Assignment 5: Final Collection
After receiving my feedback from my tutor for the final assignment, I decided to revisit the assignment and rework it to try and create some final samples that fit the criteria and my own development research better. I decided to keep 3 of the previous final samples I had submitted, and then recreated an extra 3 samples - a fabric scrap patchwork quilt sample and two mixed-media collage samples. I felt that these reflected my developments from the assignment far more than what I had previously submitted. I was far more pleased with the outcome of these samples and when looking back at my original arrangement of objects that was used as a reference point for the entire assignment, it is clear that these new 3 samples reflected that arrangement way better too.
Fig 1 Original arrangement of objects and materials
Fig 2 Piece 1 crochet patchwork sample
Fig 3 Piece 1 close up
Fig 4 Piece 1 close up
My research into patchwork and crochet has been a clear source of inspiration for this first sample and I tried to just focus on both the processes and the overall colour palette for the project with this piece. Unfortunately I was unable to gain access to the exact colours I needed when looking for wool to work with so I had to try and match the colours as close as I could. I used the bright pink to represent the flamingos on the picture frame within the arrangement but it is certainly far brighter than it should have been. The use of crochet was to incorporate the following observational drawing (see fig 5, below) which was in response to the material I used at the base of my arrangement.
Fig 5 Observational drawing
Fig 6 Piece 2 crochet patchwork version 2 sample
Fig 7 Piece 2 close up
Fig 8 Piece 2 close up
I decided to keep this second version of a crochet patchwork as it was a development of the previous one, but with the addition of some more mixed-media aspects to the design such as the beading and the coils made from pipe cleaners. The beading was in response to the observations of the decorative frame from fig 9 as seen below which I had already explored within one of my samples (see fig 10 below). The coils were of course in response to the metal coils included in my original arrangement which I recorded in a few of my observational drawings. Unlike the coils from the original arrangement and my development sample (see fig 11), I decided to experiment with the colour choice by using a purple shade which is sourced from the floral fabric within the arrangement. Much like the bright pink wool used which doesn’t quite reflect that of the colour in my arrangement, the purple shade isn’t an exact replica of the colour taken from the fabric, I tried to match the colours as much as I could with the materials I had available to me.
Fig 9 Observational drawing
Fig 10 Sample of crochet and beading combination
Fig 11 Sample of crochet and coils combination
Fig 12 Piece 3 crochet patchwork version 3 sample
Fig 13 Piece 3 close up
Fig 14 Piece 3 close up
Although this particular sample is quite a jump from the previous two, I decided to keep this in my final collection rather than the other designs as I felt that there were aspects to this design that really represented my original arrangement as well as my own observations and research compared to the others samples. For example, the use of the 3D crochet flowers and the vine-like yarn which I have included on 2 of the patches and the gold elasticated yarn which was used to create the flatter-looking, less 3D crochet flowers on 2 of the other patches from this crochet patchwork sample. I took a lot of inspiration from one of my observational drawings for the white section surrounding the patchwork within this piece, if you look at fig 5 I think it is clear where I have taken inspiration when you look at the crochet section with holes as part of the design. The pink and purple raised stripes near the outer edge of the design were definitely inspired by the decorative frame in the arrangement as well as my observation of the frame as seen in fig 9. Below are some of the developments throughout this project that I used to inspire this particular sample (see fig 15-18)
Fig 15 Samples of 3D crochet roses
Fig 16 Sample of vine-like crochet yarn
Fig 17 Sample of combination of crochet patch, 3D crochet flower and vine-like crochet yarn
Fig 18 Sample of gold elasticated crochet flowers
Fig 19 Piece 4 fabric scrap patchwork quilt sample
Fig 20 Piece 4 close up
Fig 21 Piece 4 close up
Fig 22 Paper patchwork sample from project 2
I decided to create a fairly simple sample for the first “new” design for the final assignment, using this paper patchwork sample from project 2 as a starting point. I selected various fabrics that I felt represented my colour scheme and object arrangement and used a variety of sized pieces to create a free-hand patchwork. By free-hand I mean that I did not iron anything nor pin anything. The edges were un-even and weren’t visually appealing as a result of this and considering there was no fabric to represent the knitted/crochet samples I have been working with, I decided to incorporate some lace. The lace added another texture to the piece without taking away too much attention from the rest of the patchwork. I think compared to the crochet pieces I have created for this assignment, this patchwork represents my colour scheme far better but lacks much texture or depth.
Fig 23 Piece 5 mixed-media collage sample
Fig 24 Piece 5 close up
Fig 25 Piece 5 close up
Fig 26 Piece 5 close up
I decided to look at my collage and material observations from project 2 (see fig 27 and 28) when approaching the next two samples. For this 5th piece, I used the photograph of my original arrangement as well as my observational drawings to pick out elements to represent within the multi-media collage. I went for an abstract interpretation, similar to how I approached some of the collage work from part 3 earlier on in the course. I did not worry about accurately representing each element, instead focussing on the materials I chose and how they sat together compositionally. I wanted to add in some more “3D” elements to the collage to add some depth and texture to the piece that the previous design (piece 4) simply did not have. I think visually this piece is okay but I think I may have left too much “white space”. This is something I tried to address in the next and final sample for this assignment, as well as incorporating some added texture inspired by previously made samples. I also included a sample of crochet on this piece, with metal coils sewn to it. This was my way of bringing in a fully 3D element to the piece that featured in my original object arrangement as well as trying to experiment with using a different colour from my colour scheme - purple coils rather than the original copper coils used.
Fig 27 Collage observation from project 2
Fig 28 Material observation from project 2
Fig 29 Piece 6 mixed-media collage 2 sample
Out of all the designs I have created for this final assignment I would say that this is probably my favourite and one of the more successful samples I have created throughout the course. I kept this design fairly similar to the previous, a multi-media collage, but this time I tried to focus on the overall composition more as well as adding additional texture to the piece. The new textures come from the addition of both the lace trim and the beading added to some of the floral fabric. Concerning the composition of this piece, I tried to represent the arrangement from my observational drawings and how the objects were placed. I still kept with the abstract style as this is a style I am really drawn to, I feel that creating abstract representations is far more freeing and allows me to be more creative with my work. Although there is still a fair amount of “white space” to be seen within this piece, I feel that the placement of the various elements works better and the “white space” simply allows the viewer to take in those various elements. As well as providing texture, the lace trim has provided covering for the raw edges of the fabrics used but it proved a little difficult to attach when sewing it next to the crochet and metal coils. I used copper coil for this piece rather than the purple to try and bring in the actual metallic colour from the original arrangement. I also added some machine stitching using gold metallic thread which I tried to represent in on of my original observational drawings (see fig 34).
Fig 30 Piece 6 close up
Fig 31 Piece 6 close up
Fig 32 Piece 6 close up
Fig 33 Piece 6 close up
Fig 34 Observational drawing
On reflection, I limited myself by keeping materials exactly as is when creating these samples. Particularly in the first 3 final samples. Thinking back, I could have tried to add paint or dye to my materials to try and achieve the correct colours I was after as using paint obviously gives you the ability to mix colours to the exact colour you’d like. If I were to go back and look at this project again, this is definitely something I would look at and it would have provided me with further development and research too. I will definitely keep this in mind for further projects as it should enable me to explore colour and materials more.
