Ideas

I firstly started my ideas/design work by drawing from my photos just as a starting point and see what sort of styles of drawing could be suitable. I tried different ways of drawing the flowers - for example, continuous line, without looking at the page.



This is one exmaple of my drawn work from a photo. I wanted to use a technique Nikki Strange used and mirror the image onto the other side to see what it would look like. I tihnk its come out really well and is a really effective way to make a design look more interesting.

This is an example of some drawings I have done using the techniques I was talking about above. There is a neat version, continuous line and drawing without looking.

I also wanted to create some drawings that were more textured and detailed, focusing a lot on the pattern and markings of the flowers.

Below are some continous line drawings I have drawn from looking at the photo below. I think this technique is really effective because its unique and interesting to look at. I think these designs would work well on a scarf either as one image or repeated.

I think this image above works really well and would look effective just as one print at the bottom of a scarf.

I also started experimenting with different background ideas using watercolours to mix together a blend of colours and then draw some designs on top. This is all just to give me some inspiration and ideas:

The image above and below have been created through splashing water colours onto the page and blowing through a straw to blend the colours.

 

I used water colours to create my own background and then painted the flowers over the top. I wanted to make sure the foreground was bold and bright so it contrasted against the background.

This last image below is a photograph I took. I made my own watercolour background just like the images above and then held it up against the light with an photograph of some flowers. I thought the result came out really well as you can vaguely see the flowers coming through the paper. I then drew over the top of this in a bold colour as I wanted to create a similar effect to Nikki Strange's work.

 



After looking at Paul Smiths designs, I wanted to create an image of flowers that was quite out of focus and to some people wouldn’t look like flowers. I came up with an idea of wetting the paper page and then printing the photo onto it simply by laying the photo onto the wet paper and pressing down. I found this created a really interesting and effective look therefore could be ideal for a background on a scarf.

The photo above is the original photo I took at Wisley Gardens. Below is the image printed onto paper. This was produced by spreading water over the paper and placing the photo face down onto the wet paper. I also think the image two down looks really effective. This is the photo after its had water on it.

 Above is the original photo that I took and above that is the print version and photograph afterwards.



The original photo is at the top and my printed version and photograph after are underneath. Overall, I think this is a really effective way of printing a photo because the image and colour comes out quite suttle. 

I then wanted to take this idea further and try doing the same method but onto fabric to see if it had the same effect. I have tested this out onto a cotton fabric however I want to use some silk next time as its a common fabric used to make scarfs particularly in the National Trust shop. 

Below is the flower image printed onto cotton fabric using the same technique as above. I would like to try this onto silk though as the material fits in more with my target group.

 

Again, below  is the photo, photo afterwards and the photo printed onto cotton fabric. I like this image because the colours have blended together to create a pink colour even though it's not in the original image. Again I would like to use silk as it will give a more expensive look, fitting in with my target group.

I think this looks really effective as a background colour because it enables me to add a design over the top and it also fits in with my target group. As I am used using a lot of colour in my work I think this is an effective way to still use that colour however toning it down so it fits in with the National Trust gift shop. At my interim crit my tutor pointed out that she liked how parts of the image had worn away on the photo after it has had water on it. I do also like this however I'm not sure how it would fit in with the National Trust theme.  

However, after trying to experiment this technique onto silk I found it didnt come out as well as I predicted. I found this quite a dissapointment because it came out looking really effective on cotton. When I printed it onto the silk it slightly ruined the image and it also didnt come out looking very good.



Research Conclusion

 
Overall, all my research has really helped me to discover what I want to create and how I want to create it. The style of design I am going to create is not particularly the sort of style I would always go for. A lot of my prints are usually very crowded and colourful however after visiting the National Trust property my research showed that I need to be creating a design for an older generation and something that could be displayed in the gift shop. I feel this is a good thing because it will be a challenge and taking on something new. Although saying this, I want to also try and bring a bit of colour and excitement to the gift shop. I noticed that the colours were all very plain and similar, therefore I want to bring something a bit different, new and exciting but also keeping in mind my research.

Inspiration - Designers

I have also been looking into some designers work that have designed scarves. One designer that I have looked into is Paul Smith:

I really like this design because I like how all the flowers blend together to make an arrangement of colours. I also like how its not very detailed and is quite blurred to look at.






















This design is also quite similar to the one above. All the colurs blend together to form a really nice mix of colours. I also reallylike the colours in this scraf and how vibrant they are.



















I like how this design shows colour contrasting really well. It draws your attention to the scarf design. I also like the style of the flowers.



















I like this scarf design for again similar reasons to the scarves above, I like how the colours look a bit our of focus and mix together.


I have also been looking at a Textile Print Designer called Nikki Strange. Here are some examples of her work:

I really like this design because I like the use of symmetry. I think it looks really effective and works really well as a scarf design.

I like this design because I like the idea of having a lighter background and then a darker print on top.

I think the way the feathers blend together and in with the background looks really interesting. I think its a really clever way of printing feathers on top as in contrasts well with the background.

Again, this design is similar to the one above. I like howthe background is out of focous and then a design on top.

This design is similar to the first print I was talking about. The use of symmetry is a really effective way of creating a pattern.

Another designer I have looked at is Cath Kidston, a home and fashion shop. The prints of flowers that are produced are very textured floral prints with colours built up over the top of each one. I think this style is very effective because its simple, and makes the image look textured and not a flat image. Here are some examples of designs:

I also think this style is very appealing for my age group but also can appeal to anyone.

I also looked into a design company called Sprouted Designs as I really liked the way they presented their design work. I thought it was a really clever way of drawing attention to the image:

Unit x - College 4 Research

When I first saw the Unit X college 4 brief my first thoughts were that I wanted to design and create something for the Great Northern Craft Fair, this is because I liked the idea of arts and crafts and creating something that could feature in the show. However, after I started to research into the National Trust I came across the Handmade In Britain section and was drawn to this section. Wha particularly caught my interest were the scarf selection. After doing some research into it and a trip to a National Trust property I have decided to go ahead with the idea of creating a scarf for a National Trust property gift shop. As our project is based around the National Trust properties I thought it would be more relevant and something new that I'm not used to doing.

As I was not able to make the Dunham Massey trip I decided to visit the Hatchlands Park National Trust to get myself a feel for the property and in particular look at the scarves in the gift shop. I found this trip really useful because it gave me a visual image of what the National Trusts style/look is and a feel for the property itself. It also enabled me to see the type of age group that visit the property and the audience I will be designing for. I found that this was mainly for older women. Another helpful thing I found out was what sort of material the property like to sell. For example, if most the scarves were silk or some cotton? - I found that a lot of the scarves were made from silk.
Here are some pictures I took at the National Trust property:

Collection of scarves they sell. I think the designs are quite delicate and simple.

A close up of one of the scarves that stood out for me the most. I like how its a very small simple design repeated around the scarf.

I also took some photos of the interior design inside the shop and other products to get a sense of the style they like to portray. I found that all the colours were very similar being - duck egg blue and neutral colours.

After looking around the property and seeing what’s sold in the shops I have decided I want to base my designs around the gardens, particularly looking at flowers. I feel that flowers are a strong point in my work therefore I want to strengthen this and expand my knowledge i already know.

Here are some pictures I took: