Project 2, Stage 6 & Reflective Commentary

I love my garden so when my sweet peas looked and smelled wonderful I decided to sketch them and use this as my Stage 6.
I hand stitched working on heavy cotton fabric, for the flowers I used different techniques to represent each one.Satin, Sedding, Blanket, French knots, Cross-stitch, Running & Couching were used, and for the Bamboo Cain's I used brown patterned material then used cross-stitch as couching and Herringbone.

Learning Log


* Can you begin to see the relationship between stitching and drawing?

Yes, I can see where the relationship is between stitching and drawing. I look at everything now in a different light. It's like lines and movement of media, dark and light.

*  Were you able to choose stitches which expressed the marks and lines of you drawing?

The way I had sketched and put my marks made it a easy choice when it came to the stitches. I knew that each sweet pea was going to be different either with wool,thread or materials and the stitch would reflect that.

*   Did you choose the right source material to work from?

I felt my source material was the correct choice, it brought to life my lovely sweet peas. The media did just what I expected it to do. (shine through like a ray of sunshine!).

* Do you think your sample works well irrespective of the drawing? Or is your sample merely a good interpretation of your drawing?

I think you could go with both, the sample has got feeling and texture, my nephew couldn't tell what is was but my niece could!. I think it has a good interpretation of my drawing as you can see where the inspiration is coming from.

* Which did you prefer - working with stitch to create textures or working with yarn to make textures? Which worked best for you and why?

I enjoyed both because they both gave great variation, having not worked like this before I didn't have a preference. I loved the couching with cross-stitch, also using the different material then stitching on top of them.

* Make some comments on individual techniques and sample pieces. Did you experiment enough? Did you feel inhibited in any way?

Couching was a new technique to me, so when I did my rose (Project 2 - Stage 3) I was thrilled at how it turned out. I thought the Satin stitch - green (again new to me) on project 2 exercise 2 had a very striking impact with wools and cotton threads showing real depth of colour,direction and shape.
I really enjoyed all of this project, it would have been better if I could have used my sewing machine. I feel I missed out a little not having the advantage of combining both hand stitch & machine together.
I did not feel inhibited because I worked with what I had, and my ideas were there before I started stitching.

* Do you prefer to work from a drawing or by playing with materials and yarns to create effects? Which method produced the most interesting work?


I prefer to work with a drawing because to me I like to get ideas down on paper also the thought process has been done. I then find it easy to visualise what materials and media I want to use.

* Are there other techniques you would like to try? Are there any samples you would like to do in a different way?

I didn't get the Cretan stitch done so this is one I will bringing in a some stage. The sewing machine samples I would like to give a go. I was happy with the samples I had done, the only one I was disappointed with was Stage 5 the white and lemon sample. Another time I would change the colours.

* Is there anything you would like to change in your work? 

I wouldn't change any of my work, but I would like to carry out more samples and experiments. I did feel I had spent loads more time than recommended but it was well worth it and I was pleased with the results.



REFLECTIVE COMMENTARY




So far so good, I've had an incredibly journey. Its been positive most of the time, Initially at the start I found it difficult with the sketching (having never been an 'artist'). I had a struggle with my imagination and it was a learning curve to let it take hold. I think in my mind I had to tell it that there is no 'right' & 'wrong' answers and this was not easy to do.
I have always cross-stitched or knitted and you always had a pattern or kit to work from, so it felt very strange to be able to have freedom of stitch. I have learnt to ignore the straight forward rules & regulations  I was used to, and creativity is now happening.

Each exercise has taken me a lot longer to complete but I think that was due to me enjoying the work, it did worry me though, that I was not doing enough examples (this still does concern me!).
 I feel I need to experiment more with the different textures in project 1 exercise four, I'm not sure which way I will go with this but I felt more could possibly be done.
I did become frustrated with my sewing machine, this is one area I will be working on when I get it working correct. I felt I had missed out on trying the different designs, also maybe combining hand stitch with the machine would have been nice to try..

Project 2 Stage 5

Project 2, Stage 4

I selected eight drawings from my portfolio (project 1, exercise 2). I laid them out and then thought which material and yarns to use. I decided to work them all on the same material (yellow poplin cotton).
The yarns I've picked are varied from DMC threads/wools, Aran wool, and Ribbon. I think the Aran wool will give a lumpy thick effect, where the ribbon will be smooth.

Project 2, Stage 3

I picked one of my drawings from project 1 (stage 4) because I could see where all types of stitches could go.This was a rose from my garden, I felt the textures came out well. The thick chunky wool against the delicate DMC thread worked well together to give depth.

Project 2, Stage 2

I experimented by hand stitching using Satin, Chain, Running, Sedding, Blanket, French knots, & Couching.
I loved how wool & embroidery threads worked together in satin stitch, it gave real depth also was bold in the effect.
The contrast between using 1 strand and 6 strands of cotton skeins has a varied effect, using one strand makes it very delicate were as four or six stands makes it more sharp.

Project 2, Stage 1

I enjoyed trying out different stitches because I was used to cross-stitch,back stitch and french knots. I went to the Library and found The Needlecraft Book & The Embroider's Floral by Janet Haigh these books were both very useful.I need to sort out my sewing machine it wasn't working as it should (see by the work on the black!) so I hand stitched from then on.

Project 2, Developing your marks

Stage 1 - Preparation

I found collecting together my fabrics and threads was a very easy job, because I already had loads saved from previous stitching & knitting projects from over the years ( I always knew they would come in handy one day!).

Project 1 - Findings

I feel project 1 may not be finished yet, maybe more experiments still to try. I've have spent a lot more hours than the recommended time on this project so far - is this normal?

I haven't thought about drawing in this way before, and it's been a journey of surprises and very enjoyable. I hope that I've shown I am inventive because when I'm out and about I look at things differently now, the colors, depth, patterns & texture.
I am learning with making marks to be a little free and flexible, it's like learning to have freedom with your images.I am happy with what I have done so far and my confidence is on the up especially know I have worked with paints, oil's,crayons, pencils, felt tips & bleach.
I am still sketching and drawing around the house and garden, also in my lunch break at school (we have some unusual sculptures.
Working with different media was exciting but also frustrating at times. I liked working with the oil paints (even though they were messy) also my pencils. I feel maybe i should try more with tissues & cloth materials.
I love how the rose came out; I could see potential with stitches deep in the rose.
There is loads of different ways of making marks and its going to be an ongoing process. I can see where the making marks is going, it will lead me on to enrich my Textiles. Designs can be spotted from the marks and also mixing the media can give you different ideas on your design.

Project 1, Stage 4

 

Stage 4 - I loved this exercise, it was great bring what I've learnt so far on making marks together. My favourite was my pink rose, I could see where I could go with wools & threads on that one!

It has also made me realise what depth you can see from different thickness of paints mixed with using pencils.

Project 1, Stage 3 - Exercise 2

Stage 3 - Exercise 2

I spent two evening's out in my garden; I found it really hard not drawing a detailed fully illustrated sketch. I made different marks by using paints & sponges, Black & Grey/White Pastels,Oil Pastels, Paint & Felt tips

Project 1,Stage 3 - Exercise 1

Stage 3 - Exercise 1, I found three postcard scenes out of a magazine. The first one was Ullswater out of a kitchen window. I kept to pencil using the different marks. It gave it a 3D effect.
The second one was Devon, I used different layers of crayons then scraped different effects with a nail file.

The Third & Fourth was Yorkshire, I scraped the houses outline with a nail file first then put pencils on top to give marks. The Band Stand - I used Black, different Grey & White pastels, this came out blotchier.

The sculpture's in our school ground's -  I used crayons and pastels then scraped the marks which seemed to work better.

Project 1 Exercise 4

Exercise 4 really gave me an insight I have not experienced before. I loved how you can use a crayon over the top of a paper clip then go over with paint to give a waxy effect. I knew bleach did blotch things but it really took the color out altogether with a slight yellow tinge. The pen mark also changed from blue to brown.
Cutting heart shapes out of tissue and stabbing with a compass and also leaving some plain then painting on top gave a light and shade effect.

Project 1 Exercise 3

Exercise 3 was a bit of a challenge, I used Artisan Water Mixable oil colors for the first time, I'm not one to be in a mess and got a bit frustrated when the edging was not as neat as I would have liked. I did enjoy the pastel pencils also the normal paints. The bottle tops was a lovely texture and I have to admit the Red (Hard) example using toothpicks came out well which I did like.

Project 1 Exercise 2

Exercise 2 was really enjoyable; you can see from the texture the different contrasts when you put them together. I used my Derwent Graphic Pencils which had HB,2B,2H,4B,6B,8B, I loved the light and shade. It also gave a 3D effect on some of the drawings.

Textiles 1 - A Creative Approach

Project 1, Stage 2   (July 2011)


The above course I am excited about starting, I hope it's going to give me more confidence in drawing. It is worrying me about having to draw (I haven't done sketching since school years. This area is where I will feel challenged and will need to work on the most, and no doubt find it the hardest section.

• Will I be good enough?
• Can I keep up with the deadlines?

These are a couple of questions I ask myself, time will tell. I have loads of ideas thanks to my garden so I hope to give them justice.

Today is the day the journey begins making marks in a n expressive way. I've found out you can draw so faintly with HB/2B pencil and then the next minute go so dark with an 8B, the contrast is quite big. You can see how the contrast in shades can be expressive.