Catching up

Sorry, I have not posted anything for a while, but I have been working ... see the results

Picking up from the Flora & Fauna motif.

Simplifying the motif  ...

Forming an interesting repeat ....

Applied ...

Making a hand made repeat pattern ...

Using the newly learnt skills in Photoshop software ...

Applied ...







Some more examples of Photoshop's scope

Falling butterflies

Dog foul

Now that I am a bit more familiar with the software, I’d better pick up the thread from my Fauna & Flora motif, and develop it further.

Photoshop: Getting there

The Dying Moth pattern has also been inspired by research into Jake & Dinos Chapman's work (http://www.jakeanddinoschapman.com/)

A more traditional approach, Winter Gold, inspired byChristopher Dresser's Studies in Design (1874, reprint 2002).



Some illustrations to highlight the point

Machine printing

http://www.yarn2textile.com/

Hand-block printing

www.fotolibra.com/gallery/730874/hand-block-printing

Technical advances in Textile Printing

In the 21^st century, technology has significantly taken over. Since the development of computers in the 20^th century, the term ‘digital’ has been applied to everyday life from mobile phones to broadband.

The production industries have been greatly revolutionised since the 1980s, when Computer-aided design (CAD) was first introduced. Firstly, it was mainly used for engineering, but it has now taken over other areas, becoming a must-have for designers and architects.

Craft practitioners have also become CAD users; endless opportunities can be input into Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software which then becomes automatized. CAD/CAM is the heart of the digital production process.

This can be subtractive or additive manufacturing:

·         Subtractive such as laser-cutting, water-jet cutting or CNC routing.

·         Additive where materials are deposited to gradually build up and object

For some the words digital and craft do not gel together. Computerised processes are thought to be too lineal, mathematical, … too perfect. While craft is associated with hand skill, chance, charm and value.

Photoshop half-drop wallpaper

This is my Photoshop half-drop wallpaper based on the collage inspired by Jake & Dinos Chapman.

I have done some more work for backgrounds and ideas for Photoshop wallpapers, but I have been unable to get a machine. Today I tried the Library, the Flexi-centre and even I asked a lecturer if I could use one of the commuters in his class but he said NO….

Hopefully I can work on those tomorrow ….





Observational Drawing

Since Thursday, I have been working on Observational Drawing. Firstly, from primary sources …

Watercolour pencils

Looking at negative spaces with acrylics



And secondly, from own photographs using the media ink & bleach …

Also, I have been working on a collage and sketches inspired by research into Jake & Dinos Chapman’s work.

Photoshop II

I thought I had grasped the layering issue, but I am still very green, and practising is a MUST. Bear with me, I will get there …

Today we made our own brushes – a promising concept.



The compositions can be saved as ‘patterns’ within the system, which is very useful to fill in areas later on. These are a couple of silly examples, but they show the principle.

Photoshop

Today, I have been working with Photoshop. Although I believe it is an amazing tool, I am still getting my head round it. Particularly with the layering … the tutor compared it to screen printing and somehow it makes more sense now.

We started with a 4x3 grid to practise brush choices. It was far too tempting to go all over the page …

 

Then, we repeated the process in colour

 And finally, we built up some layers:

1 Import an image

2 Create a new layer: Outline (and using the brush draw the outline of your image).

3 Create another layer: Fill (choose a colour and select the bucket tool).

4 Drag the Outline layer on top of the Fill.

5 Create a new layer: Colour (to add colour using the brush tool)

6 Once complete, flatten the layers (Layers - Flatten image).

          7 Save it as a JPEG

  

 

 

      

  Using a Filter (Filter – Filter Gallery)

Working on Irregular Repeats

During our last session, I tried to reproduce a Quarter drop repeat with mirror and reversed drop pattern with a potato stencil and acrylic paint.

Although, I did understand the pattern, the potato stencil did not provide the sharpness to show such a complicated pattern, and also it was very hard to asses by eye the exact distance between the shapes. This is what it came out.

Being as stubborn as I am, I was determined to get it right. Working with lino enabled me to get sharp edges and a pre-set grid aidded the alignment …. Success !!! see what you think...

Repeat Patterns: Four Basic Units

I have found an extremely useful website which clearly explains Repeat Pattern. The main points are…

• A pattern relies upon three characteristics: a single motif, repetition of the motif, a system of organisation.
• There are four basic ways to repeat a motif so it becomes a pattern: rigid repeat, half drop repeat, reflection and rotation.
• The page continues with clear visual representations …. But I let you find out for yourself !!!

http://www.teachnet-uk.org.uk/2005%20projects/art-repeatpattern/repeating%20patterns/pages/WhatIsPattern.htm

Also, this glossary of pattern design terms might be useful. Not only they are defined, but also they provide a cute little illustration. Hope it helps … Some examples are:

http://www.artlandia.com/wonderland/glossary/

Now that I know it is working, I might be able to post something decent !!!

First day