Mark Making: Bleach & Salt

Today I continued with my mark making experimenting and how I could represent decay, rust and erosion like marks. For this I decided to look at resist techniques and I chose to experiment with the use of bleach and salt for this. These everyday household items are a interesting way to produce expressive marks and are a good way to produce interesting layers of colour. Using my research of the artist Micheal Chase I also experimented with my scanner settings to give the images a digital illustrative look similar to Micheal's own art.

This first sample was produced using acrylic paint and bleach. Using bleach leaves behind a interesting bleed affect that reacts well to the acrylic and reminds me of growth, bacteria or moss.

This second sample was done with artists ink and salt. This has a nice crackle effect due to the salt reacting to the wet ink, soaking up the excess ink leaving behind a interesting effect that has similarity to rust or erosion. 

I continued to develop these two techniques which work really well for my concept. I began experimenting with combining the two techniques together to create some interesting and very atmospheric samples.

This final sample was done with artist inks and both the salt and bleach effect. After this dried I continued further with this by scratching the surface of the paper for a more distressed look.

I am going to continue with this and work with other mediums and techniques that could possibly have a similar effect.

Primary Research: Wentworth Gardens

For my use of florals in my work I wanted to focus on drawing styles through observational drawing and other primary research. For this I took a visit to the Wentworth Castle Gardens which had a number of beautiful, vibrant flowers hosting a number of inspirational colours, shapes and forms. 

I am going to begin by drawing from these using various drawing styles and begin on colour development using a number of artist materials to simulate the colours as a starting point for a possible future colour palette.

Inspiration: Micheal Chase

While searching for artists and designers that experiment with texture I came across the artist Micheal Chase. His work comprises of heavy image distortion, layering, and digital manipulation which when combined produce expressive and innovative art pieces. His work has so much depth and detail due to his use of photography and his research of decaying and temporary surfaces. Manipulation of these photographed surfaces and his experimentation of distortion and vibrant colours also leaves a wondering and ethereal mood to the artwork.

Looking through his website I also found myself drawn to his floral art pieces. I particularly was interested in the use of heavy textures on such a delicate object and the idea of turning the rust and distressed textures with the florals and foliage into something unique and beautiful with such an unusual surface.

I think this works well and the idea of two completely different subjects coming together in such a expressive way. This could be a possible direction for my project, giving my work a feminine touch. With this I am going to experiment with this through drawing and primary research of my own florals and foliage which I will then work from and manipulate in digital form as well as traditionally through textile print and embroidery. 

Mark Making

Looking at my photographs there is a lot of emphasis on texture. With this in mind I decided to look at doing my own interpretations of this by using mark making techniques and a variety of tools. Using items that can be found around the house as well as brushes and other artist tools, I was able to produce different textures and ideas for print and stamping techniques which I am going to develop for fabric sampling.

I think this one in particular works really well. By using acrylic paint and a textured piece of polystyrene I stamped the surface of the paper leaving behind this interesting texture. I experimented with colour and layering to allow depth to the work. Because of the colour combination the marks seem to blur together and leave a cluster of shapes similar to the rust photographs that I have taken.

I used the same principle as above for this painting but I used a bright yellow background so that the shapes that are formed by the stamp stand out more. Both the paintings seem to have a pixel-like quality to them but with a expressive twist. I am keen to develop these further possibly into repeat pattern ideas or manipulated more in the print and embroidery workshops. I am also going to carry on with experimenting with different tools to create texture so that I have a variety to work with.

Primary Research: Decay

While researching my chosen topic I have written down a number of words that I feel could represent my project. One particular word that I like is decay and the idea of something wearing away revealing a number of beautiful layers of colour and texture. With this in mind I took more photographs of this, looking at weathered objects from my back garden. The concept of layering and revealing surfaces could work well within textiles using the use of print and embroidery techniques. I also like the idea of the surface been revealed and built over time.

I know that rust, moss and decay is unappealing but the idea for my concept is to find beauty in the unexpected and undesirable and turn it into appealing textile design pieces.

Primary Research: Distressed Surfaces

Expanding on my idea of surface designs representing moss and growth I have been looking at other photographs that have a similarity to this. I came across a number of images of different decaying surfaces and I thought that this would link well with my other images.

These images, which I took at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, drew my attention due to there natural but artistic qualities. The markings remind me of abstract art, brush strokes and have a resemblance to paint on a canvas. Using these photographs will work well for mark making and drawing ideas in my visual diary as well as when I develop my drawings and ideas in the print workshop which I don't have access to until September. For now I will be focusing on drawing styles and the use of different mediums and mark making tools to simulate these images as well as continuing with photographing any other inspiring surfaces. 

Inspiration: Amy Eisenfeld Genser

Searching though various websites for inspiration I came across the designer Amy Eisenfeld Genser on the website Pinterest. Using paper and acrylics as her medium she creates these beautiful canvas where she rolls the paper into tight spirals to create intricate, three dimensional art works. 

Her work is inspired by coral reefs but they do have resemblance to my own photographs of the tree moss. I particularly like the use of the rolled paper and its three dimensional form, giving the impression of growth and making the detail look like it is jumping off and taking over the canvas.

89 Days!

Next week is the start of July so I have started looking at my final major project and looking at ideas and concepts to get me started. Ive been trying to stay active over the last few months by visiting museums, galleries and parks to find a variety of inspiration for possible project starting points.

When I am searching for ideas and inspiration I find myself draw to the beautiful but the unexpected with a traditional but creative twist. I have an eye for detail and I am usually more interested in the surface rather than the object itself so my digital camera is filled with these weird and wonderful photographs. 

While searching through my camera of my images so far a few in particular caught my eye straight away. While visiting the Yorkshire Sculpture Park I took the time photographing the park itself as well as the sculptors on display. But the images that appealed to me the most was the nature in the park and its 'unusual' closeups. While taking a walk around the trees I noticed the moss growing along the trunks. Taking detailed close ups of these produced beautiful vibrant colours and very detailed shapes that wrapped around the tree bark.

Using these photographs as a starting point, I'm going to develop this inspiration further by expanding on my ideas so that I have a starting point for a project. Right now I am going to focus on visual research and doing more primary as well as secondary research.