Unit X Mid-point review
Following the initial research phase on ceramics and
pottery, I have done more primary and secondary research connected to my
work. My group and I had decided to
concentrate on cracked pottery ideas, taking colour inspiration from lichen and
I have developed a colour yarn wrap following the picture below.
As a development of this theme, I painted two layers of
emulsion paint onto cotton fabric and let it dry over the weekend. I then cracked the fabric using my fingers,
with control, so I could get the lines where I wanted. I dipped it into indigo dye for 10-15
minutes. I tried washing the emulsion
paint off, so I could see the cracks on just the fabric, but the dye seemed to
have taken over the whole fabric, so I left the emulsion paint on and let it
dry. I realised if I wanted the emulsion
paint off my fabric leaving only the pattern of cracks, I should have used the
paint on both sides. However, I am glad
I left the emulsion paint on because it gives an interesting texture.
In another development, I recycled some CDs by cutting them up
into small shards and stuck them onto a blue background paper as an experiment
for my sketch book. I liked the effect
it gave against the dark background and I would like to develop this further
into a fabric design. I wasn’t sure I could use CDs, but my tutor picked it up
from my book, so I am experimenting with different sized pieces of CDs and
broken crockery on different textile backgrounds. I have researched shisha embroidery
(mirror-work technique) (Morrell, 1995) which I am going to use to fasten the
pieces. This is a technique which is
widely used in India and I quite like the thought of looking at my
background.
Recently, I have dyed fabric in indigo and sewn on top of it
using the tailor tacking technique and the next stage of this is going to be
pieces of CD sewn on. I like the grassy
natural effect that comes from the tailor tacking, which links to the lichen,
especially as I have used yellow from my colour palette.
At first, I was hesitant about group work, because I like to
think on my own. However, it is good
sometimes, because if you are lost, you can ask a group member to help or sort
it out in a group meeting. I still
wouldn’t want to do this all the time, but I like it for a change. At first, we were confused, but now we all
get along very well, and the work is going smoothly.
The things that interest me are of nature, so I have looked
at the books Heaven and Earth (Roucoux and Malin, 2004) and The Earth from the
Air (Arthus-Bertrand, 2001) which have some magnificent pictures such as
landscapes from the air and images through the microscope. I have taken inspiration from these books as,
for instance, pictures of the earth from above connect with the patterns of
broken pottery.
Arthus-Bertrand, Y. (2001) The Earth from the Air 365 Days.
London: Thames and Hudson.
Morrell, A (1995) Techniques of Indian Embroidery. London: Batsford.
Roucoux, K and Malin, D. (2004) Heaven and Earth: Unseen by
the Naked Eye. London: Phaidon Press Limited.
