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)
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.
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