Dressmaking pins and thread...

A pattern found on the dream catcher I had previously drew

 

All of these quick samples were about testing how to draw using the unique method of dressmaking pins and black thread. I decided to use black thread instead of all the other colours because in my drawings most of them were drew with black ink, black thread also made the patterns stand out better on the white foam board background. All of my chosen patterns were snippets taken from my summer project, they differ in what they are but are all connected through structure and refined form. I decided to use these materials as I’ve seen people create amazing results using them, however, this was my first attempt at using these materials so some of the patterns wasn’t 100% accurate and symmetrical which is disappointing. I found using this method of materials difficult because they was so intricate but this could have been due to the fact that my samples were really small, on a larger scale I predict that the thread won’t be that hard to maintain. I enjoyed experimenting with these new materials and would use them more in my experimental work.

 A tetrahedral prism that I had seen in an exhibition at the Tate Gallery in Liverpool

 Symbols found on a hand-made leather chair that I had seen whilst on holiday in Lanzarote

A 5 petal origami flower drew using dressmaking pins and black thread

Coloured match sticks-Experiment 3...

 

This was my last experiment of the 3 and honestly it should have been the first as it is the most basic out of the 3. This experiment was originally supposed to be able to be twisted, folded and manipulative; instead it became a flat wall piece. The elements I wanted this experiment to contain were inspired by Shuna Rendel’s piece I saw in the Holden Gallery, the way Shuna Rendel manipulates a material is what I wanted to experiment with in this piece but the material I has chosen was too stiff and using a hot glue gun and the glue drying hard made it impossible for this piece to bend let alone twist. I found this experiment to be very disappointing as I didn’t achieve what I set out to, however the end result is basic but still collective and repetitive, the matches were lined up but the colours were randomly placed but I did make sure that the same coloured matches were not placed directly next to each other.  

Coloured match sticks-Experiment 2...

 

This experiment was thought of through the first one, it involved placing the match sticks synchronized in a circular position with the match sticks creating an almost clock like pattern. This experiment involved 8 match sticks per piece, they were laid in a repetitive motion and the colour matches used were laid in the same order, doing this created an on-going pattern. Pattern has been one of my main themes for my summer project so this fitted in well with the rest of work. These pieces were held together by glue to so there just as fragile as the first experiment. Even though these pieces are 3-dimensionsal, they would be nailed to a wall making them flatly stuck, this aspect puts me off this piece as I am more interested in creating installations or something that could be seen as completely 3-d.

Coloured match sticks-experiment 1...

 

Creating these 3 experiments was about using an unlikely material and seeing what could be created. My first experiment involved lining up 10 different coloured match sticks, leaving space next to each other so that they would create a snowflake look from a bird’s eye view and attaching them altogether using a hot glue gun. Keeping each match stick straight proved difficult by each layer but the outcome was small and decorative pieces that would come together to create a small installation. I made 20 pieces, they all had the same amount of sticks but the colours varied. I presented these pieces floating in mid-air; I got the presentation influence from the ‘Peace’ installation I had seen in a Manchester Museum. I also wanted these pieces to be light so that the air and wind could slowly move them, gliding side to side, sometimes spinning, I got this influence from the ‘Obsessions’, ‘We Face Forward’ pieces. I am very pleased with the outcome, given more time I would have created a lot more pieces and made this installation a lot bigger. Even though the match sticks were bold colours they didn’t make this piece look tacky which always impresses me, because the pieces are so small and are only attached by glue they are very fragile and delicate and could easily be broken.

Susie Macmurray-Widow

A gown made from Napa leather and approximately 10,000 dressmaker pins is absolutely stunning. This garment couldn’t be worn at all, it holds all elements off loss and incredible pain that is unbearable, like wearing this dress would be. On first glance the gown looks made from soft fur further from the actual truth of material used, the pins are sharp and edgy which could do some real damage. It is said that the pins represent a women’s identity: “Look if you will, but touch at your own peril”. A dress made out of sharp pins is an insight to how Susie Macmurray sees things, she is inventive and her choice in materials is thoughtful and curious.

Aboubakar Fofana-Obsessions, 2012

 
Obsessions were exhibited and made purposely for the ‘We Face Forward’ exhibit. Suspending from the ceiling are 35 pieces of transparent linen panels that were made a decorated using Mud dye on the linen. The decorative pattern inscribed on the linen is unrecognisable language; it reminds me of a random pattern that could have been made from a sewing machine stitch. The pattern is a constant rhythm that continues to each piece of linen, the pieces of linen gently move with air and the movement of people viewing the pieces.

Painting of my dog...