Progression of Ideas

This week I have taken my attention away from one of my initial ideas of folding and material manipulation, and have begun to focus more closely on the couple of images I liked most from my 'Earth from the air' book. I have looked into ways of reinterpreting these into samples.

After selecting the photographs I liked the most, I printed them out onto cartridge paper so that I could look at them side by side. In the last unit my colour palette resulted from low ink in my printer; the same has happened this unit where the low ink levels have resulted in the images taking a new appearance. I quite like the way these have worked out and am considering the possibility of using these in the same way as I did in my previous unit, for my colour palette. One of my ideas in a previous post, about how I am interested in irregular pattern links well to this idea of irregular/unusual colour; which is something I'd be quite interested in exploring. However, I am still experimenting with my ideas at this stage and feel it isn't the right time to be introducing colour to my sampling. Below are a selection of these images.

       
             The Hodna Mountains under snow, Algeria      Lumber Yard in Port-Gentil, Gabon

                                             Dyers' Workshops and Vats in Fez, Morocco


I decided the way I was going to start working this week was by selecting one of the images above and use it to produce some more drawings; in the same style as before. As well as to begin sampling again.

Using the image of the lumber yard in Gabon I produced a large sample. I liked the idea of looking for the threadlike qualities in the image; which is what inspired me to make this sample. As had been suggested to me before, I processed the material (hessian) before using it. I painted it all over with white matt emulsion paint and let it dry before cutting it up. I really enjoy reprocessing bought materials and being able to bring out different qualities that you can get from them. I produced long ribbons that consisted of varying lengths of rolled hessian stitched down the centre (photographed below).

I really like the monotonous colour in this sample. I feel that it links well with the drawings I have done previously. I also like that in some parts, the emulsion paint is more intense which I can also see in my drawings.

Although I have now begun sampling, I am still with the mindset of producing drawings that have qualities I can incorporate into my samples. After my tutorial on Monday, I have started experimenting with shape. Looking at the photographs I took in my visual research stage of the unit, I selected ideas from these to inspire me further. Rather than looking at large areas of shape i.e. skylines and buildings; I've decided to focus on surface pattern, looking at pavements and roads and the irregular shapes and patterns in these, still working in the same way with ink and water. Photographed below are a selection of these.

Initial Sampling

Following my tutorial at the beginning of the week I found that my drawing using ink and water was one of the more successful ones, and that I should use this as one of my main processes in producing more drawings. Taking this advice on board I began my week by producing more of these but on a much larger scale. I also used different tools. Below are a couple of photographs of drawings done in this way.

I found the bigger scale to be a more successful way of working for me; especially with ink and water, where different parts of the drawing can be affected differently.

It was also discussed that as it was now the 5th week of this unit, I should start looking into which fabrics have the qualities I need to begin sampling with. As I have been looking at folding and relief, I began researching thick materials that were capable of holding a fold such as stiff cottons and plastics. I have worked with plastic in previous units so was keen to work with it again. I've used a material that has been pre-processed giving it a 'plasticy' feel, as well as making my own, using bin bags and an iron to produce large sheets of it.

Having looked at folding in previous weeks and producing some 3D pieces using paper, I wanted to replicate these ideas as well as incorporate my drawings into some large scale sampling, with the plastic I had bought and processed myself. the photos below show two samples where I have done this.

Although I am happy with how these both turned out, I am aware that the stiffness in colour does not link well with my drawings. This is something that I want to work on over the next couple of weeks.

Visual Research and Initial Drawings

I began my drawings over the Christmas holidays by researching shape and pattern. I liked the idea of folding and fabric manipulation, so looked into using these ideas and reinterpreting them as 2D drawings. The photograph below shows one of my initial drawings where I have tried to show the 'folds' on a piece of paper in drawn form. I've used black ink and water as my media. In my last unit I did some work with ink and water but didn't use it further, so am keen to look into using this technique more this unit.

Other drawings I produced concentrated on line quality and the patterns that can be made from them.

 I began to collect visual research to aid my next drawings and progression of ideas. I took a variety of photos around the center of Manchester concentrating on shape and pattern. I looked first at the shapes the skylines made with the groups of buildings with different heights and widths.

I then looked at surface pattern; on buildings and roads.

Following my tutorial before the Christmas holidays, it was suggested that I look at a book called 'Earth from the Air' by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It solely contains images taken from an aerial viewpoint in great detail, of various different landscapes around the world. I was fascinated by this. I particularly liked the images where patterns had been created by the landscape. The idea of an irregular pattern is what interests my about this book and is something I want to explore further. Below are a couple of images that caught my eye.

Lumber Yard in Port-Gentil, Gabon

                                              Dyers' Workshops and Vats in Fez, Morocco


Shape and pattern is what I am predominantly looking for in my research, though it is also colour that catches my eye in some of these photos. Though at this point, I have decided to take my attention away from colour and use a monochrome colour palette when I am drawing, to help me refine my ideas more easily.