ATV assignment 5 – Tutor feedback

 

Formative feedback

 

Student name Linda Baker Student number 513322
Course/Unit Textiles 1: A Textiles Vocabulary Assignment number Five
Type of tutorial Video/audio  

 

Key points

This assignment has been a thorough investigation and summing up of the course.  There is evidence you have used the creative process to develop an idea and come to some concluding work.  During our conversation I highlighted your stronger and weaker work that you were in agreement with.  The stronger work uses considered placement of elements with robust colour palettes and exciting use of materials. I suggest at assessment you ensure the assessors will see your strongest work first and you discuss what you have learnt making the weaker pieces in your learning log.  To organise your work for assessment get all the work out and think carefully about the best way to present it.

This was very positive. I’m really struggling with a hand injury. So was really worried about the completeness of some pieces.

The pieces that we agreed were strongest were my cyanotype nettle stitched onto its background using its own warp and weft threads. img_6581.jpg

Also the nettle stem and flowers incorporating nettle fibre, hand spun yarn and home made nettle cordage. I was really pleased with this process of gathering the materials from the field and processing it myself, and also the visual appearance of the completed work. I had wondered if I was a little biased by the enjoyment of the process, so it was reassuring to get positive feedback for this.

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I had researched Cas Holmes as I am really interested in the story telling process, and find her work quite interesting. The piece I made influenced by Cas’s techniques is awful! And Rebecca saw right through it!! In fairness I was completely unable to do anything with my right hand so purchased some left handed scissors for cutting . A machine stitched work seemed like a good idea to meet my very final deadline, but it is very clunky and why I decided to try and work on a larger scale at this point  I just do not know. I did some collage experiments to explore placement before settling on the final layout, this is something I need to investigate and develop more.

Summary of tutorial discussion

I suggest that you need to do more analysis of your research material by picking apart what you see thinking about why the composition, colour palette or materials work well.

Continue to draw regularly developing your observational skills.  When drawing in any medium aim to keep the line sensitive and expressive.

Your learning log continues to need more analysis of your own work.  Step back and review your work in the same way as you would the work of someone else.  Judge your use of placement, composition, colour palette, the use of materials/techniques and how you came to your creative decisions.

 

 

 

 

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Mixed Media for Textiles – MMT introduction

MMT being my second OCA level 1 course.

Isn’t it odd? I studied the introduction to MMT and thought how exciting, this is right up my street! and now I have started the initial exercises and set up my blog the anxious has set in!!! How ridiculous, I’m doing this because I love that my creativity is awakening, I am been gently let into all manner of artistic mischief and have nothing to hide. Bring it on.

My intentions for this shiny new start;

My blog will become second nature, my observations more detailed.

I will be a critical thinker.

I will blog little but often (working towards lots and often.)

My research will involve thorough critique (not just admiring lots of pictures)

I will nail the whole referencing thing somehow.

There, its down in the electrical ether, its on the web so must be true…

ATV5 Course reflection

ATV Learning Outcomes

  • LO1 Develop visual ideas to show a personal interpretation for textile-based work
  • LO2 Demonstrate sensitivity in the translation and handling of colour
  • LO3 Use a range of textile media and techniques to creatively develop design ideas
  • LO4 Reflect upon your own learning experience in the context of your studies
    I have certainly made progress from the beginning of the course. Of the learning outcomes I feel that my strength has been colour work. I have used a range of textile media, I haven’t been afraid to try new techniques and have really enjoyed experimenting as part of the adventure. I am making progress with self reflection by developing my critical thinking skills – everything is still very much work in progress.
     Making decisions is a sticking point, it is completely down to confidence, it has been fascinating how the psychology of the learning journey is bringing up barriers that I didn’t realise were still there (Being the only girl on my Industrial design course with a group of boy racers wasn’t easy)
    A revelation has been Rebecca saying on my last video tutorial that, we all see work differently and what one person doesn’t like, another person will. I do try to please, and must adopt a more personal approach, shift my thinking to a more honest expression of what I like in my work. The important thing is to record and reflect on my thinking more fully. I need more bottle! I should possibly avoid unicycles.
    I’ve had a good hard stare at the assessment criteria grid and tried to place myself in the appropriate box for each of the 4 categories….
    Demonstration of technical and visual skills
    – materials, techniques, observational skills,
    visual awareness, design and compositional skill (40%).
    Quality of outcome
    – content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a
    coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas (20%).
    Demonstration of creativity
    – imagination, experimentation, invention, development of a
    personal voice (20%).
    Context
    – reflection, research, critical thinking (20%).

    I have some advice from feedback in earlier assignments that I need to act on before submitting for assessment, and some tweaks will need to be done for assignment 5. On the whole though I don’t feel that I’m in the Fail box area of the grid . I think that one of the difficulties of an online course is the lack of a bar to measure oneself against. I understand that giving examples isn’t a workable or desirable option, I would hate to feel channelled into a particular type of work. We are all individuals and all our work is different. There is a lot to be gained by working in the same room as other like minded folk though, and bouncing ideas around. I am going to try to fit some textile courses in as a way of opening up to sharing and brave the student forums when I can.

    I  do know that I have put in a lot of effort, and although I have work commitments to juggle, my time management can be improved. I am loving the journey and getting better all the time. I have learnt valuable new computer skills, and for my next course can hit the ground running with my learning log. I am not so scared of a sketchbook, that’s got to help!

 

ATV assignment 5 – My capsule collection – Reflection

My capsule collection is connected obviously by the subject matter – nettles, and less so by a feeling of poignancy; my chambers app defines it thus-

poignant /poinˈyənt, -ənt/

adjective-Touching, moving, exciting pathos,Stinging, pricking,Sharp,Acutely painful,Penetrating,Pungent,Piquant

ORIGIN: OFr poignant, prp of poindre, from L pungere to sting

poignˈancy noun

poignˈantly adverb

My empathic feelings towards the unwanted seeping into my ideas.

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I’m pleased with this,  especially the little flowers which are all similar( materials) but different (technique). I think that couching the nettle stem in the stem worked well, however I have a concern that overall it may look a little bit 70s. I had considered a white and dark background but they felt too stark, that the grey fabric was an unwanted offcut seemed pertinent .

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When experimenting with cyanotypes I mainly played with whole nettles on larger cloth, however my early samples were smaller sections and I liked the way they overlapped. For this piece I stitched together some different weights of fabric, linen, cotton , silk. I used to warp and weft threads, some still attached to the fabric to anchor them to the base fabric. In my experiments I made some tiny silver stitches for nettle stings and these need to be added when my fine motor skills are back.

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I’ feel very awkwardly about this piece. Hannah Lamb and Cas Holmes among many other artists use whole garments in their work, so I felt that it would be a suitable area to experiment with. The little frock was from the local Help the Aged charity shop, I have no idea of its history, the pattern is very similar to some of my prints of nettle flowers, cyanotyping it with nettles was a challenge, and then it looked too forlorn, too much like the forgotten children of the world, and I wondered at my place to use such imagery, it seems rude and gratuitous, is it using pain for my gain? Clearly a big question that I can not yet answer.But part of my journey non the less. As a piece of textile work I think that I could incorporate some stitchwork into the base fabric similar to the print on the dress, to tie them together more than just the cyanotype.

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This Cas Holmes inspired piece is more auto biographical, my nettle moments. On a base of a muslin napkin ( my comfort blanket as a small child was a clean one of these with toothpaste on the corner!) The fabrics are part of my journey. Working on this really made me appreciate the work of Cas Holmes and Anne Kelly, colour placement, composition, layering, stitch detail, I enjoyed playing with this, though I tried lots of permutations before settling on this, there are so many more. This feels like a base layer that I could build on .

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My experiments with eco printing got better and I’m amazed at the detail and colour in this piece. To be honest I was really running out of time and I have a hand injury that is preventing any detailed hand stitching, even so I feel that to do this justice needs weeks of consideration. I will produce an Alice Fox inspired piece as I love the delicate balance of her work. Her approach is very much of the slow stitch movement and not to be rushed.

 

 

 

 

 

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ATV5 part 5 – Building a collection – Project 2 -Building a response – colour palette

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Looking at nettles it’s been amazing to see just how wide a variety of colours they come in, at different stages of the season the nettle stands start by being an incredibly vibrant emerald green,at this stage then not great for making fibre from. As they grow an incredibly beautiful blush appears on the stem that turns to a rich burgundy and then a dark aubergine, in some nettles I observed I yellow ochre.
I made a simple drawing of the stem showing the colours and the fluted structure against a paynes grey background – my favourite dark primary..
Looking at the colour exercises, mixing different colours from primaries, I could quite easily identify the primaries I need to use, to create the colours that I have observed . On my colour palette I have shown the primary colours that are used, and also the colours that I observed in the nettles.
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Having read slow stitch by Claire Wellersley Smith, and also Stitch Stories by Cass Holmes, I was very taken with the idea of using materials that I already have. I’ve trawled through my stash and found a wide variety of threads and fabrics that may be useful. I did a thread wrap that at this stage is not proportional, as nettle colours vary so widely
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I have some nettle yarn both natural and dyed green that has been made in Nepal, I have  also made some nettle cordage in various thickness’s, it is beautiful  and smells delicious but is incredibly time consuming.

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I fell off a unicorn!

Okay so it wasn’t a unicorn it was a unicycle equally stupid and unbelievable. In the time I’ve put by for a last minute panic I am now unable to stitch which is deeply depressing, I really should know better I’ve mentioned many times my need for better time management and this is why I negotiated a four week extension and I’m to embarrassed to stretch this further so I will be thinking on my feet to complete the module.

The upside of this is that I have found the dictation button on my iPad, no punctuation, and it really doesn’t get my accent(funny and frustrating by turn) but much quicker than my typing even when my hand is usable. . At least I can catch up with my blog posts. I will go back and edit when my thumb is mended.

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Artist research – Hannah Lamb

The piece of work that inspired me to investigate the work of Hannah Lamb further is  In search of green.

For ‘In Search of Green’ a series of garments are suspended from tree branches. The gossamer thin pieces are almost ghostly, an ethereal presence, delicate as memory. These garments reference a personal and sensuous response to moving through landscape.”

A close up of cyanotype with hand stitch is often used as reference to this piece, this cyanotype is combined with a collection of garments, fine cotton and lace I’m sure that to observe the exhibits in the flesh would be quite a poignant experience.

I like the initial simplicity, cyanotypes have a strong, bold silhouette, and on closer inspection more subtle details are picks up by the process.

ATV5 part 5 – Project 2 -Be inspired by an artist/designer/designers

For this project you should seek to find at least one artist or designer/design company whose work, way of working, application of techniques, handling of materials or use of colour you find particularly inspiring. Carry out some research to learn more about the aspects of their work that you find interesting and use this to build a small research file, to include visual and written information and reflection. In your learning log, reflect on what you can learn from this designer to influence your approach to your own work or way of working. Can you use this research to inform an aspect of your project now?

The thing is that once I start looking  there is a snowball effect and I just can’t stop. ( there is that other saying – a rolling stone gathers no moss)

What I became very aware of is the links between artists.

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So my “research” became a riotous journey though the following books and associated, Pinterest, Instagram, personal blogs , websites and various websites of the artist groups are members of.

 

Fox, A. (2015) Natural processes in textile art: From rust dyeing to found objects. London, United Kingdom: Batsford.

A useful source of processes that informed my eco printing and rust mark experiments, and playing with waxed layers like Hannah Lamb. I very much like her piece ‘The Healing Garden” a monoprinted , dyed and stitched piece . Layered to build up layers of botanical detail based in a specific location, forming a record of her relationship and experience of that space.

Hedley, G. (2010) Drawn to stitch: Stitching, drawing and mark-making in textile art. London: Batsford.

One of the first books I purchased, and a useful resource. I saw some of Gwen’s work in a gallery in Sweden and particularly like her eye for small detail. Gwen uses a wide variety of makes based on close observation , her stitch marks are then based on her drawn marks rather than the original object.

Holmes, C. (2010) The found object in textile art: Recycling and Repurposing natural, printed and vintage objects. London: Batsford.

Holmes, C. (2015) Stitch stories: Personal places, spaces and traces in textile art. London, United Kingdom: Batsford.

 

Wellesley-Smith, C. (2015) Slow stitch: Mindful and contemplative textile art. London, United Kingdom: Batsford.

 

 

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ATV assignment 5 – review point – Context

Context –
In this project I swung  between not knowing which direction to go, and then having so many ideas I don’t know how to gather them in. Rather than finding the research into artists being a point of focus, I found myself unable to resist the temptation of following links to other artists, and other artists, and other artists where references may be found, unveiling a interconnectedness of ideas and processes that are obvious when i think about it.
However I forgot to record information in any detail. Referring to the assessment criteria, this is a big error of judgement. I chose artists that I have become familiar with . It seems that textile artists are more generous than most at sharing experience in a very accessible way, via publishing books, artist blogs and websites, Pinterest, facebook, instagram etc. More information is available on the websites of groups that artists belong to for example Cas Holmes http://www.arttextilesmadeinbritain.co.uk/ , Hannah Lamb http://62group.co.uk/
The biggest impact from my readings is the idea of narrative, which Cas Holmes and Hannah Lamb bring to their work really strongly. I personally make connections more strongly with work that has something to tell me., would like to introduce some context into my work. This is not however an easy path, who is interested in what I have to say? will it be interpreted properly? Questions that I realise now perhaps, are not the entirely the point, a person will read according to their own experience, and perhaps see what they want to see to a certain extent and perhaps the artist is an enabler of experience. Some art digs deeper than others.
I was drawn to the idea of narrative because of what nettles represented to me.
Having settled on the idea of using nettles as my primary source materials I did a mind map of all the things I feel that nettles have to say.
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I generally find it difficult  to voice my thoughts,  the EU referendum happened around that time of choosing a focus for my collection and I was deeply upset by the racist overtones, and the complete lack of regard for the terrible events that people experience. Some people just didn’t seem to care about the lives of other humans, lives didn’t seem to matter. This is nothing  new, in many way many people are overlooked and disrespected by sections of society, now and throughout history for  class, race ,language, disability, gender etc. nettles speak to me about these things as they are also overlooked and disliked despite their usefulness and beauty.

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ATV5 part 5 – project 3 – Experimenting and taking risks gallery

I made an effort to work more in my sketchbook and annotated my experiments in some detail there, I found that I much prefer annotation by hand.

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