The Screen Printing Lab

Pebble Print : Lino block print. This is the lino that I have used to run a series of prints using different blues to match the different blues found in the sea, evoking a feeling of warm and serenity.

Pebble print Lino

Pencil drawing of block print idea.

Reseach for RCA Sleep Project brief.

Research into Pebbles  and integral agate

Creating ideas for hand/foot warmer with agate.

Pebble print onto Japanese paper.

The print above was done using traditional techniques .The idea came from a wish to create a traditional repeat pattern including a reflective approach.I have been taking photographs in the landscape and have especially like images of reflections onto water via the sunslight reflecting onto water creating a mirrored image. I am also interested in 50's textiles print and the use of stylising natural images to create something pleasing to look at without it being too busy and over done.

Pebble ideas with wood and agate pattern ideas.

Printing Workshop

Printing Workshop

The Technical introduction to print room machinery and materials was a great morning session. I've looked at different types of printing  skills materials and machinery . The print room is a wash with inspiring techniques to develop for print Art for walls , fabrics, book covers, personal letter heading etc.

I love the patina and mix of different handles showing the history of its practical uses , the lettering cabinet.

Vintage cast iron press evoking inspirations of historic printing concepts and practice.

Printing inks and screen printing presses.

Print room showing stacks of lino for print making.

Various tpyes of printing processes discussed including wall paper design.

            History of Lino Printing

“Linoleum was invented and used as a floor covering in the late 1800s. As printmakers using wood blocks looked for easier and less expensive ways of block printing, they turned to the new product, according to the Printmaking Dictionary. The word "linoleum" dates to 1863 when Frederick Walton of England combined the Latin word for flax, "linum," with the Latin word for oil, "oleum," according to India Crafts. In the late 1800s, linoleum was considered a poor engraver's wood and often used by amateurs or as a teaching product in schools, according to the Printmaking Dictionary. But when artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso started using linoleum in the early 1900s, its popularity grew.(14.1.2018 17.00 pm. https://linoprinting.weebly.com/history-of-lino-printing.html)”

 I am interesting in this technique as it gives a simplistic look

Selfie for Journal .

similar to a lot of Indian woodcarving fabric prints which I am interested in researching. Lino is a cheaper and less difficult method of carving printing images for printing onto fabric or paper. I have created a sketch book of ideas of my sleep project which I have renamed the Pebble Solutions( I will add images latter on in the blog). I have chosen to reflect 50's and 60's fabric print and Art work to create a contemporary feel for my new printing techniques project.
I started with a small A5 lino section and draw in pencil, my design idea. It this stage I am not worrying about repeat systems,just experimenting.The drawing in pencil onto the lion was a bit difficult to see, so therefore I will possibly use tracing paper or ink tracing paper underneath the pencil drawing.I have cut out my lino in a sketchy format as I realise I am new to this skill, I am happy with the sketchy Arty Crafty handmade feel of my first lino, however I will refine my skills moving forward as my next task will be a two colour block print with a repeat. The artist that inspires me who I am researching is Angie Lewin . I have a Pinterest account which shows a lot of my visual research.The image below is a number of old fashioned printing lettering which you can use to create an old fashioned print look.They can also be used individually as little hand held stamps.

These are very interesting cast letters which can be used for hand stamping, great especially as I am not good at lettering.

Natures Armour Embellisments, Cellular Forms,Structures, Micro Patterns.

Major Project Brief

Designing my MA final Collection of Fabrics, Look Book and Journal including theory is something that needs quite a lot of planning. I have been doing theory practice since the beginning of the MA course late last year.
2018 is the beginning of the creative direction that I have been developing. I have started with photography and lino printing to express my concerns and desires for design development and creative direction, I have design methodology on a broad sense since I have been practicing for many years(however I have been teaching since my daughter was born).
My major project is a celebration of textiles and surface design techniques, researching closely with a broad spectrum of techniques including screen printing , digital print , lino printing mixing hand drawn , print and photography. I will also be looking at detailed haberdashery detailing including lazer cutting, wood, metal work components, 3 D technologies(emphasis on the details of accessories, materality and hardware finishing.).Creating haberdashery  accessories to encompass uniqueness of design values. This is key to portraying ultimate direction and a complete ownership of skills and designer critique for a professional portfolio of work.
To clarify in more simple terms my major project brief is based on printing techniques within textiles for fashion and interiors developing surface design concepts utilizing and collaborating other elements/materials as detail and embellishment hardware for finished design concepts. Finished design concepts will be illustrated using hand drawn skills and CAD developments for a final Portfolio Look book to use within my professional working practice to demonstrating how my fabrics and haberdashery can be used in finished products. Developing digital skills in Photoshop, illustrator and in in design will be part of my design development processes.

Collaboration of techniques

Collaborating detailing and embellishment using different printed textile techniques, digital art, embroidery block printing techniques whether real technique or digitized through photography or hand illustration. Creating a de coup-age laying and mixing technique to add charm vintage patina effects Inspired by historical and contemporary Arts and Crafts of the 19th and 20th Century within the broader design brief of Natures Armour elaboration, inner and outer casings , cellular structures  and naturals patterns and colours that nature creates through flora and all creatures great and small. Re visiting Darwin's law of evolution and the reasons why humans want to b e adorned taking a global glob trotting tribal and cultural voyage of visual and creative practice.Injecting an element of surprise due to the threats that evolve within our environment and our biodiversity makes us more aware and interested in connecting with nature designing new moderism through our traditions and historical heritage.Designing within methodologies connected to nature focuses and helps our world preserve our natural world by using natures alaborate decorative visual armour to sooth and comfort lifestyles and living.

The Southwell Trail: the old railway track.

Design Aspirations for Major Project MA

Designing is a place to explore all aspects of textile Art and fashion, in its broadest sense. I like to encompass new contemporary art and design strategies and gain new craft practices using critical analysis, contextual and theoretical. I also like to develop a broader and more technical understanding of modern technologies using photographic printing, screen printing embroidery and photography, using up to date CAD within my design handwriting as a professional designer.

Heritage and Artisan beliefs are a continuing aspect of my practice incorporating eco conscious ethical fashion philosophy. Artisan based design ranges are becoming increasingly popular with many people wishing to save the planet from unnecessary pollution. Materials are vintage or vintage retro where ever possible following my fashion philosophy (historical emphasis within new designs)

My aspirations are about developing vintage inspired print making with embroidered elements (whether printed or actual) patchwork, woven embellished fabrics, knits, crochet, lace cut outs for fashion and interiors for industry using illustrations mini fabric swatches and production packs as the product for working practice.

Entwining beadwork, photographic prints, rock crystals, metal work and antique materials to evoke an opulent style. My main ideology is to create a coherent identity as a working designer exploring other Art and Design disciplines and combining these into my work to create more interest and uniqueness. I like working within different Art and design disciplines to engage with the Arts World developing a broad design discipline across the fashion and interiors industry. Possible Gallery approach to my continuing practice. Pushing the boundaries of fine Art disciplines, by incorporating art installations akin to fashion and interior design.

My design themes for my Autumn/Winter 2018/19 include Migration- including modern art influences, decollage vintage /romantic fusion. Taking contextual themes within seasonal contemporary fashion directions, developing distressed finishes, faded flora’s , hazy blooms/Bucolic Tapestries, Folk Art, 50’s foliage. Developing designs with a montage of fashion eras and inspirations.

My masters is a time for me to indulge in personal creative urges previously encountered, celebrating past practice for a forever wishful awareness of art and design through new media practice.

I would like to follow on from my MA textile course to work as a freelance designer within broader design disciplines and would pursue a PHR in Illustration /fashion /Costume .While continuing part time teaching of Art and Design and general cover teaching work.

The Southwell Trail: Pebbles were once used to pave our streets. 

I will be taking you through a journey explaining my design developments and my directions within my Art and design research. Photography being one of my primary research tools and secondary research will be undertaken via a program of relevant events and visits.Reflecting what was important and what went well what didn't and what to do next?

1st Lino Print

Pale print due to error , however I like this look.

These printed lino prints have been created using a lino square and I have used different tools to create a loosely sketched image of pebbles for a project brief I have started for the RCA.The paper used was Japanese which is ideal for printing. I have used various pale blues to integrate a design project based on sleeping. The paler version was an accident , however I like it because its really faded adding a retro vintage warn out feel.
I will create some more lino printing  using a pattern repeat and also two colours for my next development.

Journal View Points

Journal View Points

Welcome back to my Blog, all about Art and design developments within my  own practice.
 I have been studying an MA in Design for the last couple of weeks. University Lincoln is a lovely university, set within the ancient city of Lincoln with views of the Castle walls and castle of Lincoln.Not forgetting the profile of Lincoln Cathedral always finding itself on the skyline/cityscape background. 
The University Design and Architecture building is super modern with large windows looking across the river were there are many little river boats moated  plus an arrangement of trendy bars and restaurants frequented via the young and talented.

I have joined the main group of MA students a couple of weeks late,due to a late application(email went on the run somewhere).However I previously joined an MA course some years ago and had to drop out due to unforeseen circumstances (my mum got cancer and I had parental responsibilities that made it more difficult.)
However it's all good now, I have a project proposal already typed up which will probably need tweaking in some areas.

I have chosen to use my written journal as a blog and also in note form plus responses within my sketch books, I mix seems reasonable as a choice(as it will go that why).
I have had a number of interesting lecturers on a number of different theory based design concepts and ideas on how to reflect on work achieved throughout my MA Design course. That is my own career based Art and design practice. How do I tick like a designer, what processes do I use and how can I reflect my decisions and also how can I prove purpose in terms of design concepts through to final brief.
Ultimately I am visualizing the final MA exhibition and what am I going to be displaying and what are the reasons in terms of research and development  outcomes and what were my processes.
In my opinion its the theoretical and the contextual references that I choose and how they link together to created a rounded and finished collection of ideas and how I show my journey in a professional way(including theories of Art and design) that will define the outcomes of creative direction that I choose to create within my art practice.

Winter Mood board Tibet

Summer Storyboard

The images are storyboard inspirations previously created as a starting point for fashion collections created for fashion accessories previously shown in exhibitions and sold to stores around the world. Storyboard development is part of my design creative direction , however I also usually go through a photographic journey in order to respond to final choices for design work.

Studio Workshop 4th December 2017

Doodle Wall Art created by MA design 2018.

In the studio with other MA students I was lucky enough to work on a workshop experience. We were split into two groups and stood around a table with two rolls of paper. We used our own maker pens and were told to create monster drawings. After a couple of minutes we were told to rota. Swap with the person next to you and draw another image or add to the images. The winning team would be the page that covered the most area and also the most dynamic. To be far both wall papers wall art were as bad as each other. Or as good as each other.It was infect a nice bonding experience for all the people on the MA course.

Journal Reflection December 2017

Since joining the course I have choice to spend most of my time in the printing studio which is on the ground it has a number different printing techniques that students can develop. 

I have chosen lino printing and screen printing. The initial task was to create a project brief linked to a RCA award project. I chose to develop the Sleep project which was all about creating a gadget to help aid sleep. I looked at the idea from an historical point of view and decided on a portable bed warmer for hands and feet that could also be used as an aromatherapy room de-fuser. My final idea was drawn up in three colourways. 

Ideas for this product came form pebbles using natural materials and agate semi precious rock crystals to encourage healing properties and visual harmony. Agate has a luxurious tactile quality and also it does through historical healing properties.

Sketch Book Developments

Sketch book developments

Reviewing previous sketch books can help evoke understanding of personal working practice and encourage an awareness of personal handwriting. Also it helps to consider ,which way one wants to proceed in terms of illustration style. Considering how I want my new sketch book /journal to look like and how to proceed forward in regard to direction with my masters degree project brief portfolio and analysis reflections.

MA Design Concepts for Final Show

My major Project for my Masters degree is based on Print making techniques within fashion and textiles, developing surface design concepts using other elements/ materials as detail and embellishment.

Using my experience in knitwear design and accessories to develop new and inspirational developments within design practice techniques. My inquiring and questions will be how can I demonstrate that there are links between other modern-ities within other design practices. Showing I can demonstrate visual methodologies of the same choices and aspirations across processes and possible end products through a new hybrid mix of traditional and contemporary techniques. Demonstrating possibilities of final design concepts through  illustration.A collaboration of printed textile design techniques using unique tactile visual methodology complexities using illustrating in order to demonstrate how my design ideas can be used including working drawings developing skills in illustration, Photoshop and in-design. I will be creating finished fabrics displayed onto carded hangers and will produce a Look book to use for commercial purposes. However it's a large amount of work and the feedback I have received from people is that its a lot of work, therefore I need to slim it down quite a bit.

I could create a blog book and create final pages of work to illustrate how my printed fabric and wallpaper plus hardware decoration can be worn or created into home-ware through illustration and a look book would not need to be created leaving me more time for practical elements. Also I need to be less wordy when I am writing otherwise it's basically to heady for people to grasp. Pretty sure I can become less wordy. I have selected some previous fashion knitwear ranges from the Pret-a-porter fashion static show with catwalks imagery in order to reflect on previous work to find a cohesive previous work archive to explain what sort of designer I have been to reflect were I might be heading moving forward.

Pret-a-porter Paris Trade Fair Original Sample mid 90s

Trade Magazine coverage 90s

Illustrations and Sketch book

Fashion illustration Journey.

The images below show a variety of different fashion illustration  techniques used previously including early illustrator work with Winifred Aldridge who has developed software for computer aided design and also written a number of useful books on pattern cutting and computer design for the fashion industry.

Fashion illustration development from life previous work 

80's

Original fabric of design scanned in to create fabric for computer aided design (mid 90's with Winifred Aldridge computer soft ware designer for the fashion industry.)

Early water colour fashion face development 80s

                                   New Concept ideas for fashion illustrations

New direction for style for illustrations

Retrospective View Point

Fashion Illustrations

Early water colour and pastel drawing 80's

Illustration development using secondary research via contemporary fashion illustrators.

 Illustrations created years apart showing inspirations of Fashion and Textile direction. The second image drawn in the early 1980s, the first being more recent early One's.

                             Contextualization

In order to contextualize my current creative direction.I believe it's important to take a reflective look at previous work achieved, in order to create a retrospective view point moving forward with current work developments.
The following images are a of a previous career path within a label based business creating hand crafted Knitwear for a global market place, working with key customer based department stores small independent retailers and designer lead labels.Including Paul Smith LTD, Burberry's , Harrods, Selfridges, French Connection, Oasis stores and too many more to mention.

Fashion Illustration for previous Knitwear design work.

Fashion sketch previously drawn for knitwear design.