Digital Repeat Designs for fabrics.

Colour Palette

Successful Designs Rejected because of colour palette.

Throughout this 'Making History contemporary' Project I have been unsure of the route I wanted to go down in terms of colour. I started out wanting to do a Black and White project because I feel that my work looks stronger when left simple, to allow my work to speak for itself. A simple Black and White colour palette would result in my collection being timeless. Although It was thought by some that I would be 'Pigeon-Holing' myself too early on in my textile career. Therefore I though I would add a dark red to my colour palette and use tonal shade of grey. I was pleased with this decision and so I took this colour palette into the development printing stages.

After a few prints I stood back and looked at my work and concluded that this colour palette was unsuited to my stance in this project of keeping it contemporary. I wanted my collection to be fresh. So I made the important decision to drop the dark red for shades of purple. Purple is often considered a colour for royalty and so would be well suited to a project inspired by the Tudor Period. This decision resulted in my ideas being relised.

I believe getting the colours right for your collection is the most important thing for a designer to do to make a successful collection. Many fail to do this and so their collections fail to be remembered for good.

Contemporary Interior Window.

Using Perspex I have laser cut my repeat window design to make the above contemporary textile piece of art. I think on a larger scale it could be a room divide. It'll be a interior window for the home to seperate rooms. Alternativly it can be a focal wall piece with a simple textile print place behind as shown in the above photo.

History through a window.

Window's Photoshop.

I have been looking at window designs from history and having taken imagery at the Tower of London of the various windows I have managed to create my own repeat designs for digital prints in Photoshop.

The reason why I am so interested in windows is because I want to have to feeling of looking in at history. So by having windows as an over print or laser cut on to perspex it will feel like we are peering in at the Tudor Period.

Making History Contemporary.

Inspiration Images from The Tower of London.

Yes, it is indeed that time of year when the fear kicks in and you realise how close you are to graduation, but there is one last hurdle in your way which is a final major project. For me it is important to evaluate my strengths before starting a new project and for me having finished a very successful Specialist Professional Practice project I have discovered my strengths in Print, Digital Design and Manipulation. So to combine my skills I think it is important to focus on a project that can excite and motivate me every time I look at it.

Therefore I will be looking at the Tudor period for my Extended Major Project and will be looking at ways to make it seem contemporary. I will be abstracting historical events from the Tudor period and making them visually interesting for an interior outcome. I will be bringing the Tudor period in to the 21st century by using various print methods such as devore, pigment printing and foiling. I will be producing designs on both fabric and paper for the contemporary high end market. I will bring an element of sophistication and professionalism to my designs through methods of pleating suiting the Elizabethan dress and digital printing. I will carefully source my materials and fabric to make my designs sustainable and this will be a great selling point for my final collection.

I wish to produce aestivetically pleasing work that at the same time will be attractive to the eye, whilst educating people. I will begin my research in London by visiting both museums and galleries for inspiration. Key places to visit for my fact findings will be The Tower of London, The British Museum and the V&A. Whilst visiting the Saatchi Gallery and exploring interior shops in Kings Road will provide me with vital inspiration from fellow artists and designers. Using Photoshop and drawing skills I intend to experiment with scale to create repeated designs for screen imagery. I will also be using these skills to create digital design to be professionally printed. I intend to keep the colour palette similar, to that of the Tudor period and so will be using dark rich colours. I hope to produce a final collection of 10-12 pieces for new designers with a selection of supportive work mounted professionally in my portfolio.

Wasteful Generation

As much as I try to justify my need for consumption. Deep down I know something is wrong. When you spend a whole day on Ebay trying to sell over 50 unwanted goods that still have labels on or have only been worn once it becomes clear that you are addicted to retail therapy and consumption.

For me this is a thing that has gone on for years. I buy things and never wear them. I'll take tags off to cover this fact up to make me feel less guilty. Why do I buy things that I don't ever wear? Probably because it feels good at the moment to know I can. It feels a gap in my world. Often I have been giving money by people to treat myself to some retail therapy, but what I now realise is this is their way of making themselves feel better by knowing they have done something for me, but this means nothing, it is empty!!!!! YOU CAN'T BUY LOVE!

This is a wasteful way of living and sums up the throw away fashion society that we live in. More than a million tonnes of textiles end up in landfill each year. This is a shocking fact and this is why I am trying to change my buying habits and recycle my unwanted goods to a new home where they will be loved and cherished.

Interior Realisations

Industrial Interior Predictions.