FINAL MAJOR PROJECT PART ONE!!!

I have decided to follow the theme of Illegibility and Distortion for my Final Major Project as I have a keen interest in both typography and surface patterns, so I am excited to explore the combination of these factors within the final project. The idea builds on my last project - ‘Deconstruction’ where I was following the idea of taking things apart and recreating them. I am aiming to produce a range of unique surface patterns that I could potentially use to upholster furniture and present in the manner of a collection. 

I started with a variety of research ranging from pattern books in the library to visiting the Photographers Gallery and the Fashion and Textiles Museum in London. Initial ideas included lots of collaging and cutting up of photos whilst thinking about incorporating pattern within the design. During the trip to London I wanted to get some primary drawing completed however after being unsure about subject matter I decided to simply be experimental with some simple life drawing.

The experimental approach stemmed from a workshop session where our class was encouraged to embrace new techniques such as drawing with our wrong hands, and not looking at the page. By following this process I managed to create a range of distorted faces, which made a good starting point for the project. In hindsight I believe I should have followed this process whilst looking at typography and lettering within my environment, as this would have been exceptionally relevant to my theme however I have managed to push my project forward so that the illegibility has really begun to push through. 

From looking at an artist called Linda Hutchins, I came up with the idea of drawing according to sounds, and also the sound waves that are created from typing and talking. This idea began to push my boundaries a little, however due to he extensive research I had already undertaken I was confident in being able to produce some exciting work samples. 

Thinking along the lines of illegibility I began to create my own typography, and one experimental method I followed was to draw with the pens in-between my fingers. This gave me hardly any control over the pressure or directions of the pens (see pictures above). One thing I have realised from this sampling is I am not being brave enough with my experimentation of media. From looking at my artist research it is clear I need to consider new media in order for my work to be as exciting as I planned.

My digital samples show a range of ideas that work strongly along the idea of Illegibility and Distortion. I chose the colour palette based on some of the prints I saw at the Liberty in Fashion exhibition at the Fashion and Textiles Museum. Contrasting bright colours really achieve the distorting effect as it almost becomes too much for the eye to look at. To develop the samples further I am now considering placing the text over a patterned background. In regards to distortion I was interested in researching the Op Art style of work and its exponents Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely. This is something I will begin to consider after some further sampling. 

I decided to visit the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising so as to give myself some primary research of typography and I think the visit really inspired me to follow a more collage way of working. The drawings I constructed within the gallery visit helped me to visualise a broad range of typography within one composition and has definitely given me scope for development within my digital sampling. 

My latest point of experimentation has been with collaging typography in order to follow the idea of illegibility. The compositions I have been experimenting with show potential and I am looking forward to developing new ideas further. 

OPEN BRIEF - DECONSTRUCTION

The most recent project I have been working on was given to us was an open brief, and after much consideration I chose to follow the theme of deconstruction. To me the word meant endless opportunities and I had lots of ideas running through my mind, however it was the initial starting point that I struggled with. I began my research in the library and was looking at books to do with architecture, towns and signs which led me on to experimenting with collaging photos and looking at different ways I could 'deconstruct.'

My initial drawings consist of loose fine liner, where I was holding the pen at the end and not looking at the page. The experimental approach I had was helping me to keep an open mind about this project as I was unsure as to what my final outcome could possibly be. 
I then visited the exhibition at the Anglia Ruskin gallery called 'Cut and Paste' by Ivan Chermayeff which inspired me to follow the route of collage in the next stages of the project.

As you can see from the photos above I wanted to keep the majority of the drawing visible, and it is only after I started collaging that I began to deconstruct parts of the drawing and moving pieces around to form new elements and shapes. I took the colour palette from photos I took of elements of architecture, particularly around the construction site that holds the subject matter of the drawings. The red and blue contrast each other, helping to create sporadic focal points across the collage, and the third tone of the brown helps to neutralise the composition but allowing the depth to remain. 

After only having created a small selection of drawing I wanted to add something different to the work, so after some research on signs and lettering in the environment I decided to take rubbings of text from drain coverings. The results worked well and I began to use them along my collages to create bypass prints - where the images become layered up from being printed on top of. 

It was then from the collages shown above that I decided to create a further range of bypass prints, as they were becoming more and more successful. Initially I just created a series of prints however I wanted to develop even further, so thinking along the theme of deconstruction I began to consider materials I could print my images onto. I concluded that brick/concrete, metal and wood were appropriate so then began experimenting with ghost printing.

SENSE OF PLACE PROJECT

This project was entitled Sense of Place, and in order to gain ideas from new sources of inspiration, our class to a trip the the city of Berlin. It was a completely new experience for me, as I have never been to Germany before, so I found that when I was undertaking drawings I was most inspired by the letters and typography around me. 

 You can see from the pictures above that I was taking a collage approach to my drawings, and I believe the style was working really well for the theme. The drawings show elements of the city Berlin and the German text strengthens this therefore giving a sense of the place. I was consistent with the materials and colour palettes that I used with this project, the red stands out boldly on the pages creating a focal point, and is furthermore complimented by the addition of blue which helps to balance out the composition. 

Upon returning from Berlin it was time to start considering ideas for a final solution. I began a developed collage which combined elements from all the drawings I had brought back with me. As you can see in the photo above, I started drawing on receipts and I feel the strongest design is the second in on the right. The colour palette of red, yellow and black represents the German flag and the elements of the drawing are strong and stand out against each other. By creating these designs on receipts it gave me the idea of designing for a strip of wallpaper. 

As you can see above I began designing a variety of strips, whilst also still experimenting with different uses of colour, however it is clear to see that the bottom two designs are the strongest. The three colours red, yellow and black compliment each other into making highlights, mid tones and dark tones which therefore enhances the depth of the design making it more successful. I particularly feel the bottom design that is just inclusive of text is especially strong in symbolising sense of place however I feel that the shapes and angles of the design which includes drawings has more variety and potential to be developed.

From the photos you can see my final screen print for this project. I opted to print on a long strip of paper to give the sense of it being either wallpaper or a large wall hanging. The colours are vivid and stand out strong against the white of the paper. Although I had a slight idea of composition for the design, I was deciding where to print the stencils as I went, and I feel this spontaneous approach works well, as it keeps a sense of fluidity to the design.

Overall in this project I feel I was successful in making decisions and trusting my own judgement. I was experimental in following a new way of working, and this led me on to discovering an outcome I had never imagined for this project. To develop even further I would like to perhaps use the leftover stencils from the screen print to create large collages, that link with the screen print and perhaps then create a series of art that makes a collection.