook based on one of the 40 themes provided. I chose the theme "Encyclopaedia of" I'm not sure what I will do with it yet but I'll post some of my drawing once I do. When the sketchbook is finished I post it of and it goes on a world tour were people from different city can check it out.
If you want to find out more the website is: http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

UU Degree Show 2011

This time next year it well be my degree show. Which I'm slightly freaking out about because I don't know yet what way I want my art to go, but at least I have the summer to figure that out. Well the degree show this year had a lot of great highlights.The fashion and textile print course had some amazing pieces on show, and of course the textile art department was awesome, but I'm biased hehe. Here are some of the people I like from the show (and who I could find on the old internet) :
http://www.cierafreeburn.co.uk/
http://www.katherinerush.co.uk/
http://www.myfineartsite.com/
http://ciarangallagher.carbonmade.com/
http://kathrynbannister.carbonmade.com/
http://jess-whitall.daportfolio.com/

Artist of the week (2)

This Weeks Artist is...Laura McCafftery, In first year I was able to be in one of her workshops (which I really enjoyed)  and got to created a piece of work in her style. Laura is a brilliant textile artist and a lovely person, check out her website http://www.lauramccafferty.com/

Old Card Players large 175cm x 127cm

This is the piece I made :

Drawing of the week (2)

This is a drawing I did when I was at the V&A museum. Its of a structure by Gilbert Bayes entitled "The Frog Princess" 1929. I'm really inspired by Art Nouveau so any art from this period I tend to fall in love with it. Here is the original:

How To Make A Doll

This is a doll I made and called Lola. I had seen similar dolls on Etsy but was a bit low in funds so I decided to make one. I didn't take any photo's while making her but I have done a few doodles to help you get your mind around the making process.

Step One.
Draw and cut out paper templates, then pin the templates on to the materials of your choosing and cut out. Remember to leave seam allowance. These are roughly the shapes I used to make Lola:

Step Two.
Sew the cuttings for the arms together and also the pieces for the legs.

Step Three.

Stuff the legs and arms and sew across the top to keep everything inside. I used an old pillow to stuff and I also put some lentils in first to help the limbs sit better. 

Step Four.
Taking the pieces you cut for the front of the body sew the top and bottom together. I added buttons and running stitch as I wanted it to look like she was wearing dungarees. You could do what ever you want like maybe, adding a peter pan collar or shirt pocket.

Step Five.

Stitch the hair piece to the top of the head (I used button hole stitch) and add detail to the face. I used buttons for eyes and stitched eyelashes and little rosy cheeks, lips and a nose.

Step Six.

Attach the finished face to the front of the body. Also take the piece for the back of the head and attach to the back part of the body, leaving you with two half's of a body and torso.

Step Seven.

Take the two circles you cut out for the hair, using the stuffing roll it into a ball and place in the middle of one of the circles, gather the material together and stitch across the top. Do the same with the other circle. 

Step Eight.

OK this step is the most complicated one. Firstly place the front of the body face side up, then place the hair, arms and legs on top of the body, folding the pieces to make sure they fit. Then place the back of the body right side down and sew, leaving a hole at the top of the head and turn inside out.

Step Nine.
The last and final step. Now that the doll is the right way round stuff the body and slip stitch the hole closed. you can add any finishing touches, I added a Flower to the hair and boots for her feet.

Drawing of the week (1)

This is a page from one of my sketch books from semester two. My project was about a security blanket I had as a child and the good memories that came along with it. I used to make a lot of tents so thats what the drawings about. This tent element to the work continued throughout the project and even in the final piece.

Artist of the week (1)

Drum roll please…..the one the only Alphonse Mucha :). I love the detail in Mucha’s work, the over all composition of his pieces and the style of his art. Earlier this year when I was in London I saw some examples of Mucha’s art in the V&A and fell even more in love with his work.

Finished Kaleidoscope piece

My kaleidoscope finished piece turned out a lot better than I was expecting, the end produced ended up 4 meters by 1 metre making it one of the biggest pieces I've ever made. By the end I really got into the screen printed, I went into college on a Saturday and got the whole process done leaving me with enough to add applique and machine and hand stitches.

Studio Work

My studio work last term was all about Kaleidoscopes. Colour is a major part of my art, I love colour I'm so greedy with it instead of one or two carefully picked colours I tend to chuck a whole rainbow on to a piece of fabric. So this year we have been learning different techniques like screen printing, using the multi head machine, dyeing fabric. After exploring kaleidoscope patterns I started playing about with coloured paper, cut in the style of kaleidoscopes.

Using the paper cut outs helped with my composition when it came to screen printing. Now I can't say I've taking to screen printing like a fish to water it has been more like a water phobic goldfish. I knew I had to do it but hated the idea of becoming messing and wet and all the waiting around, but I did and I am screen printing. I not that fond of the process but love the outcome.

The photograph above is one my sample pieces. I've screen printed the background layering up the prints to created a depth of colour. Then I appliquéd patterns on top and finished with some multi head designs. I nailed the sample piece to a door frame and put a light behind it, it sort of feels like being in a massive kaleidoscope.