Week Six

Day 1 Print Room

Zoffany

I spent the majority of this week in the print room, creating textures and testing fabrics was my first focus. This bottom right hand print is one of my most experimental coating the fabric directly with pearl to create a contrasting texture to the sheer fabrics I'd been printing on. Initially I was prepping the fabric to be dyed at a later date however I find the subtle changes it produced well suited to my interior context and feel they would be overpowered with vibrant colour. I can visualise a collection in sheer and luxurious fabrics using only pearl and texture at a high end company such as Zoffany or Romo.

Mono Printing

Nikki Strange

When it came to the adding colour to the samples I found the more layers I had of things going on the more visually pleasing they become although applying the bright colours for me shifted the appropriate context, I felt they become more suitable for a children’s interior fabric or a fashion print. I envisage them similar of that to Nikki Strange, bold and making a statement however it isn't the effect I was hoping for in this particular collection. For me it’s too much of a contrast to the delicate prints and fabrics I am using, careful reconsideration needs to be done to find a colour palette well-matched to my context.

Devore Dyed

However when experimenting I did find certain qualities to be successful such as this dip dye effect I hand painted on devore I think demonstrates the colour transition aspect I want to show within my collection as a means of communicating my concept really well... perhaps I’ll do a combination of processes? Not only a way of demonstrating my concept but also making my fabrics suitable for the high end market by using multiple print processes.  

Initial Photoshop in Two Colourways

After testing some flat colour designs in Photoshop I’m not 100% mono print is right for this collection, it does quickly provide interesting texture but I feel if I had more complex interesting designs on screen I wouldn’t need this. When I was testing new compositions in Photoshop I considered a new colour pallet and tried to stick to no more than 5 in each design allowing me to easily separate the layers and transfer the designs to screen.

Natalie Alexander

Certain characteristics such as the texture and combination of line quality reminded me of designer Natalie Alexander. Aside from the fact I am inspired by Natalie’s use of layering, thoughtful colour palettes and composition in her designs I thought she was a great inspiration in terms of how she works. Reading little entries into her blog help you understand a life style I wish to take on board myself, ‘By day I work as a graphic designer for a design firm in Toronto, by night I work on my own line of invitations and surface patterns.’ Regular income in a preferably design based job role and plenty of spare time to work on my own prints and establish/promote myself into the designer, maker world.