Evaluating my practice

Developing my project through samples was fairly simple, my ideas were constantly there to produce but whether the techniques and materials I chose were the right choice, I'm not convinced. Connections were made in my samples with the materials and the techniques, I tired out a variety of combinations looking for the right one and there never was, there was always room for improvement. My research in this half of the project didn't develop at all, I didn't remember or think of anything else that could inspire the theme of architecture. My chosen words of; Singular and Repetition was developed in my research through my primary photos as there was always elements of them words evident.
             Selecting the idea of working with and over dyed fabrics was really a way of connecting my workshops together and making them work for me. Some of the dyeing samples with print techniques worked over them really worked, some however, didn't, I found this out just be experimenting and exploring with everything I've learn't.
             I found this project of Sampling a great oppurtunity to explore and just go where the materials and techniques take me. My aim of this project was literally just to keep producing ideas and concepts into samples whether they would work or not. Looking at some of my samples they didn't work but they helped further my ideas.
             During this project I realised the importance of Sampling and producing ideas without even thinking of the outcome sometimes. Sometimes the best results came from limited thinking about materials and techniques, it was about analysing the results afterwards and picking out what worked and exploring this.
             I found working in the dye and print workshops very time consuming but worth it. I spent a lot of time producing samples which I think made my sketchbook lack on quality. My sketchbook could of definately done with more time in developing ideas through drawing and annotation.
   

More Suffolk Puff prints in strips

Printing on Suffolk Puffs

 Printing on Suffolk Puffs was an idea that I got when looking back through my dye workshp samples, I decided to develop on this because I have never seen a printed suffolk puff before. I tried printing on the front of the suffolk puff and the back to see which produced the better result. Even though the back printed very well, I like the front printed sample as the suffolk puff design really shown through giving the design extra detail. I printed on this using Flock.

 These printed suffolk puffs are from the front and back and they was done using puff with a slight blue colour added to it. This technique was used below aswell just on raised natural cotton.

Dyed samples

For the sample above I really like the colour scheme I think it works really well, however the different shades of blue don't really fit in with my theme of architecture.

The background was created by dyeing it with elastic bands attached on areas, printing on the top of it with flock paper was successful but the background was too distracting.

Samples

 Flock printing on the top of thick white cotton that has been previously resist dyed.

 Flock printing over the top of a patterned piece of dyed fabric.

Puff printing on the top of previously resist dyed fabric.

Stencil printing

 This is the easiest form of printing for me and the result shows it. I don't like the end results at all, they hold lines and structure but there's no definition or story that comes with this type of printing like manutex monoprinting. The prints are too clean cut even though thats what I orignally wanted, theres no shading or highlights in this way of printing. Stencil printing isn't for me with this project.

 Both of these samples were made using pigment dyes; one in black and one in orange, even though the colour I originally wanted was alot lighter. Both of these prints were printed on top of a fabric called Cotton Linen Slub which has already got a lined pattern visable so I thought this material would be good to use.

The drawing exercise!

 This drawing exercise was about creating unmade and unusual tools using found and bought objects and using wet and dry media to create relevant drawings using the tools we made.

 I found this exercise as a sigh of relief, the drawings held no pressure which gave me the oppurtunity to play and experiment with marks.

My new design using Puff.

 This design work really well with the puff especially with the fabrics I used (all labelled in sketchbook).

Foil printing with my new design.

 This new design which I got exposed onto a new screen was all found through my primary photos of architecture. The detail is what always catches my eye, the detail which is small but repeated to make it larger in scale,

Printing on top of dyed pieces of fabric.

 This piece of dyed material above was printed on top of using making tape ripped and set in the position of a building. I used the reactive dyes that are more see through than pigment dyes. The colour I chose to use fitted in with the previous colour scheme of the dyed fabric, the outcome wasn't what I had expected. I expected the colour to be a bit darker but overall printing over the top of dyed fabrics that have be created through resist techniques, add detail to architecture.

 A dyed piece of calico created using paper clips with flock printed on top.

A dyed piece of white cotton with cable tie resist with foil printing.

Creating backgrounds to print on!

 After looking through my samples it was evident that there all plain and very neutral looking and to me something was missing so after talking to my tutor Rachel she thought it was a good idea to created blocked coloured backgrounds that I could then print over to give my samples life. At the time I didn't agree and understand why but I tried it out anyway, I created the lines and blocks of colour using masking tape. Drawing like this created blocks of shapes that look like abstract buildings. I like how printing over the top of these would create an automatic background, colour and detail but I think this amount of colour would be too much, so I tried thinking about new ways of adding colour without distracting from my actual prints.

New technique

 This technique is called Puff. It's also created the same way as foil and flock through the screen, but this time its not glue it's a paste called Aquaspand. Once applied to the fabric I leave to dry for abit n them put it under the heat press x2 for 35 seconds and these are the end results.

 I was surprsingly shocked by the result as I think it worked really well on most materials, especially the natural raised cotton because it sits on top of it. I even tried adding pigment dyes into the aquaspand mix, this technique still works but with some colour some of the puff gets taken away and the texture becomes more flat and smooth rather than textured and raised.

New techniques- Flock

 This technique is created the same way as the foil except the glue thats used for flock is called texiflock. It's applied the same way but gives of a fur texture that reminds me patterned cushions. I like this technique more than the foil as this doesn't smudge aswell, it also creates structured lines that work well with what I want to be created.

 I tried the flock technique on a textured surface paper to see how the flock would fit, even though the pattern is evident because of the texture on the paper the flock isn't fitted bold enough for what I want. Bold, linear lines are important for my samples as this is what attracted me when looking at buildings, this is what I want to develop further.

New techniques

 This technique is called Foiling. This technique is done by using my exposed screen and printing on top of my fabric using texifoil glue, once that's applied I had to quickly take my glued fabric over to the heat press and apply the foil facing upwards. Once the foils on top I then had to put it under the heat press for 35 seconds but jus to make sure it was securely attached I put it back under for another 35 seconds. I let it cool down before removing the foil and these are my results. I like how the lines stand out because the foil doesn't smudge but the actual foil and how it glistens and the colour doesn't really work with my theme of architecture and my chosen words.

 This monoprint was done using colour dyes aswell. I only added a touch of colour just as a tester and I think it payed off, the colour wasn't overwhelming and the structure of the building is still clearly visable. The monoprint above was done on medium weight calico and it was the first print, it didn't come out as clear as i'd hope but the ghostly affect because of the material gives the print a story.

 After being told that I need to expose I screen I quickly chose some images from my primary photos that I could experiment with. These detailed patterns are good for being used on their own or being repeated as a pattern which fits in with my chosen words of; Singular and Repetition.

 After exposing my screen and being shown how to mix pigment dyes, I chose to use the colour of a light brown as a strating point and printed on to a variety of different fabrics to test how the pigment dyes would react with certain fabrics. The pigment dyes for me worked best when used on top of white cotton.

 After trying the pigment dyes out on fabric, I wanted to try them out on different papers which I had bought from Fred Aldous. Even though the papers I used weren't too bold or distracting, they took away the boldness and linear effects of the print. I don't think using papers could become anymore than what I have achieved already- which is a basic print on a colourful unique background.

Even though I have done printing before, I had never done monoprinting this way. It was good to try out a new technique that was quick and simple to do. I first started off by doing simple mark making shapes that I had found in some of my primary photos of detail in architecture.

This was a monoprint of a grid like shaped detail that was found on a side buildng near the university. I found the detail intriguing as it was part of the building but looked modern and therefore stood out. This detail holds shape, structure and curves which I don't normally look at.

Even though we was asked by the tutor for in the first lesson to just do monoprinting mark makings to get used to using the manutex and ink, I decided I wanted at least one decent drawn't monoprint that had specific relevance to a building in my primary photos. After printing what I had drawn't I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I really like the boldness of the lines and because of how the manutex printed it created elements of light in areas, making this piece beautifully constructed. 

My Personal Brief

Hayley Bartram- Personal Brief

My Visual Research will look at architecture and the individual detail in buildings that I find intriguing. This will be recorded through photography and drawing. Architecture will be the bases theme but the idea/concept may change as my project develops. My aim is to use a subtle colour palette and techniques that will range and vary from my previous workshops, whilst exploring new techniques that seem relevant. I may also decide to work towards creating garment pieces, as this would explore new possibilities. My intended project will still carry the same opposite words of Singular/Repetition.