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Self-evaluation for the Origins Project

Throughout the Origins unit, my confidence has definitely improved, and I have enjoyed working independently. I found the set colour palette useful as a constraint as it allowed me to focus on learning new techniques and made my work more consistent.

The unit has been challenging in some respects, due to covid-19 restrictions and online teaching. It has been strange not being in a busy studio and being surrounded by people’s work, which has left me unmotivated and uninspired at times. However, staying in contact with course mates and tutors online has been really motivating and brings back a sense of normalcy. The weekly online meetings and set drawing tasks have also been beneficial for providing structure to each week and allow me to stay organised. It is also comforting to know that despite the limited studio time, we still have lots of support from the tutors and can always come to them with any questions and problems.

The knit rotation was really inspiring; although we couldn’t explore machine knitting as much as I’d hoped (due to online teaching), I was able to focus on hand knit techniques and develop my previous knowledge of hand knit by creating more complex samples. I think these samples were one of my greatest successes in the unit, along with work produced in the print rotation. I was encouraged by how quickly I was able to learn some Photoshop skills after attending the Online Digital Sessions as I have always been daunted by Photoshop in the past. Booking extra time in the print room and creating my own screen for screen-printing was also a really good idea as it allowed me more time to develop my own screen-print designs instead of using the general use screens. I’m excited to take these new skills further throughout the year and see how it shapes my practice.

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Intercutting

Two intercuts exploring a motif for the print rotation.

20/10/20

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Henri Matisse online: Drawing with Scissors - class with London Drawing Group

In this class, we were encouraged to work quickly and intuitively, creating colourful paper cut outs in the style of Matisse. I really enjoyed the fast pace of the class and the three collages I created from my cut outs.

20/10/20

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Developed knit samples

Three hand knit samples using the Origins unit colour palette. Techniques used: Hindu Pillar stitch, Pleat stitch and Ladder stitch.

20/10/20

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Knit Inspiration: Drew McKevitt and Suzanne Oude Hengel

Oude Hengel and McKevitt's collaborative footwear project explores how knit can be used in innovative ways. It broadened my perception of knit; the use of inlayed plastic tubes to enhance the structure of samples was particularly inspiring. It’s interesting to see how knit can be more than jumpers and scarves, and can also be used as performance fabric, showing the versatility of the specialism. Their use of colour and organic ripples appeal to me massively and have inspired some of my work from the knit rotation.

20/10/20

Images by Drew McKevitt