For this project, I used both primary and secondary research. An example of primary research I used a
photograph of a dolls house which is a replica of Mackintosh White House in
Glasgow. I used this photograph on my historical mood board. Examples of my
secondary research included Pinterest and websites showing Morris and
Mackintosh work. I also used a book of Andy Warhol work to assist me with my
contemporary mood board.
On my historical mood board I focused on both Morris and
Mackintosh because I liked Morris pattern wallpaper and Mackintosh stain glass
designs. However, for my historical research sheet I focused solely on
Mackintosh – I liked his nature work and loved how vivid and detailed his
watercolour paintings are. I think they are very interesting and eye-catching.
I put the historical mood board together by separately
researching Morris and Mackintosh. I looked at every aspect of their work
(stained glass, architecture, printed scarfs). I chose which pieces appealed to
me, printed the images out, then cut and composed them. For my contemporary
mood board I used mainly Pinterest for research.
For my contemporary mood board I decided on Peter Blake to
support my theme. I compared him to both Morris and Mackintosh work and then
decided Blake and Mackintosh work (nature studies) were similar in vivid
colours and the use of the same media of watercolour. Some of Blake’s work
includes collage. For example in one of his pieces he has a pattern of butterflies
which reminded me of Morris wallpaper.
I worked on different
aspects of experimentation in this project which included mark making, batik, and
puff binder, sewing in my images (I stitched detail onto a painted rose). I
used several tools in mark making including lolly sticks, straws, forks,
sponges and rollers. In Batik I learned how to use hot wax and use it to draw a
design on paper, then later iron off the wax. Puff binder is painting the
design onto the paper then with the use of heat gun to make the paint rise.
An example of a health and safety I covered in this project
was when I was learning about Batik. When using the wax pot you have to be
careful when using it as it is metal and when heated it becomes hot. You also
had to pay attention when pouring the wax in case it splashed and you could
burn yourself. When scooping up the paraffin wax with the tjanting, again you
had to be careful in case you burned yourself, as the metal tip becomes
boiling. You have to ensure you hold the wood part when pouring the wax onto
the paper. In Puff Binder you have to be careful when using the heat gun as
this becomes very hot and this is another example of when you could burn
yourself.
An example of where I action-ed feedback from peer assessment
is when I received a comment on negative space. I filled the space in like it
stated I should.
I felt my strengths in my designs were the use of scale seen
in my drawing of my roses. Another strength is my use of colour reflected in my
butterflies.
If I did the project again I would change my time
management. I would spend an equal amount of time on each piece of work and I
would ensure I would plan each sheet as I only planned a few in this project.
The processes I used throughout this project include Batik,
Puff Binding and Mark Making.
I believe my mood boards went well as I am happy with the
designs and drawings on them. I am also happy with how the weaving and hand
sewing turned out – especially weaving as this was my first time I had tried
this process. I believe the processes could have been a lot better; I did not
have much practice with them so I was hesitant when using them. To improve this
I need to be more confident. I would change the amount of time given to produce
my final piece. I feel it would have been better if I would have more time in
the workshop this would have allowed me to have more practice and become
familiar with them. On a positive side, I did enjoy learning about and using
these processes.
I do not feel I have managed my time as effectively I could
have in this project. I did not plan some sheets of work and I could have done
this if I had planned my time more effectively.
Arts and Crafts Project
Bibliography
I used Pinterest and Wikipedia
for general ideas and notes for research for my images. I then visited websites
which were specific to the six artist I have researched and utilised in this
project.
arts.brighton.ac.uk/staff/peter-blake/research-interests
www.emmabridgewater.co.uk
www.fabricsandpapers.com/brand/view/william-morris