Reflection and Fresh Inspiration

I feel my recent work and outcome has been successful. I have researched a large bank of sources for inspiration. This has inspired me to produce a wall hanging at a larger scale then I'm used to, which, I have found challenging, but have enjoyed the process of resolving problems. I now feel the need to ‘loosen’ up a bit in my work, after many hours of doing rich embroidery and beading on my pearl and Tudor inspired wall hanging. I also feel it’s important to go back and look at the relevant historical sources already documented in my sketchbook to refresh my inspirations as there are many potential routes for my work to go down from sources I have already researched.

 Looking back through my sketchbook, refreshing my thoughts and inspitations...

Pieces which stood out to me whilst looking back through my sketchbook where the A/W10 digital printed garments I viewed at the V&A by Alexander McQueen;

I like how digital print allows for a wonderful clear image to be printed onto fabric. I'm charmed by how McQueen has replicated the softness of histroic paintings yet the vivdeness of colour through digital prints.

Similar to McQueens A/W10 collection, Valintino’s A/W13 brought together rich fabrics with the modern technology of digital print to combine imagery of historic objects onto garments, pleasantly mixing new and old.

I like these prints because of the painterly, hand drawn quality's they have. In particular the garment above looks like a detailed tonal study in pencil which has been digitally printed onto fabric. To achieve these hand drawn qualities I could explore print processes such a mono print. 

Further garments from Valentino A/W13 which I feel have a painterly watercolour appearance...

After reflecting on my project, I believe I have a strength in drawing and it would be interesting to see how my drawing style could be transformed into a print. I wish to experiment with different hand  printing methods which could lead to me producing a printed length of fabric, subtitle for fashion or interiors. Focusing on handmade print methods such as block printing, will allow me to be apart of every step of the process towards creating a print, similar to artists I am inspired by such as Sue Lawty and Julianna Sissons, who create their designs and artwork from start to finish by hand.

As I starting point to refresh my inspiration, I am interested in looking back much further than the Tudors period I focused on for my pearl outcome. In the V&A’s ‘Pearl’ exhibition I found myself particularly drawn to items of jewelry dated to 200AD.  I am fascinated by extraordinarily old objects which are still in excellent condition and give insights to the immense skill of the craftsmen who made such jewellery.
Video from the V&A website about the pearl exhibition(the pieces I was drawn to appear at 02:15)

I like how such pieces are so rich in detail, quality and colour. As a result, I want to investigate the Sutton Hoo treasures excavated locally in Suffolk in 1939. The treasures are dated to 625AD, so are not as old as the jewelry I loved from the ‘Pearl’ Exhibition, but I like that the treasures are from my county and I have always been captivated by the history of the Anglo Saxons, the tribe to which the treasures belonged.