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Wool Embroidery

I was looking for a craft interiors project and wanted to use thick wool I had. I really enjoyed creating both texture and pattern on plain fabric to create some really nice, simple designs. Because the wool was such an interesting texture, I tried to keep the designs very simple so it wasn’t too fussy and you could really appreciate the technique.

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Painting on Wood

Rather than using canvas or paper like normal, I wanted to use a different material that already had lots of natural texture and colour to it. As the wood was already quite detailed, I wanted to use very simple yet interesting shapes to enhance the woods characteristics. I drew inspiration from brutalist con create structures, mostly using the negative space as inspiration.

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Colour Exploration

I wanted to explore colour combinations that I had never tried before with different shapes and scenes. Usually I prefer more muted and natural tones that don’t distract from the shapes or patterns but wanted to Challange myself with more vibrant and unusual colour palettes.

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Watercolour and ink // Memories 

I wanted to challenge myself with a medium I hadn't tried in a while. I wanted to draw in an accurate but sketchy way where you were able to see my style throughout. I also wanted to include lots of colour but for it not to be too distracting from the lines and details within the drawing. 

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A5 Sketch’s // Asia

Fine ink pen with water on A5 watercolour paper.

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Sketchbook Work // Houseplants

Recently I have been enjoying getting back into regular drawing and painting using different materials and techniques as well as experimenting with subtle use of colour. I used my houseplants as my subject as I wanted to apply my minimalist style to a detailed and natural form and generally to challenge myself with still life drawing that I haven’t done in quite a while.

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Weekend Screen Printing Course // Edinburgh Printmakers.

Late in 2018 I signed up for a weekend screen printing course at Edinburgh Printmakers. I was very lucky that I had previously learnt screen printing at university with experience in dye making, chemical mixing, screen stripping, etc. which I greatly enjoyed but due to the fact I graduated 4 years ago, I had forgotten most of the techniques and hadn’t had the opportunity to be within a printing workshop.

During the 2 day course, I was able to refresh my memory whilst having a lot of fun. We were taking through the process step by step as well as developing our own art pieces layer by layer.

I based my 10 copy screen print on my sketchbook work around the theme of brutalism teamed with some rubbings I had made on textured glass and concrete. I wanted to mix clean lines and shapes with a rougher, slightly more natural texture.

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Emulsion on canvas // Brutalism

Some work from last year based on Brutalist architecture in London. Using shape and form as primary inspiration, I was able to layer the shapes on top of each other with colour being the separation. I challenged myself with the colour palettes as I used shades and combinations I rarely use with varying levels of success. 

A3 emulsion on canvas

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https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ConnieMacDonaldCo

Current Work ON SALE

Inspired by London based brutalist architecture. Shape and form being primary sources of references, the colour is able to highlight the relationship and the boldness of the pattern.

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https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ConnieMacDonaldCo

Current Work ON SALE

Inspired by London based brutalist architecture. Shape and form being primary sources of references, the colour is able to highlight the relationship and the boldness of the pattern. 

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Tom Pigeon // Reset Press Risograph Workshop. 

I recently attended a workshop hosted by Reset Press with guest host, Kirsty from Tom Pigeon. The event was help at Custom Lane in Edinburgh in collaboration with the Tom Pigeon exhibition currently being held there. The workshop was so insightful and inspirational with Kirsty taking us through her design thinking and process as well as the logical aspect of running a design business. We were able to design our own prints that were then printed using the Risograph printer, a machine I had never had the pleasure of using nor understanding. For my print, I drew inspiration from not only the exhibition by also my previous paintings I had produced. The outcome was really interesting as it had natural two tone effect like a screen print yet had been produced by a machine. It was a utter pleasure to not only meet Kirsty but also to use the very rare Risograph printer.

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Shape and Form Paint Project.

Experimenting with simplistic shape inspired by the everyday. By developing shape composition on graph paper I was able to depict shapes in my living room in a playful yet minimalistic manner.

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Outcomes // Social Housing Mixed Media Project

Britain’s social housing and its brutalist phase has seen its rise and fall throughout the decades with Sheffield’s Parkhill paving the way for ‘Streets in the Sky’ and London’s Alton Estate being considered by many British architects at the time to be the crowning glory of post-World War II social housing. As many consider the Scandinavian inspired concrete structures as ‘ugly’, I personally find them and their history inspirational.

Not only do the structures themselves hold great detail in shape and form, but also the stories that lie beneath them. The buildings serve a purpose in creating and developing a sense of community and safety, which I think the bold, concrete structures express flawlessly with a sense of intimidation and protection.

My aim for this project was to incorporate the shape, form and pattern of the buildings themselves, but also the relationship between the community by interweaving additional aspects so they work as one. I also wanted to capture a sense of disrepair, slightly fading prestige and loss of respect through the collection that would mirror the thoughts and feelings associated with such buildings and their lack of attention and upkeep. Exploring a mixed media and material approach, I was able to develop my own skill and widen my knowledge regarding integration of multiple materials into a single outcome.  

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Outcomes // Social Housing Mixed Media Project

Britain’s social housing and its brutalist phase has seen its rise and fall throughout the decades with Sheffield’s Parkhill paving the way for ‘Streets in the Sky’ and London’s Alton Estate being considered by many British architects at the time to be the crowning glory of post-World War II social housing. As many consider the Scandinavian inspired concrete structures as ‘ugly’, I personally find them and their history inspirational.

Not only do the structures themselves hold great detail in shape and form, but also the stories that lie beneath them. The buildings serve a purpose in creating and developing a sense of community and safety, which I think the bold, concrete structures express flawlessly with a sense of intimidation and protection.

My aim for this project was to incorporate the shape, form and pattern of the buildings themselves, but also the relationship between the community by interweaving additional aspects so they work as one. I also wanted to capture a sense of disrepair, slightly fading prestige and loss of respect through the collection that would mirror the thoughts and feelings associated with such buildings and their lack of attention and upkeep. Exploring a mixed media and material approach, I was able to develop my own skill and widen my knowledge regarding integration of multiple materials into a single outcome.  

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Sketchbook // Social Housing Mixed Media Project 

Britain’s social housing and its brutalist phase has seen its rise and fall throughout the decades with Sheffield’s Parkhill paving the way for ‘Streets in the Sky’ and London’s Alton Estate being considered by many British architects at the time to be the crowning glory of post-World War II social housing. As many consider the Scandinavian inspired concrete structures as ‘ugly’, I personally find them and their history inspirational. 

Not only do the structures themselves hold great detail in shape and form, but also the stories that lie beneath them. The buildings serve a purpose in creating and developing a sense of community and safety, which I think the bold, concrete structures express flawlessly with a sense of intimidation and protection. 

My aim for this project was to incorporate the shape, form and pattern of the buildings themselves, but also the relationship between the community by interweaving additional aspects so they work as one. I also wanted to capture a sense of disrepair, slightly fading prestige and loss of respect through the collection that would mirror the thoughts and feelings associated with such buildings and their lack of attention and upkeep. Exploring a mixed media and material approach, I was able to develop my own skill and widen my knowledge regarding integration of multiple materials into a single outcome.  

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Chinese inspired illustrations // Personal project.