Happy pills..?

It is now less than 48 hours to my deadline for handing in my final major project. I have randomly decided that I need some more drawing work for my sketchbook, which is a little crazy to say the least...what is more crazy is that I am drawing pills...think Mr.Freud would have something to say about that!!

To be fair I did look at these as inspiration in my initial visual research, I loved the colours and shapes, but also along with my theme, the gritty and pretty nature of drugs. I like the idea that they are so tantalisingly pretty, yet their functionality may often be dark and edgy. I think there is a parallel between this and the fairground, where all is not how it first appears. I only wish I had drawn this sooner, think it would have been amazing for pattern development as a motif. I have really enjoyed using this technique which I hadn't tried before which involves blending graphic markers with soft pencil- it really works well. It's definitely something to put on the back burner.

More fashion illustration...

I have been experimenting a little further will fashion illustration, in this instance I have drawn the whole figure, but left the face blank. I will develop these drawings further and experiment with using backgrounds and texture in my final pieces. The thing is I'm getting a real buzz out of it and am already thinking I might find myself a life drawing class...just another thing to my ever growing list of classes I want to do!! The garment in this illustration is taken from a design I posted earlier which I intend to construct into this oversized style of tunic top which is longer at the back. I will be putting the same print in the back, but rescaling it to accomodate the extra length. I have already printed the front in pure silk, it drapes amazingly and is feels so luxurious. Can't wait to see it finished.

Attempting fashion illustration!!

Well I have positively avoided fashion illustration until now...but wanted to show my work in a more diverse way than just technical flats. It is definitely a skill I need to hone and hopefully will improve with practice. I felt very apprehensive about drawing people, but enjoyed it once I got going..take a peek at my first drafts! All of  them need a tweek or two (or maybe more) but feel proud at having a go anyway.

Collagerific!!

I have discovered these stunning collages by Jill Ricci today and I have to say I am tad bit jealous of these pieces as I had envisaged that I would produce some beautiful collages in this kind of vein with my circular discs. Feeling a bit sad that I haven't developed my drawing and painting more prior to starting my digital work, but I guess it's all about keeping on track with the schedule. I do really struggle with this I think I would carry on developing till I keeled over sometimes. So often feel that I could run and run with ideas. I do think this is a good thing, but you do have to know when to stop and work on the final outcome!! I will definitely have to put strategies I place to help me do this when I work as a freelance designer and have to work without college deadlines...!

Jill Ricci

http://patternbank.com/

Destination Frock...!

Where I come from a dress is known as a "frock" and that's exactly where this print is headed! In spite of setting out to contain myself to a scarf collection, I found the urge to create some garment fronts overwhelming and even then felt they should be whole garments to do them justice. This will be keeping me busy for the next couple of weeks as I finish my products and designs for my final show! I love the fact that this print incorporates the idea of layering which was my original starting point but also incorporates fragments of other patterns I created. It feels that the design encapsulates different points of the design process and feels quite organic because of this.

Development...

Here is my new print in the flesh...well actually in the photo! I have been experimenting with different ideas for various garments, but at the minute this is totally my favourite. I feel it really does the print justice and am amazed how much the print is enhanced by transforming it from a flat piece into something constructed...just a little bit magic! I already have a few little ideas for some delicate embellishment.

I have also been playing around with one of my newly finished scarves. There is so much scope for how they can be used. I initially thought it was a bit crazy to make it 100cm x 100cm...but know I think it's the perfect size and have found doing research that there are an abundance of scarves this size, probably because there is so much scope for how to wear it. Hopefully there will four more to add to this tomorrow if all goes to plan in the print room.

Market research...

 I have following one of my lovely fellow students work on http://urban-peacock.blogspot.co.uk/ and noticed she had posted some lovely images of accessories on http://www.bottica.com/...I checked out the site and found a whole bevy of beautiful scarves that I hadn't encountered in my previous trawl of research...here is a taster of what I found!!!

Cvetaeva

milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre

Ver Flora

Ayako