Tuesday 8 March 2011

Stepping out


Thank you for being so supportive in my journey into new territory trying to develop my design skills. As many of you asked me to keep you informed of how I was doing, I thought I would share my first chapter.  Of course this could be just a new 'fad' too, but  hopefully I can keep coming back to the path even if I stray.  I have lots of vague ideas in my head for pieces of work, but I don't know how to 'realise' them, so I am hoping that a bit of formal skill acquisition will help me on my way.

Firstly I drew up a 'mind map' and wrote down all the things I could think of relating to design and specifically textiles. I did refer to a few internet sites and found Kim Thittichai's book 'Experimental textiles' useful. Clicking on the images should bring them up larger if you're interested.

Out of this exercise I decided the two main areas I need to develop are my ability to extrapolate a design out of my initial ideas and secondly, my ability to translate that design into something workable. For example I have lots of photographs that I think could become interesting textile pieces, but it is getting from the photograph to the textile that I need to develop. 
My workshop with Marian Murphy at Art Van Go has got me started. I have had two sessions so far and this has mainly been about techniques, but Marian does suggest design ideas as we go along.  Having been inspired by her books of designs I got myself an A3 and a A5 Pink Pig sketch book to keep my work in.  I especially like the cartridge paper that these books are made of as it will take a bit of punishment which my Art Journals give testimony to.
Here are my samples that I made during her class.
 Above, just playing with free stitching and tension with the use of a mirror tile to create a little symmetric motif ...
...and some much more exciting techniques we covered the second session, including reverse applique.

I also decided to go back to basics and in my A5 book did a few exercises with the colour wheel.  When I was doing water colours I purchased a set from Michael Wilcox who wrote a book entitled ' Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green' so it was fun to look at his theory again.  Of blue and yellow can make green, but he is talking about the fact that traditional water colour paints are not pure pigments and you get violet blues and orangey yellow and so on ... it was a good exercise to tune up my colour sensitivity.

Above is the free embroidery face I stitched after my first workshop. 
Marian told me how to stretch it over a piece of card so here it is with another page of a colour mixing exercise.
I am sure you are all familiar with the follow colour concepts...
...however triad harmonies, split complementaries and mutual complemetaries were new to me (Thanks to Kim Thittichai's book.
Below I have followed up one of Marian Murphy's techniques of stitching channel in a sheer fabric over a plain one and threading different coloured cords through the channels.
I am going to snip the channels and pull out loops of cord and embellish with some beads and stitching.
I think this could become a purse.

There are also lots of techniques to try out from 'Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidery' by Pam Watts so I have probably got lots to keep me going for a week or two. I am hoping to go on a printing workshop run by my friend Sally, so I can use that opportunity to develop some designs rather than just going and having a ''play' ... it is all rather exciting.

I even managed a short walk with my new shoe orthotics today and heard a sky lark here, on Sharpenhoe Clappers (photographed here in December a few years ago)

Into 2009
Thank you all again for your lovely support, I really do appreciated your comments.

15 comments:

Bernice Hopper said...

Looks wonderful. I wish you every success. You may be interested in this: http://www.indie-business.com/ It is very good. I am doing it at the moment

ju-north said...

This sounds really interesting! I have the same problem - loads of photos but bridging the gap to textiles is another thing!

Marigold Jam said...

Sounds as though you are really getting going now Jill and you certainly have some lovely ideas there. I particularly like the idea of the sheer fabric channels and your idea of pulling some of the cords through - must give that a try myself! Pam Watts taught me when I did my City and Guilds Creative Textile course many years ago although we didn't cover machine embroidery which is what she is best known for. Best of luck with all your projects and do keep us informed as we can also be inspired by what you are doing too.

Jane

MILLY said...

I have been catching up and reading about your thoughts on your creative journey. You are so creative and have great ideas.
My advice is to listen to your gut instincts, what really gives you the thrill, you absolutely love doing and time flys by as you get lost doing it. Be aware of how you feel as you start a project, eventually you will eliminate the things you don't enjoy and find what you really love. Sometimes when you have too many projects, it can become a chore finishing them all.
Your work is lovely, hope something I said helped !

cheryl said...

oh gosh,this all looks ,so interesting,just,amazing ideas you have look forward to seeing,what you do,i want to start one,but have as yet not had the nerve hugs cherylx

menopausalmusing said...

Lovely to have a "root" around in your books again........ lovely to see where you are and what you are thinking of doing. I am SO envious re you listening to a Sky Lark. I haven't heard one since childhood.

elisa said...

¡¡Me encantan tus cuadernos!!

Thanks for sharing

webb said...

Jill, I'm so impressed at how you are tackling this new project - it's probably how you tackled teaching a new subject to your students, (I think you were a teacher!) You are so organized and focused. It's a great example for us ladies of a certain age that getting older is not a barrier to learning new tricks. You go, Girl!!

Virginia said...

Wow fabulous stuff - so pleased that you are finding the path that suits you and thank you for sharing!

Heloise said...

Looks as if you are on a real roll. Mind maps are great for organizing thoughts, enjoyed reading what you have done so far. Good luck with it all.

BadPenny said...

Hello Jill. Penny from the postcard swap here. I started your card today & couldn't stop so practically finished ( just as well as I will be going away for a week ! )
I only started rediscovering my artistic side again last year & jump from thing to thing not really knowing what I'm doing !

I did print onto fabric recently using paper from the computer shop. I'd love to go on some courses - perhaps over the weeks we can all exchange ideas & learn some new techniques on the lovely Blog Cathy & Lesley made for us all.

Karen said...

brilliant journals Jill!! absolutely crammed with creativity and inspiration.

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Lots of exciting stuff, I particularly love the idea of stitching channels and pulling cord through; definitely something I'll try :-)
Anne x

Unknown said...

This is fascinating work Jill. I am jealous that even your working notes look so good! I'm really keen to see how you take this work forward.

Sarah Anderson said...

Gorgeous chronicle of your journey so far Jill. Loved seeing your notes pages and your colour explorations - I too have the Kim T book but not done anything with it yet - I really must!!