Level 5 new year new direction.

Ok chaps, it's a new year and I will be concentrating on life, as a productive possibly employed member of society.  Looking into my career options.  Basically all things my future is related to. 

It is going to be fun, I will have to produce an eye catching C.V..  It has to be tailored to my future prospective employment hopes and dreams.

where to start will be the first big obstacle.  when you consider once I finish this degree I will have 10 years left of productive employment life or may be I will be like  Louise Bourgeois and work right up till I leave this big blue planet.  

Oh and by the way , there is a fabulous exhibition of Louise Bourgeois work at MIMA.

 http://www.visitmima.com/whats-on/single/artist-rooms-louise-bourgeois/

This piece is called CELL XIV.  It is a fabric construction shown inside a cage of steel, glass , wood and metal.  

As one of my tasks is to make a self portrait.  in fabric, I found this particularly interesting.

The heads seem to be in agony , screaming.  On close inspection the stitching is left raised it could be mimicking scarification. The open mouth tells of the pain and red fabric could indicate the anger or rage of the person.

It is interesting to note that Tracey Emin has collaborated with  Bourgeois on a number of drawings.

ndation 2011 Photo: Christopher Burke, © The Easton Foundation/Licensed by DA

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/when-tracey-emin-met-louise-bourgeois-2214957.html

The Independent published some information about this collaboration.

Shortly before her death last year, Louise Bourgeois collaborated with Tracey Emin. The two artists shared a passion for works about sexuality and intimacy – and the results are certainly startling, says Arifa Akbar

Yael Krakowski Jeweller, textile designer and much more.

http://www.yaelkrakowski.com/

Something different.  Having just completed 2 fabulous  workshops with Jacky at CCAD.  I could not resist this work of Yael.  the intricacy of the bead work is masterful and all that I hope to emulate  in my own if my wobbly fingers will let me.

Yael trained as a silver smith but has diversified.  I seem to see a lot of artists who begin in one direction and then go on to work in a lot of other areas and mediums. This pattern is obviously rewarding and I must own up to the face that A stint in clay work making my own embellishments and in metal work would team up well with my future plans.

Powerful stuff

It is impossible to miss the message in this work by Jo Smith.  The work uses stitch and I hasten to add that paint would not be able to transmit the full inpact of the image.  

Stitch adds a 3D kind of feel.  The right side of the work where red stitching is representing blood has a swollen textured feel to it.  her facial expression is sad, a look of resignation but I am most impressed with her eyes, they speak volumes.  I wish i could see the whole piece.

Joe originally studied fashion design and has now turned to working in stitch she states:-

The endless possibilities and the total lack of boundaries, for me, make textile art so incredibly exciting. The tactile nature of materials and the ability within textiles to work almost seamlessly with so many differing media and disciplines never cease to be inspiring.

 More of her work can be seen at 

 http://www.textileartist.org/jo-smith-interview-kids-cats-and-mayhem/

Facts about who I am and what inspires me

This blog is the beginning of a number that will help me identify my personality and style , my likes and hopefully some aspirations for my future.

• I LOVE sculpture. It is an area that doesn't seem so well represented with textiles.  I have just spent a lovely half hour on   http://www.contemporist.com/category/art/page/4/ and some of the images really blew my mind.  The possibilities of using textiles in a more sculptured way is exciting to me.   I can feel my adrenalin starting to pump so this has to be a good thing right?
• Quirkiness is important to me, so is humor.  I don't need to reinvent the wheel I think it is enough to make people laugh and enjoy an object for what it is!
• It is OK to be odd, to be different.  I am coming to the conclusion that not everyone will like my work but that is OK.  I think its time to overcome the fear of not being a winner in this competitive field and go my way.  Yes inspiration comes from many areas and its important to know what other people are doing out there,  but fear is crippling my creativity and making it hard for me to explore and respond to my own ideas. 

I have just produced a piece of work I am not happy with and it is all my own fault.  Going for the "mark" is not good enough.  I have to be happy with what I do.

My Plan.

• continue to develop my skill set and engage in every different textile technique I can.
• focus on what works for me.
• stop worrying about my grade or the wonderfulness of my class mates.
• let my mind go and get out there on that edge and see what it is like.
• stop worrying about my personal image and just let it all come naturally.
• recognize I am in a different creative place to others and it is OK.

Head and neck piece. 3D printers impact on designer makers.

I was wondering what impact the 3D printer would have on Art.  It seems that everything can now be made by this form of printer. everything from human skull parts  to houses so imagine my surprise when I found this:-

Quixotic Divinity Headdress by Joshua Harker

Found at http://www.contemporist.com/category/art/

Artist Joshua Harker has used 3d printing technology to create the Quixotic Divinity Headdress. The piece has nearly 200 hours of design time and was built by EOS using their largest format SLS printer.

The headdress will be debuting in the United States at the 3D Printshow New York City at the Metropolitan Pavilion in February 2014.

There is also a video on youtube here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_e79tNCbCg

I have to wonder

1. If it can really be called ART? or is it just designed because the printer actually does the making.  Is the absence of brush strokes and little imperfections complementary or detrimental to the finished effect?
2. how long will it be before the 3D printer takes over clothing manufacture? 
3. What if the printers become intellectually brilliant it can act on its own accord?

There are so many questions surrounding 3D printers that I believe a conference should be held as to there impact on student training.  This technology is racing so fast we are in danger of being left behind in catch up mode.

Alice Kettle British Textile Artist.

http://www.alicekettle.com/

Just browsing the web (as you do) looking for interesting textile artists and I found this lady.

I am impressed by the scale of her work.  Alice has a permanent piece in WINCHESTER DISCOVERY CENTER.

16.3 METERS BY 3 METERS

Alice describes the work as

" a narrative work which shows the scattered imagery of a historical city and its attitude to the present and vision of the future."

This piece has an ethereal quality to it, the clarity of the face and closed eyes expression make the figure seem quiet, dreamy, evoking feelings of stillness.  The body twists, the figure has movement and detail on the body is added by the use of colored thread to depict hair under arm.

I like the fact that the figures in her work are always drawn with imperfection.  Great thought is given to how the body is represented.  Alice first trained as a painter and I feel this  shows in her work in stitch.

                                                                                         

blue nymph

pics of some of my work.

This is a copy of a place mat, I think my painting is improving even with my hand wobble.

This is my hand embroidered fish , my little Red Gurnard 

Branding.

I had no idea that sorting out my own brand would be so difficult!

A quick view at the British Design Council  really helped me  think about how I want to present myself and my product.

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/power-branding

The problem is I am having difficulty deciding just what my aesthetic will be.

The site suggests defining my brand will mean looking at:-

• The Big idea or what lies at the heart of my business?
• Values or what do I believe in?
• Vision or where I think I am going? 
• Personality  or how I want to be seen to come across to my customers.

This may not seem daunting to many people but honestly, these decisions are quite difficult to make.

Lets look at the first bullet point. This all depends on things like:-

• How I can make myself stand out from my competition.
• What makes me different from others.
• What my customers want or need.
• What is my personality
• looking for gaps in the current market.
• and that singular "thing" that only I can offer.

I would want my personal style to reflect my shop style, but I am still on the journey to find my personal style. words like sophisticated, luxurious, and aspirational do not seem to fit well with me.

What makes me different? well , I am starting this part of my career late in life, so I may be mature, but not like an old fine wine more like an aged bottle of Newcastle Brown. 

I  have not done market testing to see what customers want, but I think words like Value and  quality always seem to be in the list.

I asked my son what he thought customers want.  Harry said " different things are important to different people Function over form or form over function, who knows?" It is an individual thing.

What is my personality?      

• Hummm, I like to make people laugh
• I think I am caring
• I tend to be a bit harebrained.
• I will have a go at anything
• I admire quality and skill in others work.

How this information can be utilized in my brand, I am not sure. I do know that this has really got me thinking and I now know that my branding is not just printing off a business card and letter head from a template on my computer.

• 
  

Report Tips and Tricks

  Just had a quick session on report writing and  structure.  I am feeling more in control now.  Yay  for me!

Mad women curtsy of http://theworldthroughmyshoes.blogspot.co.uk/

Questionnaire

I handed out quite a few questionnaires to all my fellow classmates yesterday in support of my report.  I must say that once I started looking into this subject ,it is getting bigger and bigger.  I will have to find a way to condense it all.

This will be the first report I have written, I do have a tendency to over think things so I think I need to take a few breaths and think of a logical sequence for writing and sorting all my information.

I am a little disappointed about how my blog seems not to attract views.  This tells me that I need to rethink exactly how best to advertise and make the blog more appealing to readers.

More on Angora.

I just thought I would try and find a web site that shows the process of harvesting the hair of an angora rabbit.   This link will also give you some in depth insight into  breeding Angora rabbits.

http://www.angoras.co.uk/wp13/?page_id=165

Please if you watch and view this web page will you leave a comment on your thoughts on the whole process.

Just imagine wearing all that hair in the summer?

Hello people of the College.  I will be in and out of college for a bit don't forget me!

I am deep down into my ethics report , and let me tell you, the deeper you go on this subject area the  more complicated it gets.

I am going to have to sort out a better strategy and work out what I want to achieve.  the subject is just so very big.
 I am posting my info that I need you all to visit and I will be around as many class mates as possible with a small survey soon.

Even though this is a tough subject I want as many people as possible to be part of my results.

There must be a way to produce this lovely fibre without all the cruelty associated with it!

For those of you who do not know what Angora Hair is and the controversy I am including a link to a site that will give you more information.  

A WARNING , THIS LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC PICTURES AND OR VIDEO OF THE PAIN AND SUFFERING INFLICTED ON THESE  ANIMALS.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510641/Cruel-truths-angora-fur-trade-revealed-shocking-video.html

and again I have a pic of an adorable Angora Bunny with  FULL COAT  for you all to coo over.

This image is taken of an angora bunny from this web site:-

http://io9.com/precise-measurements-reveal-that-this-is-the-worlds-fl-1447238570

I include this picture purely for information .  This is an Angora Rabbit.

I also have the artical printed out if anyone wants a copy.

a Late Night leads to an interesting find

I just have to share this with you all.  flicking through the channels like you do when your to tired to sleep! I found an interesting program on Japanese designers.  One in particular was designing a pair of shorts made out of Denim, nothing new in that I here you say.  In his design he actually specified what type of distressing and the position of the distressing he wanted on his jeans.  His chosen manufacturer had to incorporate 3   different ageing effects..

You see the manufacturers using grinders and sanders on fabric.

 This program will next be shown on;

Next

Feb. 24, Mon

This is a pic of the designer Naoki Mikame and a pic of his finished design.

Here is a copy of the web site if your interested. There are other programs you can watch which relate to the fashion industry.