Portfolio

This portfolio shows my art textile final pieces and the drawings and fabric making of my inspirations that led me to make them.

The theme was 'natural elements' and I focused on the movement of water. I decided to do a tutu because of the graceful flowing movement of ballet dancers. The bodice I made with embelished felt that mimicked the lines and movement found in waves and the layered tutu skirt is tipped with white acrilic paint to mimic the froth of the waves.

 The inspiration I got for this piece was predominantly based on the vibrant colours found on insects and birds. However I decided that I would use the vibrant colours for the decorative part of the bodice and a frequently occuring colour of blue for the main skirt. The dress is made from stretch jersey and the decorative detail on the bodice was inspired from vibrant coulours mainly in peacock feathers made from my own felt rings. The subtle lines on the dress were based on the intricate detail found within the wings of flies. 

This chicken is painted in water colour with the relief done with pencil and white pen. This painting is A4 size.

This butterfly is A2 in size and I used pastels. I was looking at the colour and the delicateness of the butterfly wing.

This piece of fabric is also based on the wing of a butterfly which I made blending the colours of fabric pens. It is A3 in size. They fabric i used was a stiff silk that reminded me of the smooth delicate wings.

The theme for this dress was 'ordinary and extraordinary'. I based it on the reflections and silhouettes of trees and buildings. The dress is made in silk with the bodice showing the silhouette of a tree and the topskirt its reflection. The detail in the underskirt is of the reflections of buildings with the autumnal falling copper leaves linking the trees and buildings together.

This dress is made from printed stretch jersey. The design of the print was my own drawings of slices of fruit and vegetables that I had photographed laid on glass with the sunlight behind to show off their vibrant colours.  The inspiration for this dress came from the all of the vibrant summer colours around me and it was a piece I thought was possible to wear to a summer wedding.

This onion themed idea was one of my thought processes in my path towards my final fruit dress design.

The size of this display is A4 in total. The onion is drawn in pencil the the rings are in felt.

This display is over two pages each  A3 in size. The large lily is drawn in water colour with the detail of the pollen drawn with a pencil. The fabric is of one of my photographs printed onto silk with the anthers highlighed with glitter. The individual anther is made of a layer of stretched fabri on calico which I stuffed to give a 3D image. Is is another one of my thought processes looking at the colours I found within the fruit.

Other examples of my drawings leading me to the final fruit dress design.

This blossom branch is drawn in fine liner and then blened with water with the blossom in acrylic paints. It crosses over the top half of two A3 pages. I was inspired through researching Japanese artists. I continued my explorations of colour for my final fruit dress piece.

This is A3 in size. This is done in layers of pastel to get the shadow and the curvature of the petals. Again summer colours helping me decide on my fruit dress design.

This clutch bag is part of my A2 work. It is made from silk with a functional pouch that has to hold more than just a lipstick. It's design was inspired from the shapes and lines I have seen when studying different shells. I have highlighted the lines of the shell using beads inspired by the colours of pebbles that I have explored. In doing this into the  padding I have managed to create a 3D piece. It is approx 30 x 50 cm.

Examples from my sketch book are below:

These pebbles are A2 in size and in pastels. It is from a collection of photographs that I took at a beach. I combined all of the colours and shapes of the pebbles that I had seen.

I did a base layer of water and added ink to let it bleed. This gave me the random and uncontrolled look to make these pebbles unique. They are both approx A5 size.

 This mussel shell is drawn using silk fabric pens with hand stitched detail. Continuing my shell theme. It is approx A5 size.

This piece is approx 30 x 10cm. It is water colour with fine liner for the detail. This piece is based on the 3D theme that is going through my sketch book, strongly influenced by the colour and shape of a mussel shell.

This lace is of my own design which I did on a sewing machine. This is carrying on with my shell theme. This is a simple design. I would have made it more intricate, however I repeated the overlay pattern more times than I needed to, therefore it not looking as delicate as I had hoped for. However I like the finished relief look I have by chance achieved.

This is A3 in size and in pastels. This piece is not a life representation it is my own version of asbstract art, with a slightly blended and not sharp and crisp focus as in some of my other work.

This decorative ceiling hanging was inspired by the shells I have been researching. I mainly focused on the use of the spike shapes. I am planning on making the frame of this design out of wire to give me a sturdy shape. It will then be covered in dyed silk as in the sample, to give it the delicate look of a real shell. Another possible use of this design could also be as a lamp shade.

This last piece is based on a wood shaving. However I have enhanced the colour to exagerate the shadow and curves of the shaving. I have done this because the movement and shapes of this wood shaving reminds me of those that I have seen in different shells. This is approx A3 in size and have used pencil.