Throughout the two year Art and Design course I have developed a significant range of knowledge and understanding that has enabled me to create my final pieces. This portfolio is a summary of some of my A Level Art and Design coursework experimenting with different ideas resulting in my final pieces. Throughout this work I have focussed on the use of pattern and decoration using a range of media, such as Etching, Chalk, Watercolour, Pencil and Screen print to produce interesting and unique effects. This course has given me a robust foundation in the use of colour, design, pattern and media and I am now keen to apply this knowledge and these skills to textiles in practice. I am particularly interested in using my work with textiles to explore and influence the impact which textiles can have upon the individual and society at large.
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| Silk painting from observation of leaves |
Observing leaves in detail, I noticed the contrasting colours that you don't often see at first glance. The complementary colours of red and green merging into each other as the leaf twists and turns, and the dark purples that appear when shadows are created. These different colours that made up the leaves gave me the idea to produce a silk painting. The material enabled me to let the colours run into each other which formed my own perspective of the plant that I observed.
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| Pencil drawing of plant |
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The use of different media to create a compostion of leaves |
Carrying on from my observation of the structure and composition of leaves, I created a study sheet exploring the textures of plants and how different forms of plants can work together. I wanted to use a combination of media on this study sheet, the use of pencil, colour and ink all work to show how the leaves interlink with each other, weaving in and out. Also the use of colour and ink contrast with each other to create layering.
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| Etchings of Dried Flower After studying natural forms in detail, I decided to do an Etching of a dried flower. The structure of the flower with its interesting shapes which have evolved over time, create unusual dimensions. I saw this as an opportunity to produce an Etching that would impact upon the structure of the dried petals. |
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| Etching of William Morris Design Taking the time to study William Morris’s artwork encouraged me to experiment with his style of art in my own work. Morris is famous for his use of flat line and his confidence to be different in his work. By Etching his design in my own interpretation, the use of flat line is still present, keeping the purity that William Morris showed in all of his work. I then printed onto tissue paper which gave a new texture to the design. |
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| Etching of a contemporary Indian pattern |
When researching pattern, I didn't want to focus on just traditional and contemporary English designs, so I then started to take a close interest in multicultural patterns that are completley different from English designs. By experimenting with diverse media I could create new and unusual outcomes. Here, I have concentrated on looking at contemporary Indian patterns and decided to create an etching. The etchings have allowed me to emphasise the intricate pattern and detail that is typical in Indian patterns.
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Pencil drawing of White Trumpet Flower by Georgia O'Keeffe |
When studying pattern and decoration I researched artists that influence pattern. Georgia O'Keeffe is a great example of how pattern can have an indirect meaning to it, the blend of abstract and bold paintings representing purity within her work. The use of bold colours and her giant sized paintings, shows she was a modernist of her time. To capture the same skills as O'Keeffe, I did a pencil drawing of the 'White Trumpet Flower.' Instead of using the bold colours she uses in her painting I left the flower as a pencil drawing, but for the background I added colour to accentuate the pure, wholesome flower.
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| Photograph of Eiffel Tower printed onto canvas |
When I visited Paris with my family last year I stood at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, illuminated in the night sky. In looking up to the furthest point I knew that this unique sight would be perfect to use in my work. I printed the photograph onto canvas and overlayed a drawing of the 'White Trumpet Flower' by O'Keeffe, in the colours that are seen in the Eiffel Tower when it is lit up at night.
Screen Print of my interpretation of a William Morris design on printed canvas
After experimenting with chalk on the printed canvas I decided to take it a step further and screen print a William Morris design onto it. I will be sewing into the screenprint to add further detail to the design.
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Colour drawing of Light Iris by Georgia O'Keeffe |
Own interpretation of Light Iris By Georgia O'Keeffe
Own interpretation from my observation of an Iris
After taking a keen interest in Georgia O'Keeffe and studying her work, I decided that I would interpret her work and produce my own giant sized flower. I took a picture of an Iris I had bought then drew the Iris on a block of wood in chalk.
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Bennison design |
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| Etching of Bennison Design |
I wanted to broaded my investigation of pattern and decoration to enable me to get a wider range of knowledge. I found that Bennison, a wallpaper company inspired by classic English floral and oriental birds, created rare designs that went to new extremes.
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Observation of Derbyshire landscape in watercolour |
In September 2010 I visited Derbyshire to look at natural forms. It was a very cloudy dull day, but it didnt stop me from sitting on a rock and getting out my sketchbook and watercolours. As I looked at the surrounding view, the sky dominated the landscape. The dark blue, grey and purples of the sky changed the scenery. Watercolour allowed me to exaggerate the darkness of the sky and let the colours fuse together.
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