SAMPLE developments ...

Exploring colour further, and finally beginning to create texture....

Tailor tack, satin stitch varied widths, corded threads.

Small pin tuck on dip dyed wool.

Small pin tuck, large, satin stitch, tailor tack on calico.

Contexually I have been looking at the work of  Alison Bell, her designs below have inspired me to encorporate aspects of my drawings into my embroidery samples, I like the way she has printed onto silk, combining print and photography, I therefore think my 'manipulation of feather photographs' will aid my development of samples .....

http://www.alisonbell.co.uk/index2.html



Harris Hawk ....

More visual research, exploring from life, the harsh marks and daunting tones found in a friends Harris hawk... More drawings to follow ...

(4b, 6b, 2b pencil)

(compressed charcoal)

Manipulation

Whilst reflecting on past drawing sessions I began to revisit the idea of deconstruction... When experimenting with feathers I had collected, the phrases ' to burn', ' to wrap' and 'to paint' had soon led to the manipulation of existing forms and tones!! This experimentation also allowed me to explore the effect of scale, such minute feathers appear powerful....

Jay birds

To further my visual research I have studies stuffed jay birds from life using a selection of mark making to explore its qualities.....

Colour in Feathers .....

 

As a result of a recent C.P. lecture I was left considering the idea of Space in what I saw as quite a spiritual, and theoretical way.  We were asked to consider several questions concerning what we considered to be spaces, and what we considered to be objects, How one can experience space, and whether or not space is the same as place....

After researching the idea of space in design, I came across an Artist who uses feathers to fill space in different ways, this provided me with a different angle when considering my theme of plumage, the images below left me wondering how such weightless objects could define a specific 'space' .....

                                                               www.yatzer.com/The-feather-explosions-of-Kate...

The tone and texture here is intriguing, however the scale and large mass of feathers is invading and   frightening, opposing connotaions that would usually be associated with feathers.

Second Brief

For the Second brief I aim to continue with the theme of Plumage however I want to expand the visual aspect of my work, from reflecting on the first drawings I feel I need to source more imagery, and study a range of birds from a 3d viewpoint, as a result I hope over the next few days to visit as many 'bird places' that I can. Initially I want to produce a range of drawings and paintings, however would like to discover other ways in which feathers are used in art, or design, to gain inspiration to take risks throughout this project, and to enable me to push my ideas in ways I am not comfortable with.....