LET'S DRAW

This was the first image of the day. As you can see it's very different to the others. It's also the only one done without reference. I got really involved in the pattern like quality of the lines, and used these to create a patchwork-esque building.

These 2 are more quaint images, giving the viewer a better idea of space  and building layout

QUITTING KNITTING

I had my critique yesterday, overall I was pleased with the feedback. The general consensus seemed to be to push my drawings further, maybe even look into combining knit and drawn work. Making the the main focus of my image making to be drawing as it is faster, I can build up a library of images quicker. I think for the next week I'll focus purely on Brutalism, using research to inspire image making. Continuing to do first hand research in cityscapes and buildings, as well as other methods. It was also suggested I look at the work of Paul Noble. Looking at his work there is an obvious Brutalist aspect, cubed, made up buildings and landscapes.

BRUTALISM

I've decided to look into Brutalism, the structures almost appear to combine fantasy with reality. A lot of the buildings appear to almost defy gravity or resemble some sci-fi spaceship. Looking into this I believe I can use my previous research into buildings and landscapes to develop my own series of Brutalist themed buildings and abstract cityscape, maybe even using some of these to further develop into knit. My main emphasis however will be on drawing as much as possible, every detail that takes my fancy.

I came across this blog while researching Brutalism. It's proven to be a great visual source of research as a new building is uploaded everyday.

BRUTALISM BLOG

LONDON WINDOWS

My drawings of London are very window orientated, as I found these the most interesting feature of a lot of the buildings. I took to translating the images onto gridded paper so that I could knit from them.

examples of my knitting patterns

OXFORD CITY

I made this without even thinking about it. When I scanned it in I got a bit carried away playing around with flattening the colour. I uploaded it to my tumblr straight away and a few people commented on my nice 'paper cut'. I found it funny people assumed it was a paper-cut as I don't normally work digitally. I personally don't see it as the colour is so flat. I really like the overall feel of this piece though, the colours, the shapes, the composition. It might be a way of developing my work later in the project. 

IN THE SKETCHBOOK

Original drawings done after London visit

Using the same idea of distilling buildings, work in response to oxford.

Work in response to Jersey

I think it's easy to see in these images (in particular between drawings from London and oxford) the difference of my opinion on the area. For the London images it wasn't a conscious decision not to use colour I just saw London as a grey place. Oxford however the colouring of the buildings really surprised me and so I based my imagery around this. When we come to my images on Jersey the way of working is a lot looser. There was a more fluid organic feel to it as it's not as built up as the previous cities.

FABRIC COLLABORATION

I had a meeting today with a few others in the class that work in a fabric/ stitch based medium. We thought it could be interesting to get together and create an environment/exhibition/zine.

The idea of a fabric environment seems to be most appealing as we'd be able to fully take over an area, covering it in our chosen way of working. It would also be a good way for us to work on a piece together, rather than creating separate work and putting together in a zine.

GROUP TUTORIAL

The overall feel of this tutorial was much more relaxed.  For some reason in previous tutorials I haven't shown my sketchbook, just my knitted pieces. However they was very good feedback regarding my sketchbook and my distilled imagery. It was suggested I spend a few weeks, focussing on my drawing. Paying less attention on the material as knitting takes so long, put more emphasis into images as I can produce more of them in a given time, meaning I have more to work from and to inspire my knitted work.

Presentation at this point was also an issue for me. Looking at other people work, although it was all 2D work gave me some ideas. For example I could work in panels, for a storyboard-esque feel. Frame my knitting, make a library of components, or link my knitting to my recent work with paper cut-outs (scanning in knitted panels, cutting these to create a layered paper image)

JERSEY

I went to Jersey for the weekend, and thought I could use it as research towards landscapes and buildings. It's such an agriculturally rich country that the landscape is always so earthy and rich looking. There's a lot of farmland and as it's an island a lot of coast. The buildings are quite diverse from more cottage like buildings to large manor houses. The are all very simple looking though.

I think this picture best show the expanse of Jersey's greenery. Considering it's only 9x5miles, to see  layer upon layer of  rural land is impressive.

The houses are almost part of the countryside, embedded in the land. Not overpowering or distracting.

ARRANGEMENTS

Now I have all the layers I can play around with arrangement. I can see where best to put the whale to make it stand out .

Although I really like the last image as I feel it really creates a sense of depth I think my favourite overall arrangement is the second. Although we can appreciate the other layers the eye is drawn to the whale.

Chosen Layout

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

We had a workshop with Hayley today, it was really useful for the more web based side of our work. Good sites for blogs and online portfolios. Also for writing our artist biography. This is what I had by the end of the workshop:

Christabel Budd is a mixed media creative practitioner, specialising in using paper and wool. She studied BA (hons) Illustration at Arts University Bournemouth, under tutors including David Callow, Salvatore Robino and Markus Oakley. Her work is inspired by experience, the hypnotic effect of repeating a process to create an overall image or sculpture. Her work often reacts to her environment, places visited and the atmosphere of a place, which is described using a limited palette. A 2D or 3D approach to making is selected depending upon the content of the project. Her work initially begins with observation of a place, quick expressive location drawings and snap shots to capture her viewpoint of the place at that moment. Whilst doing these, she begins to decide what medium to respond in. Her work with wool and paper tend to be more extensively informed, expressive and tactile, responding to relevant stimuli. Her drawings and relief work however tend to have a more sombre mood. Created either by a build up of meticulous dot or line work. The pieces convey the trance like state that encompasses the artist at the time of making.

Apparently it's better to write in the third person. It's was useful having someone go through what your practice is with you and have it written down. It gave me a better understanding of what I actually do.

LAYERS

Finish Layers

MUDDLED

We  had a meeting to decide on the name of the zine we would create. We decided on muddled as it's fun and playful. We each had to make a selection of things in our colours to be put on the front cover. He's a selection of what I made:

CHOSEN DESIGN

I've chosen tho design as I think I'll get a better sense of depth with this than any of the others. It will allow me to split the image into layers, using both paper cut outs and origami. 

I split the image into 4 layers and will make origami layers which I can place within these paper cut ones. 

COMPOSITION

Using the origami animals I'd made I played around with composition, to get  a feel for how the individuals creatures would interact with one another. ( In the first 3 I've used the divide in the paper to represent the sea line).















It was hard to get a real sense of how the final arrangement would look and feel due to the lack of colour, I therefore decided it would be better to sketch some plans and arrangements and then think how best to apply the method after.

SILENT AUCTION

My Silent Auction submissions

These 2 images are made up of 4 layer silk screen prints, with typewriter lettering. The registration is purposely off to make it appear obviously hand-made. I also like the drop shadow effect given.

As it was going to be just before valentines day I decided to make some scented stuffed hearts. Quick little knits.

PAPER PROJECT

After attempting an origami bird I decided to stick with a sea theme as no instructions seemed to have the type of bird I was looking for. Sticking with the sea theme, I decided to focus specifically on the blue whale and dolphins, with simple fish for decoration. 

I wanted the whale to be the statement piece, the main focus of the composition. I attempted a more complex origami video for making a 3D whale: 

Here's the video I followed by Joseph Wu

For the extra time taken in comparison with the others, I don't think this whale looks much better. 

PLAYTIME IS OVER

I wanted to spend the first month experimenting with materials and ways of knitting. I feel I have done this quite successfully, now knowing what works well and what doesn't and being able to now use this to create works in response to my visited areas.

As mentioned in my statement of intent, I'm working on a small group project surrounding paper craft. Now I feel I've come to a suitable place within my main project I will put this to one side for the next week while I focus on my input towards the paper project.

Mid- January we met to decide a theme for our zine. We toyed around with various ideas such as paper toys, quotes, transformation and colour. Eventually we decided on the theme of colour. We each will be representing one colour but working in a colour not necessarily related. We did this by picking colours of out a hat twice.

I am working in orange but representing blue. The first things that came to mind we the sky and sea, and so birds and fish. From the start I've had in mind the way I wanted to work. Focussing on origami and potentially mixing it with a background made up of a paper cut. 

OXFORD VISIT

The first thing I noticed about Oxford was how different it was compared to London. The buildings seemed a lot older and decorative and there was colour. Colours you wouldn't expect to see on a building let alone buildings in a busy town. 

Grand old buildings, made me think of old castles and medieval times.

There were a lot of pastel coloured buildings, which seemed to be centred around, cream, pink and blue.

We visited 2 museums: Pitt Rivers and The Ashmolean. I found Pitts Rivers much more helpful, I think this was a lot to do with it's layout, it seemed more informal and things were grouped by subject rather than country, which meant it was easy to find and area of interest sit and draw. By the time we arrived at the Ashmolean, I was quite tired and had just seen a pigeon explode so found it very difficult to muster enthusiasm. I looked around very quickly taking few photos and hardly touching my sketchbook.