A2 Coursework; Alexander McQueen Artist Research

As part of my artist research work, I've focused on Sarah Burton and how she creates pieces for the Alexander McQueen brand, using this as inspiration for my textile copies. From this, I took experimental photographs and then observational drawings, focusing on things such as high collars, long trains, and using her ideas of contrast and juxtaposition in my work.

 I analysed her AW14 collection, before creating the same kind of patterns and colour in felt, couching and batik work, and these have inspired my further along in my coursework when experimenting with fabrics, colours and shapes.

A2 Coursework; Tree Experiments

Part of my focus into fairy-tales looked at symbolism, such as the idea of an 'enchanted forest'. After looking at artists like Lesley Richmond whose focus is on woodland, I went out and took photographs in a forest, before drawing from my observations in both pencil and water colours. 

I developed the colours and shapes from the water colour drawing, creating a batik piece similar to it. Other textile experiments I created included a mono-print of tree branches, and also a mixed media piece where I tie-dyed the background, then used wool, scrap fabric and beads to embellish leaves and branches onto this.

A2 Coursework; Paper Witchcraft Project

As part of my experimentation, I looked at exhibitions that had been held where students had created dresses made completely out of paper, by folding, ripping, gluing etc.; and the pieces inspired me to try my own. 

After researching to get ideas, I first experimented with tearing, gluing, ripping, folding etc., until I found the techniques I liked most. Then, using inspiration from my artist’s research for shapes and dress styles of witches, I created some design ideas, and refined them to my final paper dress design idea.

A2 Coursework; Tree Drawing and Experiments 2

Carrying on my research from the trees experiments and drawings I created, I decided to do a massive A2 drawing of one of my photographs, using pencil sketch, wax crayons and pen. I looked at the shape and form of the tree, where I needed shading or lighter areas and how the perspective of looking up the tree trunk could be translated. 

From this, I focused on tree bark, and copied this into textile form, creating too pieces made from batik and felt, which both looked at the brown colours and textures created by the materials. These drawings and experiments had inspired me to refine the ideas, and how I can incorporate them when I start my final design ideas.

A2 Coursework; Final Paper Dress

After researching and experimenting with the paper, and also creating my final dress design idea, I started to create my own dress made from papier-mâché. I used the paper to build up layers adding texture, and the style of the dress with the high collars and puff skirt was inspired by my artists Alexander McQueen and Sapto Djojokartiko. 

The final dress reflects a modern day ‘witch’ style, and the layers and texture is extended from my studies into trees and nature.

AS Coursework; Bruce Munro Artist Research

As part of my research into light, and artwork that uses light incorporated in the pieces, I looked at Bruce Munro and his light installation pieces that he constructs on huge scales. 

The main formal elements I focused on were light, colour, pattern and line, I and carried these inspirations into some prints I did. I dyed little pieces of calico and then used a print inspired by my photographs to print on these, then decorating them in different ways, through weave, couching, and embellishing with beads. 

AS Coursework; Light Observational Drawings

After focusing on artists such as Bruce Munro and Sophie Hedderwick, I decided to look at the way light could be used to manipulate an image, and how the contrast of light and darkness created shadows and reflections. 

Taking inspiration from the way my artists work, I took my own experimental photographs of everyday items such as a shoe and a chair, and draped them in fairy lights to make them almost seem to glow. I then made experimental drawings from these, in both pencil drawings and water colour quick media experiments, focusing on colour, light, shadows and shape.

AS Coursework; Light Experiments

Extending on this idea of using actual light in my work, I created some textile media experiments, and then tested all of these, threading fairy lights underneath the textile experiments and also through, seeing how they would reflect the light or glow. 

Some media’s I used included batik, print, felt and weave, and I liked the way the light both shone through the materials, and lit up some of the fabric prints too. One of my favorites was the Angelina threads, I liked the sparkle effect they gave off and the way they reflected light off the piece. 

AS Coursework; Molar Stars Refinement

After looking at the stain glass windows that Harry Clarke produced, I decided to refine the molar work pieces I had created in his style. I used a star shape as this had been a main focal point in my photographs and drawings, and then created molar work stars with different layers of felt, batik and Angelina fibers. 

I then refined these again to make them smaller and have different patterns on them, and then these were used in my final design ideas. 

AS Coursework; Light Design Ideas

I used all of the artist’s inspiration, my photographs and drawings, and also the experiments I did with the lights to inspire my final design ideas. I thought of quite a few and finally chose to create a tutu skirt, incorporating the molar work stars I had made. 

However after making it, the piece didn't look right to me, and I wanted to start again but be more free with my work, so I cut up the skirt and redesigned the piece into a dress, using the panels for a corset top and creating a puffball skirt like the shapes seen in Bruce Munro’s work.