Diploma Module 2 Chapter 14 revisited - Developing your own design ideas

Thanks for your very useful feedback Sian.  I thought the best idea forward here was to repeat some of my previous ideas, removing those that are now redundant after taking on board that the grid pattern designs were too complex for this piece and wouldn't give me enough scope to play with stitching.  Therefore I have removed them and concentrated on the 'pinboard design structure' in #231 and #204, mainly concentrating on ideas in #204, with variations.

Proposal for First Assessment Item

Criteria

Specified

• made mainly of metallic materials

Personal

• using design ideas developed in Module 1 design exercises from my research topic 'gulls with an emphasis on shadows'
• consolidating many of ideas sampled in modules 1 and 2
• neutral/limited palette, with little splashes of colour - blue, silver, brown
• non-symmetry
• layers of pattern and shape
• ripped/cut edges
• changes in scale
• introduces quiet space into design - keep it simple
• use of wax 
• influences from Japanese boro textiles and traditional English spot samplers.

Above are two pieces from the original design developed at the Summer School with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn.

Image 204 - mixed media piece from workshop with Debbie Lyddon (middle section is collaged onto paper), gulls cut out to produce shadows if piece hung away from wall.

MM303 is another design in this series - collaged painted papers, machine stitch, wax.

Though images #204 and MM303 are in the same series, my preference is for #204.  It is simpler, not as busy, has quiet space, the colours are more muted/relaxing and I like the way the middle section is bordered, though it does seem a little cramped and needs a little more space. The left and right edges of #204 are frayed, complementing the design, whereas the hard edges in MM303 seem harsh...too hard...too abrupt.

The six abstract 'eggs' in the middle sections would be little gems of metallic stitching, shown below -  think Fabergé!  Some samples are shown in gold, but these would be silver with the stitching in brown, as per gulls eggs.

and yes, a glutton or punishment, hand stitched underside couching, but the back view forward.

Some of these stitched sections would be inserted from behind and peep through a cut out, others would be overlayed.

For the stitching of the border to the middle section:

Cut, wired gulls in the edge sections. This photo demonstrates the technique.

 

One of the six gulls would be collaged rather than cutout. The collaged gull would have a similar construction to Image 236, below, but would be more abstract/fluid in shape with no features and the stitching would be integrated into the shape.  

MM305    Line drawing showing where there would be enlargement from original design and also the gull in the bottom right corner pointing in the opposite direction, to keep the eye into the design.  This would be the collaged gull.

The piece would be constructed from two layers of calico, waxed together to enable the insertion of the stitched sections in the middle and to give it rigidity to stand alone.  The two outer sections are 'hinged' to give stability.  

The coloured section in the middle would be rolled with white and then blue and various acrylics, as before in my samples, keeping the background simple to allow the stitching to shine through.  The brown will have to be sampled but similar to the colour in the bottom left of #231.

Final dimensions 21cmW x 20cmH.