Drawing Elective Further Experiments

Following on from the drawing elective, I decided to do my own experiments in my own time out of the session. I took two objects which were a banana and a teapot. Using the methods of line, tone and shade, and no outline, I tried to stick to this idea for these two drawings.

 

 

 

 

 

I think I did these two drawings well in my opinion. I wanted to use the skills I learnt during the workshop to practice at home.  

 

 

 

Alongside my practice drawings, I did a bit of background research into fashion designers own sketches. We briefly looked at Alexander McQueen in the session so at home, I looked at his work a bit closer and gathered together some of his original drawings.

Drawing Elective

For the new visual communication sessions, my second choice was drawing! In this session, we discussed what we would be looking at in this elective and what we would learn.

improvement of technical skill
experimentation
building confidence
support your skils in your area of specialism
promote critical awareness through reflection
understanding the core values of each disipline

our learning outcomes are
the ability to use a range of media
articulate and communicate ideas (visual)
to inform and support your practice
develop your own visual language
reflective thinking and writing

a lot to take in for just the first session!

Concentrating on what drawing is all about, we looked at visual concepts we would explore throughout the drawing workshop. Line, tone and space. Using this as a starting point, we did a series of tonal drawings using a range of pencils. Our chosen object to draw was a very boring apple, however useful as a starting point as I hate being thrown in at the deep end!

My first attempt during the work shop were these two apples.My photograph taken on my phone is a little faded but the one on the left we had 2 minutes to draw in pencil and the one on the right, we had 5 minutes to draw.

Our next task during the workshop, still sticking with the apple, we had a longer period of time to draw it in. We had 40 minutes to draw the apple, looking and the line, shade and tone of it. At first I thought this is going to drag on! But actually when you got into the task, it didnt seem so long. The trick with this task is that you weren't allowed to start off with an outline of the apple, we just had to use shading to create the outline of the object.

This was my finished 40 minute apple! I was very pleased with the outcome of this.

Another task during the workshop was to draw the person opposite us without looking down at your page! This was quite awkward just starring at the other person! So my drawing turned out like this.

I think it reminds me a little bit of a Picasso piece, the way its completely abstract and random! but I do think I captured the main features of the face and of the clothing the guy was wearing.

Another task during the session was to draw a piece of tin foil! I never thought i'd draw a piece of foil, its such a random thing and also because of how difficult it would be to portray the intricate detail! Anyway, so without using an outline we were only allowed to use dots and dashes to create to drawing.

This was my drawing. I am pleased with how it came out. I thought that it would be very boring drawing a piece of foil, especially only being able to draw using dots and dashes.


So to conclude on this first session of the drawing workshop, I found it very fun and interesting. I chose to do the workshop simply because I wanted to improve on my drawing skills on a whole. In fashion, having the ability to draw is quite essential and I want to build my confidence in the subject. Having done all of these mini tasks in just the 3 hour session was quite tough, however I feel I've achieved a lot within that time already.

With the apple drawing task, I feel it was good to go right back to basics with line, tone and shape just to refresh my memory as I have done still life drawing like this before. I feel this will help me get better at drawing with some practice. I know that my 40 minute apple drawing isnt the next big thing! but I think I surprised myself with it, and I'm pleased with what I achieved.

Doing the task of drawing the person opposite, I found it very awkward and uncomfortable! However, I think this was useful and I would be doing this exact same thing when perhaps drawing a dress or a particular part of a fabric like an observational drawing, perhaps not starring at the dress or whatever it is but not looking at my page very often.

Finally, the tin foil task wasn't really my thing, maybe after a bit of practice then yes but initially, I didn't really enjoy it that much. I'm not really a lover of drawing fine, intricate detail too much. Maybe it would be something that would grow on me over time if I practised the technique and might be useful when drawing fabrics! So this would help me further on during the degree!

Jersey Construction Update

After playing around on the stand with the jersey and finally coming up with my design, I began to create a pattern for my top. 

 

(my own photo)

 

With my pattern ready to be made up, I cut it out of my jersey fabric and began pinning the darts together and sewed them for the top part of my top. Then I pinned in place the pleats on the bottom half of my top. The pleats are the main detail on my top so I took my time in pinning everything neatly.

 

 

(my own photographs)

 

Next, I sewed the pleats into place, then attached the top and bottom half of the top together. This is where I had great difficulty. The reason for this is, when I was toiling this top and getting the right shape on the stand I used a thinner jersey in a cream colour ( as seen in my other post on jerseywear). I didn't realise that I would toile from that fabric and make it out of another lot of fabric. I thought I would make it out of the exact same one. As I didn't buy enough of my original fabric in the first place, when I went back to buy more, the shop didn't have any. So my only choice was to buy a different jersey (the one seen in my photographs now). As this jersey was slightly thicker than the original one I had, it changed the whole thing completely. I will explain more as I show the processes of making.

 

 (finished top front)                  (finished top back)

           

 

(side pleating detail)

 

Here are some images of my finished jersey top which I was very pleased with the final outcome, better than I had expected. As I was saying about the two different jerseys situation; the jersey that I did use was slighty thicker than the original one and it completely changed the whole image of my finished garment which was a shame. As it was thicker, I couldnt stretch the jersey round the mannequin enough so the top is actually more like a size 10 than a size 12. I couldnt believe how one mistake of using a different fabric could change the whole look entirely. However, even though I did make a mistake with this top, I feel it has been to my advantage. Without doing this, I wouldn't have known the effect of changing the fabric would be. I know now for future projects not to make this same mistake and buy enough of the fabric you want to use when you are there incase the shop doesnt have anymore when you go back! Don't get me wrong, I have really enjoyed this experience of using jersey! This project has been really good for me to be out of my comfort zone and use a different fabric which im not used to. Its going to help me loads in my next project which is the designer one, as my designer uses a lot of jersey in her collections. I feel that  I will have an advantage of knowing how the fabric sews, how it drapes and many other of its characteristics. I look foward to using this fabric again!

 

Jerseywear

In pattern cutting and garment manufacture, we moved on to a jersey wear project. Jersey was a fabric I wasn't too familiar with but was looking forward to working with something new. To get inspiration for a design, I bought some jersey to play around with on the dress stand, to see what shapes I could make from the jersey, how it drapes, what would happen if I stretched it over the mannequin etc.

(my own images of my development work on the stand)

after playing around with the jersey on the stand, I constructed my final pattern for my top. 

(own images)

final jersey top construction will follow!!

3D Form Elective

During the 3D Form elective, we covered several different topics. My particular favourite was Laser Cutting Relief. I was excited by some of the samples people had made that I was shown by my tutor and I knew it would be something I would enjoy.  So my first stage was to research into artists that use laser cutting in their work. My main inspiration for this was from a lady called Molly McGrath who is a jewellery designer, who makes her pieces out of birch wood which have a certain design laser cut or engraved into the wood. Looking through all of her collections, I thought her work was stunning. The colours she uses in her jewellery complement each other and it suits the technique she uses. I was fond of the detail that the laser cutter produces which makes her jewellery quite unique. She approaches designs as she would an architectural model; experimenting with concept, materials and composition. Her work is inspired by geometric forms, perspective and optical illusion. So for my own laser cutter design, I was inspired by her bird earrings and necklace set from her Lines and Circles collection. I do have a real love for little birds, anything from a small ornament, a print on a scarf to even a piece of jewellery. I have therefore come up with my own designs and narrowed it down to these two.

             
                       (Molly M jewellery designs) 

                  (my bird designs for the laser cutter)

Using the same medium as Molly McGrath, I used wood to experiment on with my bird designs on the laser cutter. I followed the process of scanning my drawings onto Adobe Illustrator and then programmed the laser cutter to engrave the design. I was so impressed with how my designs turned out. I was pleased that there weren’t any burn marks on the wood around the edges of my work as this is something I don’t think would have worked with my design. The birds are quite small and there is a lot of detail and maybe because the wood I used was too thick. 

                (my laser cutter finished piece) 

In the last part of the 3D elective, I looked into how I can relate the laser cutting technique to my creative area. I did some research into how fashion designers might use laser cutting techniques on fabrics in their collections. The first designer I looked at was Louis Vuitton. In his Spring/Summer 2013 collection, there is this gorgeous white dress. It looks like the dress is made out of a thin, floaty fabric like chiffon and then the front panel which is the main focus of the dress, is cut out with what appears to look like a laser cutter. The pieces that are cut out are so sharp and detailed, but I feel this gives the dress a lovely, feminine quality to it. I think it looks classy with style.

( louis vuitton Spring/Summer collection 2013)

Another designer I looked at was Roberto Cavalli. I found this image again from his Spring/Summer 2013 collection. I love the detail on the trousers and around the collar on the shirt. Both the Louis Vuitton dress and these shirt and trousers are both made from white fabric. The Roberto Cavalli shirt appears to be made from floaty chiffon or something too. This was a trend that I did pick up when researching. I think the white brings a sense of innocence to each of these looks, almost like the effect of a white wedding dress. Another pattern I picked up was that laser cutting is being used more than I had thought by designers from across the board and could become maybe a classic Spring/Summer look year after year. 

I definately enjoyed the whole 3D form elective experience. I have found a new technique that I can do now that I have never done before. As I have written about above, I can apply this technique to fashion very easily. I think that after practice with laser cutting, it would definitely be something I could introduce to my own final third year collection. I enjoy doing new things and exploring other areas of art and design, something which is out of my comfort zone of just using fabric in fashion. 

Seminar On Deconstruction

Following the lectures looking at rationalism and empiricism, we had a lecture that focused on the deconstructive fashion. Deconstruction became about anti fashion (the trickle up effect), exploring the relationship between body and garment and became a process of analytical creation. 

So who were the designers?

Issey Miyake

                        (images from google)


Yohji Yamamoto

                                                       (images from google)



Rei Kawakubo 

                          (images from google)

OUR TASK.

Rationalists argue that we can know something instinctively or through application of logic, independently of experience. 

As a group of four, you are to design and toile a garment that adheres to the rationalist theory and consider the connection with deconstruction.

As a response to this task, we brainstormed ideas and created a design. Our idea; whats to say if we designed a shirt combined with a pair of shorts? How do you know its a pair of shorts instead of a jacket? Who determines what garment is called what? Our design looks like a jacket but then is it a jacket? Its a play on the idea of rationalism, typically knowing something 'instinctively or through application of logic'.

                       (our design)

So following the instructions, we then developed this design and made it into a toile. 

                      (all own photographs of work)

Taking a trouser block, we made a pattern and cut out in fabric the shorts, added a patch pocket. Also, we produced a pattern for the collar to add to the shorts. 

(all own photographs of work) 

We then constructed the shorts, adding in the sleeves to the side seams to create the illusion of arms. Also, a small lapelle collar and turn ups on the legs to look like shorts. A button in the middle completes the toile. 

                   (photographs taken of own work) 

I am very pleased with the overall toile. I feel that the task during this seminar was very helpful for me to understand more about rationalism and empiricism. the lectures we had were quite confusing so I didn't really grasp the initial meaning and examples of this. This seminar has acted like a refresher for my memory into these keywords and meanings. I need to get all the notes down and understanding of it as I can as this relates closely to the 3000 word essay we shall have to write at a later stage during the year. Overall, a helpful task in gaining an understanding for the essay.

Critical Path

A critical path is something I'd never done before either. My understanding of it is that it's basically a timetable to help schedule work plans. On the critical path, you list 8 projects or
8 tasks to do within a project. There is a grid that is spread over an 11 week schedule. I marked on the dates of when we started the project and then the date of the christmas break so I can plan what I have to do over that time. I didn't complete this critical path up until after christmas, so this hasn't been too successful for me. I'm not sure I like working within this method but I do need to learn and get a method going so I feel I could develop this critical path and maybe use in my own way to suit me better and suit my way of working. Much like the skills audit, I will probably use this method in future projects to help me with my time management and to get organised.

 

critical path sheet

 

Skills Audit

A skills audit is something I had'nt done before and I wasn't sure how helpful this would be in the beginning. Using the table on the sheet, I rated out of 5 my current skills within my creative area; Fashion. 1 being excellent and 5 being poor. I was honest about marking this criteria and discovered that I'm not that confident with many areas of study. With my 5 lowest scores, I had to make a list of 3 opportunities I can take to improve that score. The areas of study that had the lowest scores were time management, reflective writing, using Adobe Photoshop, using Adobe Illustrator and knowledge of dyeing processes. 

Time Management

• Make a plan to equally divide up the time I have on a project
• Don't waste time! try not to avoid doing pieces of work and feel confident in approaching the work
• Become more motivated about the work and don't leave stuff until the last minute

Reflective Writing

• Practice writing in a reflective style
• Look on the internet and research styles of reflective writing. Put these into practice and write about current projects

Using Adobe Photoshop

• Use the internet to research more into the use of Photoshop
• Maybe work with someone with a bit more knowledge on the subject to help me gain a better understanding
• See if there are extra sessions I could attend on learning photoshop to help build my knowledge.

Using Adobe Illustrator

• Using illustrator is the same as photoshop in that I could research more into how to use illustrator
• Again, I could work with someone with a better knowledge of the subject
• Attend extra sessions on learning how to use illustrator

Knowledge of dyeing processes

• Research this area independently to develop a knowledge of this process. Use the internet or books to source this information

I did find completing the skills audit very useful in the end. It helped me see what areas need attention when it comes to skill level and which areas I need to take extra sessions in. Seeing everything down on paper was a lot easier than thinking about it in my head which at that point, it gets too much to think about. Not only has this helped me understand my strong and weak areas in fashion, I have learnt that I could use this technqiue for individual projects which I think would definately help.

 

 

(My skills audit marking sheet)

Working Drawings

During a tutorial, as a group we were discussing working drawings. The following images are sheets given by my tutor to help us learn in a bit more detail.

 

 

On these sheets, it explains what information to include on a working drawing diagram to detail that I've not looked at before. All we looked at before were basic working drawings that included seam lines, stitching detail etc. Also, we discussed which thinkness of fineline to use for the outline, seam line, stitching lines etc. I think these work sheets have helped me a lot in producing my own working drawing for my trousers. I feel that just a little reminder or refresher has just given me that extra boost. I did find this helpful and will keep these worksheets for future reference or projects.

 

Practice working drawings.

 

 

(my own hand drawings)