Right brain business planning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t8x_kCpzK4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Inspiration photos from Porthleven beach

Whilst having a wonder along the beach yesterday the late afternoon light was just beautiful and really set off the orange tones in the rocks.

Storm Front exhibition catalogue covers

Here's a sneaky peek at the very first catalogue covers that I've been working on for the storm front exhibition!

Testing the Space at the Porthleven Lifeboat house

I have been busy working away at homw over the past few weeks experimenting and creating some textile pieces for the Storm exhibition.  I thought I would take advantage of our meeting this weekend at the lifeboat house to get a sense of size and scale of my work. I am really pleased with the outcome! .....time to get back to work rhen :)

Sunset at Porthleven

Gorgeous deep colours of the sunset off the coast at Porthleven.

Storm experimenting and playing with ideas

Just afew snap shots of some of my experiments and testing out surface ideas

Storm waves at Porthleven and Pinterest board

 

This is one of the many photos I have taken over the years of the storm waves at Porthleven but I particularly love this image as you can really see the extent of the spray in the foreground from the crashing wave. I also love all the silvery tones, no sign of any blue or green which are traditionally very sea like colours!

For more images of storms that inspire this project check out my pinterest board
(http://www.pinterest.com/zoehowarth/storm/)

Silk dyed piece "Breaking wave"

Splattering fabric

This is great fun, splattering fabric with wax to create a resist which needs to be left to dry before dyeing the piece. This process can be repeated and layered up yo create something very exciting!

Initial storm project samples

Here are some initial painted silk experiments where I use water as an integral part of the process. It is a fluid and spontaneous process in which the colours are encouraged to move and blend into one another on the surface of the silk.

Porthleven Storms

 

Exciting new project...... "Cornish Storms"

I am so excited to be taking part in a local exhibition in mid December here in Porthleven at the Lifeboat House Gallery. This exhibition is with a collective of artists from all over Cornwall who have been brought together by Mid-Summer-Nights.

This is a brilliant opportunity for me to work to a set brief and really get creative again. For far too long I have felt like I am so busy thinking about product and business that I have lost my creative side, or at least it has been repressed lately!

I am focusing on storms around Porthleven. They are wild and the waves often come up over the pier and across the road.

My statement of intent is:

To capture the power of a storm and its huge crashing waves; the motion, movement and energy in the creation of a piece of textile art.

Land Art

Land Art: Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long

I find land art incredibly inspiring! If we could all have such a direct relationship with our natural landscapes our world would probably be a much healthier place.

There is something about land art that really reminds me of several of the Japanese principles, I think that is because they similarly are inspired by nature, working with nature and being part of nature. I love this idea!

Land Art = Beautiful............... Spontaneous......... Natural........ Honest............ Ancient............
                   Profound........ Simple.......... Thought provoking.............Powerful.......
                   .............experiencing nature in a whole new light.


Andy Goldsworthy:

This video is a fascinating insight into the incredible work of Andy Goldsworthy and the ideology behind his work.

 

 

Richard Long:

 

These videos above give an amazing insight into the process and installation of Richard Long's artworks. Seeing these beautiful natural pieces on display in a gallery away from their natural setting is a stunning way to 'frame' and really highlight the simple beauty of our natural world.

Art and Design, by definition

I sometimes get lost in my work and in my direction and I then feel that it is helpful to come right back to the beginning and remind myself of obvious basis. For this purpose here are the definitions of art and design as a way of defining how I work and what path I am on:

ART:

noun

• 1 [mass noun] the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power

DESIGN:

Noun A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made.

Verb Decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), typically by making a detailed drawing of it.

Sustainable Textile Design Resources

Living in a world where, lets face it, we are rapidly using up resources and land, destroying natural habitats and contributing varsity to rising carbon levels, surely the responsibility of changing this is particularly down to forward thinking designers who can help to change the way we work and think about design.

 

http://www.tedresearch.net/

 

http://practicalaction.org/textiles-and-sustainability

 

http://katefletcher.com/blog-archive/

 

http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/sustainability/inspire/ual-sustainability-projects/ted/

 

http://www.sustainable-fashion.com/tag/textiles/

 

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design/Fashion-and-textile-design/The-future-of-fashion/

 

http://www.the-eco-market.com/eco-friendly-fabrics.html

 

http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/the-issues/organic-eco-fashion

 

http://textileinformation.blogspot.co.uk/

 

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/7/651/eco-friendly-textiles-through-application1.asp

 

http://www.ecotextile.com/2013050212007/fashion-retail-news/sustainable-fashion-design-award-opens.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design zen

 

 (Shihoko Fukumoto)

I absolutely love Japanese design. There is something so simple yet stunning, so natural yet elegant and so well executed and thought out that just creates such a perfect overall piece that you can only admire in awe. I have discovered that there are the 7 Japanese principles which can be applied to all areas of your life but can definitely be found present in beautiful Japanese design. They are:

1. Simplicity- uncomplicated
2. Irregularity- uneven, irregular
3. Austere- beauty in being understated
4. Naturalness- raw, non-artificial
5. Profundity- avoid obvious, not revealing all
6. Unworldly- freedom from habits
7. Tranquillity- stillness, energised calm

I think I can learn from these principles and I am going to work these ideas into my design process from now on to help me to evolve as a textile artist and create my best work yet!....Here goes.... :)

To find out more here are a couple of links to more indepth explanations of the 7 theories of Japanese philosophy:

http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2009/09/exposing-ourselves-to-traditional-japanese-aesthetic-ideas-notions-that-may-seem-quite-foreign-to-most-of-us-is-a-goo.html

http://www.designsojourn.com/theories-behind-japanese-design/

Sunny days

With all this beautiful weather at the moment we've found it hard to stay inside and get any work done! Its perfect beach weather and me and the little man have been out for lots of walks to the harbour for an ice cream. Its nice to see such blue skys, clear waters and there were even dolphins down by the pier at the weekend!

Mark making

Textile and Knitwear Designer: Jesscia Leclere

Whilst having a little flick around pinterest today I came across this amazing knitwear designer. Her collection has reminded me of the real aspect of 'Design'. Every single feature of her clothing is really considered and precise meaning that all aspects of the garment works together to create an amazing overall look. I also love the tactile/3dimensional aspects of her work, very unique and striking. Made with ultimate refinement and sophistication, her work is truely beautiful!

Check out her full collection here:

http://www.jessicaleclere.com/#/graduate-collection/4565115758