My original aim of this project was to produce a number of textile pieces influenced by the theme of dream and fantasy by focusing on fairy tales. I feel I have achieved this initial aim as I have been able to produce a variety of hand and machine embroidered illustrations, allowing myself to explore with different threads, materials and media to create different effects and outcomes. I’ve found it interesting how something so little, like the changing of the bobbin thread, can make such a big difference to a stitched image. These illustrative stitched images developed into a more complex way of drawing with the machine needle as I started to fill shapes to create shading, tone and depth to my final pieces. In the end, I produced two final embroidered images; influenced by the Ladybird book of Hansel and Gretel. It was strange how I started researching throughout my collection of fairy tale books and as soon as saw the illustrations, I immediately thought they looked different to all the other illustration I had seen and could picture instantly how they would look if stitched and appliqued. However, I am exhibiting not just my two embroideries but my whole journey of samples and experiments created throughout my project, to display a story with my work and produce a narrative. Initially, I thought of creating a mystical woodland display, creating trees and animals from fabric, wool and various textiles. This would have represented the setting in which many fairy tales are set. Thus, in a review I realised my interest at this moment in time is on the stitch element of textiles rather than knit. I had produced many hand embroidery samples as well as machine stitched pictures and therefore decided to illustrate a fairy tale scene - woodland, with woodland creatures – rather than create it. So, my idea went from 3D to 2D.
From the beginning my influence has always been dream and fantasy. In the past I explored a lot into dream theory, the ideas of why we dream and what they symbolise and mean. I found this all incredibly interesting and researched the fantastical side of dreams. I looked into books and films that are all set in a dream, like Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz. Here animals talked, magical lands existed, and unrealistic event take place. This then made me think about how magical fairy tales are and how they influence children from such a young age. The stories are all dream like as they are all so unrealistic and some set in such and idyllic place. I created many boards of inspiration, capturing images that inspire me and noting down element that could be looked into (1&2) I looked at artists who had found inspiration from fairy tales like Kiki Smith. In her work the girl and wolf join together and eventually become each other. Her take on fairy tales is interesting in the fact that she changed the story to create her work. Unlike Jess Brown who created textile decorations influenced solely on fairy tale characters and inspired by the animals and people. I think, realistically, I don’t have the skills or the time in this project to have developed my initial ideas influenced by these artists I have stated in my sketchbook. However, they are all key artists who I have the chance to explore further in higher education.
I didn’t necessarily learn any new methods of working; I enhanced my skills and knowledge and explored what stitch works well for certain things. For example, the french knot embroidery stitch is perfect for eyes and stem stitch is nice to outline. To enhance my embroidery skills I brought a pack to practise with, these are seen in my journey. The floral trees really stand out when framed I think they are one of the first things you see when you look at my exhibit.
I wasn’t very experimental when it came to fabric choice. I used calico - purely because it’s trustworthy, strong and I had it in plentiful. I did applique a few pieces of work and I think it’s one of the most effective techniques I’ve learnt this year. Still, if I was to extend my practise I would definitely experiment with materials and textures a lot more. But there just wasn’t enough time, so we had to think realistically and practically, so I produced work I knew was achievable rather than enter a discomfort zone and potentially ruin my pieces. I kept my mind up to date by noting down everything in my sketchbook. It was extremely rushed and I have never produced a sketch book so unpleasing to the eye, but I wrote down what I needed to say and could sort out what the next step of my project was.
I did encounter a few problems with my sewing machine, and found that the thread snaps if stitches were to overlap or if I stitched too fast. This was frustrating and in the end my hand embroidery turned out a lot better. The machine embroidery bunched a lot and gathered at the sides, not like the hand embroidery where I could easily use an embroidery hoop so the fabric stayed relatively flat. Having learnt this, I would have produced my final pieces by hand rather than machine. The threads thicker, the material didn’t bunch and it was easier to add detail were necessary.
Having put up my exhibition, with all my final pieces on display, I am generally happy with how it looks and the impact it creates to the viewer. Being positioned where it is - it is one of the first displays seen when walked into the room. The way it interlinks with the surrounding displays is aesthetically pleasing as they appear to roll into each other. It was challenging to put up; the walls were thin so the higher I hammered the nail (to hook the frames on) the more it shock. Therefore, some frames fell off and smashed. I should definitely have considered this beforehand; I ended up making a nail from a pin that worked just as well as a nail just easier to hammer into the wall. I think it shows the journey throughout my project. I displayed my felt flowers, knitted trees, my humpty dumpty family, sample boards and button experiments I made on a previous project. It’s nice the intermingle pieces for the final show and make it all work well together. Initially I didn’t think I’d use things I made at the initial start of my project, like my humpty dumpy family, but in the end it all looks good together and I have shown a broad range of mixed media skill in my final show. Overall, I’ve learnt an awful lot in this past year on the Art Foundation, and I can’t wait to develop my skills further and learn exciting new techniques in Higher Education.
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