Semester II: First tutorial methodology beginning to work for me

07/10/2014


Blog entry 10:

Before my first tutorial of the semester, I have been looking into combining stitch with paint. I have used calico as my preferred fabric, as I am able to paint on it with gouache (my preferred paint method which I found through my research on paint last semester) and stitch onto this material with ease. I also find that calico is relatively cheap to buy and can be obtained in large quantities. Calico has several different weights or thicknesses, I have chosen a mid weight calico on which to work for many of my samples due to it being thick enough to hold the paint, stiff enough to paint onto with relative ease and thin enough to stitch through with ease. The only issue with painting on fabric, especially with a water based paint is that fabric absorbs the water, making the painting process longer.

I am currently working on a cross stitch pattern, which I have converted from a painting online. Although I enjoyed cross stitch during the summer, I am beginning to question wether this process is going to take to long to make it a viable option on which to base a project. Another issue I have found with cross stitch is that it is impossible to envisage what the outcome is going to look like until it is finished making it somewhat of a gamble. The original painting is in black and white, however the cross stitch pattern has instructed me to use a number of purple threads, this makes me wonder how different the finished cross stitch will look when compared to the original painting, this may make choosing a colour palette very difficult.

I have experimented with a number of stitch methods and found that I prefer a method I used in college known as free machine embroidery (as explained in more detail in blog entry 9). This method is done by changing the regular foot on my sewing machine to a specialised embroidery foot and dropping the dog teeth, which pull the fabric through the machine. By making these changes to a domestic sewing machine, I have allowed the fabric to be sewn in any direction, essentially allowing me to draw in stitch.

Ordinary/ common sewing machine foot

Metal embroidery foot

Dropping the dog teeth (Love sewing, 2013)

During my first tutorial, Richard suggested that I should explore stitch and paint combinations further in order to ascertain whether this process could work for me. He also suggested that I could possibly use research for my dissertation to firm up my ideas for this project. I now intend to move forward with my research into the human hand and its capability to comment on the human condition, along with experimenting further with my stitch and paint combination.

At this early stage I have made the decision to already disregard some of the ideas I first worked up in my research, for example I have decided not to take the idea of the skeleton of the hand further due to the pre-existing connotations of horror and halloween which are already deeply ingrained.

Semester II: Free Machine embroidery

06/10/2014


Blog entry 9:

As I intend to create a tactile aspect to my visual imagery on hands, I have chosen to use stitch. I have tried a number of hand stitch methods, but as is the nature of hand stitching it can take a long time, which as a practitioner, especially as an illustrator, can be an issue when working to deadlines.

To use stitch, but create faster results, I have decided to go back to my roots at college. During college I was taught a practice called Free Machine Embroidery. This technique is done by using a domestic sewing machine: The usual sewing machine foot is replaced with a specialised foot called an embroidery foot. The dog teeth, which pull the fabric through the machine in a forward motion, are dropped down to allow the fabric to move in any direction. By being able to move the fabric in any direction essentially allows me to draw in stitch.

With free machine embroidery there are a number of technicalities which need addressing such as lowering the tension, however I have learnt these prior to starting this course, so I am not going into something blind. This project will allow me to develop and perfect a visual technique.

Along with the tactile texture of the free machine stitch, I will be using the paint techniques I developed last semester, this combination should create interesting and unusual visuals. As the masters projects are designed to create work which has something new about it, I feel that this combination is a step in the right direction.

Semester II: My methodology, a project broken down into sections

06/10/2014

Blog entry 8:

My methodology for this project is to break down areas of practice into separate areas, which feed into each other:

Research book:

Currently at this stage the Research Book involves encompassing a broad compilation of ideas and theories based around the subject; these will include my own thoughts along with a range of material by others. Research varies widely from a scientific standpoint, such as exploring evolution and the musculature of the hand, to different meanings attached to the human hand from a human perspective and much more.

The research book is intended to look at every possible and appropriate aspect of the human hand in order to ensure that I have not missed any possibly useful information about the hand that I could use to define my project.

Main Sketchbook:

Currently the Main Sketchbook is involved with exploring stitch as a means to intertwine the notion of ‘feel’ and give the work a tactile nature. The Main Sketchbook uses ideas/ theories from the Research Book as a initial standpoint on which to build in order to ascertain the scope of certain aspects and to in turn allow ideas to grow and possibly allow new ideas to form, which can then be more closely researched in the research book.

The Main Sketchbook is for visual development from initial ideas documented in the Research Book. This allows me to develop ideas along with the media and materials whilst I don't loose sight of researching a wide range of aspects. As I develop selected ideas further I am able find out the scope of any singular idea as well as getting new ideas to research from the natural development of visual work.

Life Drawing/ Drawing from life book:

A smaller but significant area is the Drawing from Life book, which deals purely with practicing visually representing the form of the hand, which in turn can lead to ideas to research more closely.

Blog:

The Blog involves researching the work of others to aid understanding of how mediums and materials can be used, which may inspire how physical work is created in the Main Sketchbook. The blog will also question and explore who I am as an artist and how work can be presented as possible outcomes, this area will focus deeply on what it is I want to achieve as an artist during and after my study at university. The blog will also provide a place to fully explain the thought process at certain points during the module.

Semester II: Ghada Amer and the suggestiveness of stitch

06/10/2014


Sr 2, Blog entry 7:

(Apologies for the lateness in updating this blog, many entries were done first on word, and due to technical issues I have been unable to upload them.)

Ghada Amer's work deals with subjects such as gender and sexuality, and mainly looks at representation of the female nude throughout art history. Much of Amer's work is in stitch, which allows her to represent visuals which could be perceived as sexual in a more suggestive manner.

By using simple line imagery combined with seemingly erratic threads, Amer has been able to draw attention to certain areas of the composition, and leave other areas concealed. This technique of leading the viewers gaze is an  interesting way of suggesting or hinting about a topic without having to be covert, in this case to ensure that the imager is to some degree censored.