Trip to Liverpool Biennial 

Rain, brollies, mud, puddles. Main factors of the trip. I still had a great time looking at the art and design Biennial had to offer. Although looking at the perfectly constructed art pieces and the buildings was a pleasant experience, I was also interested in the graffiti on the walls which made the deserted gloomy streets look very ‘alive’. The vibrant colours emerging from the walls immediately captured my attention and forced me to stay still for a minute or two in the pouring rain and observe these hidden artworks more closely. This was one of my favourite pieces I set my eyes on throughout the trip. The pink background over a beautifully textured wall in a gloomy street created juxtaposition which was interestingly calming. A piece of art in itself on the doorsteps of an old warehouse, how convenient.  I suppose this is exactly what this project (journeys) is about, observing little things during a daily trip which you would normally take for granted. This experience definitely helped me realise that art can be found anywhere, there is no specific place or time for it, and you just have to have an open mind.

A small graffiti on the wall was not the only thing I took away from this visit; I also came across Kyungah Ham’s sensual abstract weave, in Copperas Hill exhibition. As I observed it more closely, I noticed a series of random words within the long colourful strips. It was a pleasant surprise as I wasn't expecting anything else from this piece because the selective use of colour and high embroidery skills made it look like a finished piece.  Although the words were quite random and did not come together as an understandable sentence, they were still very delicately placed on the woven silk. This piece got me thinking about my own project, how can I include words in my own work? As I had a long think about it during my way back to the coach, I came up with the idea of noting down all the words and numbers I see on the way back to Manchester as part of my visual research and if possible, develop this idea further as the project progresses. 

Summer Brief - Kite

The summer brief is to create/make/design a Kite, which you will show or fly in the park on your 

first day on the Textiles in Practice programme.

Think about your use of colour, materials and technology, as there are no limits to the 

look and structure of your Kite. 

No Kite is too big, no Kite is too small.

Photograph your kite in various and unusual locations around the School of Art and Manchester. Select 3 images and upload to your blog.

While creating my kite, I was more focused on the materials I'd to use than the shape. I looked through my recycled fabrics box to find the right printed cloth for the wings because I wanted them to look very textural and as realistic as possible. There was a small piece of fabric with snake-like print which seemed perfect for the purpose, I added some sequins and threads into it to add more texture. 

I am very pleased with the end result, especially the wings. I think I used the materials effectively to create this kite and kept it simple yet very eye-catching. 

Unusual locations

Kite on a washing line, Sepia. Worm's eye view.This photograph is by far my favourite one because the sepia effect and the scenery works together to make it look old and traditional. It also has a vintage like feeling to it. 

Holding the kite against sunshine to achieve the full effect of the wings. A bright kite right held close to the camera almost turns the buildings in the background into silhouettes. 

Kite behind a chair.

Negative of the above photograph. 

Origami Flowers

Final piece for FMP.

Sketchbook Pages 

Artists' talk (Christine Evans) documented on the left page with pictures. Photographs of my constructive sculpture inspired by the artist on the right page. Artwork created with two materials; beads and wire.

Collage of my personal accessories for the Identity project (left page) stitching and fabric painting (right page).

Marbelling

Sketchbook page for the Final Major Project. Collection of photogram, transferring fabric and digital work.

Printed patterns.

Burning origami flower (FMP)

Art Movements

A surrealist/contemporary headpiece inspired by Lady Gaga's bubbles costume and a surrealist sculpture in Witworth Art Gallery, called Brass Art No.1.

Development piece for the body adornment. 

Final outcome. Surrealist/contemporary body adornment made from cellophane and cello tape bubbles. 

Final Outcome. Photograph of coloured bubbles on a mannequin. I prefer this piece because the variety of colours bring the mannequin to life and looks more eye-catching.

Pop Art Poster

Final design edited on Photoshop. This poster is inspired by the funky n punky hairdo of one of the most famous Pop art artists, Andy Warhol. I am very pleased by the final outcome because I like the looseness and innovative feel of it.

Eden Project

Sculpture made from newspaper straws and masking tape. Inspired by the beautiful and exotic shapes of plants in the Horticultural centre.

Observational drawing of exotic flowers and plants in Horticultural centre using different media such as fineliner, pencil, graphite and charcoal.

Watercolour study.

Development piece.

Final outcome in progress.

I created this piece in the Wythenshawe Horticultural park. It is a black and white painting with colourful acetate butterflies on top. The idea of black and white landscape came from Paul Morrison's work. The composition is developed by creating various thumbnails and selecting the most successful ones for the final outcome.

Group Work

Yellow leaves line in Lake District inspired by Andy Goldsworthy.

Manchester Art Gallery trip. Abstract oil pastel drawing.

Mark Making exercise. For this activity we made our own tools to create different marks with which would relate to a specific culture/location e.g. Eiffel Tower, Wythenshawe and the Chinese dragon.

Unit 3

A1 still-life ink drawing using various mark-making techniques. I then used sections of this drawing to paint in the style of the artists I looked at for Unit3.

Mixed-Media

Mixed-Media

Mixed media drawings of seed-pot. 

Unit 2

Sketchbook for Unit2. Basic development of ideas.

Acrylic painting of a zoomed in flower and collage on top. 

Acrylic painting on a piece of cardboard.

Oil pastels. This observational study of a bud was inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe. 

Close-ups of flowers to inspire ideas for Unit 2.

Dragon fly bag. For decoration, I used embroidery, fusing plastic and acrylics.