Test Printing!

Last week I have been in the workshop, experimenting with my test screens and lots of exciting processes, here are some of the results...

Initial strike off in purple pigment print

Discharge print with overlaid foil highlights

Discharge print using pigment in the paste to replace colour

I had hoped to use discharge printing for my main printed length, but this would mean lifting the fabric off the table to steam and wash it to set the discharge paste, however I wouldn't then be able to register my second screen to add foil highlights. So instead I worked on alternative options for colour ways and experimented with more processes....

matte grey foil on yellow/green fabric with lasercut leather overlay

Iridescent foil on black fabric

My favourite samples, which will inform my colour palette and processes when printing my final fabric lengths in a couple of weeks time!

Drawing Pt.3

Since being allowed back in the studio after Easter this week (2 weeks was a long time away!) I've carried drawing all the weird and wonderful things I've been looking at, particularly carnivorous plants. Here are just a few examples of what I've been up to this week...

This striking carnivorous plant attracts bugs to its sticky fronds and then curls itself up to eat them...

I loved drawing these gorgeous succulents

Textural twisting branches/vines

Exotic pitcher plants... love the texture and pattern on these.
I have accumulated a lot of drawings now of a range of imagery with some interesting mark making and texture, so I'm forcing myself to stop for now and move on to the next stage. I have made a few test screens with my imagery to start trying out the processes, fabrics and colours I want to use, and I can't wait to to get in the workshop and start experimenting! I will post again next week to show what I've been up to.

Placement

Over the Easter break from university I had the fantastic opportunity to work at Paper Rose/ The Art Group in Nottingham. This was off the back of a live brief which the company set us at University to design Typography themed cards aimed at a male market- I was so pleased to have my designs selected as a winning entry, and part of the prize was two weeks placement in their design studio.

During my week there I had the chance to develop the designs I created for them during the live brief with a few more ideas for the range. I also developed my floral wallpaper design into some gorgeous giftwrap and gift bag designs, including mocking up samples with foil finishes on- I do love a bit of sparkle and shine! It was also great opportunity to see how a design studio works on a day to day basis, get to know more about ranges, the design and selection process and all the exciting techniques and finishes that are used on cards and giftware products.

I had a fantastic week working with all the wonderful team there, and am very excited to return for my second week of placement at the beginning of July, when I will be doing some more work in their design studio and hopefully pushing on with my card range for them, so stay tuned for my post then on how it goes.

In the mean time, why not check out some of the great ranges they produce at www.paperrose.co.uk and www.artgroupcards.co.uk, or like their Facebook pages and follow @paperrosecards and @The_Art_Group on Twitter for regular updates!

Lasercut Loveliness

Something I'm hoping to incorporate into my designs is the use of leather that is lasercut and/or etched. My lovely friend offered me some time on the laser cutter, so I jumped at the chance to test out my drawings so far on the leather I had (I bought a whole purple leather hide for £49- bargain!) Here are some of the samples I produced.

Testing the speed and power to achieve the right depth for etching the leather...

Then I used my drawings so far to do etching experiment on some pieces from a book of leather samples I have been given...

I then moved on to pieces of the leather I will be actually using, using a slightly larger scale...

I experimented with cutting as well as etching...

This piece was etched first, then cut out

These pieces were just cuts, it took the laser a couple of goes to cut right through!

From these experiments I feel the etch may be better as a separate piece, perhaps I may take a section of my final repeat design and it it into a large piece that could work as a cushion or wall piece. I really like the cut outline style pieces, perhaps these could work as add on 3D elements of a repeat print. I can't wait to do some more drawing and work on combining it with this exciting technique!