Portfolio Lecture - Alex Russell

Helpful information about freelance work and design agencies, which I can see myself doing.

Rachel Howard

Sadly I couldn't get to this lecture as my stitching out took longer than planned. 

I had seen her Moving House Casket at Platt Hall (below), 

her images of everyday life remind me of Louise Gardiner's humorous drawings. 

Louise Gardiner Shop Till You Drop

Samples for Final Collection

 The circle samples have worked well, 

the flowers still need changes to the colour palette and thread combinations.

What's next?

Now I am reading my own work more easily and can identify myself as a fabric maker it's time to focus on what makes successful composition, pattern and colour palettes. I have found the multi head technically challenging but I want to continue experimenting 

with it so I'm applying to do the Textiles MA.

Global Threads

 Although Anne Wilson's piece is full of colour I thought the black lines between them interrupted the flow. I preferred the white on white tones and beautiful layering of the cotton wedding dress.

Portfolio Mounting Work - Nigel Hurlstone

Practical advice about weight and colour of paper mounts and image positioning.

London Fabrics and Karen Nichol Exhibition

I went to London to buy fabrics, I don't want to do any more dyeing 

as the outcomes are too unpredictable and I'd rather spend my time stitching. 

The added benefit of the trip was seeing Karen Nichol's work. I like the way she integrates 3D heads on some of her 2D animals as well as their beautifully drawn faces with the irish machine, on bodies collaged together from a wide range of found textiles. 

The rough finish to parts of the work also encourage me to be more experimental 

and to move away from stifling ideas of perfection.

Little Dear

Threadbare

Blossom

Christopher Kane

Portfolio Gallery/ Commission / Design - Fiona Curran

Useful advice about websites that promote contemporary artists 

but not so relevant for me as a fabric designer.

Portfolio Presentation & CVs - Laura McPherson

Laura suggested having a photographic portfolio as most work is seen first online, with textile samples to take to interview.

"What can you do with a bit of black flannel?"

I am very happy with this latest sample, it's the first one I've made that immediately says fashion rather than interiors! I love the jewel like quality of the revealed stitches, 

which also fits with my original desire to reveal something of the unseen realm.

What I'm about at last seems to be coming out into the open, I'm a fabric maker.

• Focus more on the ground colour, use neutrals and muddy colours to contrast with brights.

What is Cloth to Me? Lesley Millar

A successful curator who is still finding doors closed to contemporary textiles exhibitions in London. Her recent Lost in Lace explored notions of space between surfaces and the partially revealed intimate space between body and cloth that lace explores. For me this describes something of the intimate nature of relationship between man & God who is present but for the most part unseen.

Trimmings

I'm still struggling with my colour palette because I'm using the fabrics I dyed at first.

• Re-dye fabrics to knock back the colours for neutral tones. 

Portfolio Tutorial - Laura McPherson

• Visualisations of samples on garments.
• Inspiration / mood boards.
• Consider making commercial samples of the same designs using less thread.
• Include work to demonstrate other skills that can be used as required.

Trimmings from satin lines

twin needle line in between

This trim has some potential, though the colours and tassel effect 

give more of an interior than a fashion feel at this stage.

Edges, shadows and colour at Waterside Open

Shells of Distinction

Sarah Malone Butterflies

Both of these pieces have a lace like quality with broken edges and layers. The 3D effect and the way the colour mixes inside the shells with the white popping through the blues and the red butterfly amongst the chromatic tones has similarities to my work.  

Bright colours on neutral ground

The contrast between the anemones and the ground are more successful than the peony.

Studio Presentations with Mary Stark - Reading my work

I've been making edges in my work from the first black and white drawing, 

how did I miss it for so long?!! I'm finally getting what it means to read my work.

• Pin / photograph my samples on a manikin.
• Consider stitching onto a printed surface. 

Jenny Wilson has developed a clear idea about creating collections of samples and has sourced some beautiful fabrics from London. Although my dying has been successful I would like some pre-dyed fabrics to work on as
I find the dying process unpredictable and slow.

Fashion fabric samples by Jenny who takes her inspiration from natural forms

Tulips

I was hoping the frilliness of my tulip drawing would translate well into cut stitch especially as the petal stitches are horizontal like the original trim I made. It seems to have lost the fluidity of the drawing. 

I noticed that parrott tulips also feature in the trends for 12/13. 

• Try without gold thread on a coloured, neutral ground.

Using a bright colour palette

I like the effect of the alternate cut lines and the colours but they don't work as well as Tricia Guild or Mary Katrantzou's palettes which have more neutral contrasts.

• Use less metallics and contrast with neutral grounds.

Matthew Williamson in Conversation with Colin McDowell

Sadly no images of Williamson's work but an interesting insight into collaborative working with high street chains and the financial challenges of the fashion industry. 

Matthew Williamson A/W 2012

Breakthrough!

Satin lines on the bias, a joyful combination of blue, lime green and red, which I'm really pleased with!
I'm planning to try a rouleaux effect so that the backing fabric can't be seen.

The gold makes the red more vibrant, which works well.

Horrockses' dress 1953 V&A

• Focus on satin, obi and piping stitch working on a large scale initially, avoid flat fill stitch. 
• Develop designs for flowers using Horrockses dresses for reference.
• Use motifs at different scales and colour palettes to create new designs.
• Lines - rouleaux