Textiles...block 2...development cont...

So, I decided that the t-shirt transfer paper hid too much of the fibres in the fabric and gave it quite a glossy finish, which I didn't want...I was really looking for an image stained into the fabric so I could still feel the true texture of the fabric.
I decided then to try simply printing directly onto my fabric, I had tried to find printer friendly fabric but to no avail, and any I did find was out of budget.

I glued a sheet of fabric I had cut to the same size as an A4 sheet of paper onto normal printer paper, very lightly and only with a glue stick.  I then quickly printed my series of photoshop images onto the fabric and removed them from each other so as the glue wouldn't fix my paper completely to the back of the fabric.

This was the final article which was very cheap to produce and very simple to do...I also liked the photographic quality and detail I could achieve by doing this...

Textiles...Block 2...ideas development

As my project is based on transient memories, I thought I would focus in on the quick degradation of these unwanted memories.
I started to experiment with altering an image on photoshop then transferring it to fabric somehow...I bought some T-shirt transfer paper which I printed onto, then ironed onto my fabric.
I choose nice tight weave cotton so as the fabric would be as smooth and easy to print or draw on as paper/canvas.

photoshop images printed onto transfer paper...

image on paper cut out and placed face down onto fabric...

 transfer paper was then ironed onto fabric.  Iron hot with steam settings turned off completely...

The type of t-shirt transfers I was using were for light or white coloured fabric.

Textiles...Block 2...lovely fabrics!

Well...I previously mentioned how I had been trying out hand making paper.  In this blog however I'll be taking you through my devore velvet piece, which I enjoyed the process of very much.

To start with I cut a piece of freezer paper about the same size as my piece of black velvet and drew a small design onto the back of it.  I cut this out carefully with a scalpel then stuck it to the back of the velvet, the side with no velvety texture.

I then painted/brushed on some devore paste, which eats away at the back of the fabric so the fibres come away where it's been applied.  I left it to stand for a minute or two after ironing it in, and gave it a little wash to remove the excess fibres and any unwanted paste.

There are many ways of applying the paste and stencils need not be used all the time, many effects can be created with this technique.

Here is mine...

I over used the devore paste a little, as the two big birds near the top left have little holes in them...oops!

printmaking...block 2

For my final print idea, I took the idea for the colours from the suffrajet colours...green, purple and white.              
                  Green = Hope                Purple = Dignity                   White = Purity

                                        A beautiful protest poster with the suffrajet colours

My final designs for text and background of my notes...I had them framed with the final dry points over the top of these and framed with a brief handwritten description underneath about this note.

Printmaking...Block 2...

As I said in my previous post, I was looking into feminism and its origins and the ongoing fight for equality in the workplace...
I found some wonderful and harrowing photographs of Emmeline Pankhurst, her daughters and the suffrajet movement.

      A Suffrajet being arrested by two male authority figures in 1914 for protesting for womens rights

               Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst, Emmeline's Daughters, with a large banner

Emmeline Pankhurst herself, being restrained both physically and mentally by the male authority figures of the time

Printmaking...BLOCK 2...research continued...

As I am planning on using screen printing as part of my final design, I had started looking into screen printers and their works.

Having also been looking at some of the advances in feminism from campaigning for women to have the right to vote to what it means now, I felt I should mention that I found it very difficult to find female screen printers via the Google search facility...I found way more male printers in my initial search and wondered about the right to equal pay we are supposed to have in the workplace.

I feel that even although we are told that there are regulations in place to make sure there is equal pay and treatment of the sexes in the workplace, the reality still remains one of an un equal workplace.

Thoughout my research in my sketchbook, I did mention artist Kiki Smith...She produces lovely screen prints with a very graphic appearance to them, mainly working in black and white with handmade papers, I particularly like her work, but already knew about this female artist, I was quite disappointed to have to struggle so much with finding female printers...

                          Kiki Smith...Lucy's Daughter...1992...screenprint on handmade paper

PRINTMAKING...research...BLOCK 2

So the research for screen printing continues...This time I've been looking at commemorative bank notes, there really is no limit to their designs, and importantly the display of these pieces.

               Princess Diana commemorative bank note and above certificate of authenticity...

The displaying of them seems to vary, but the main approach seems to be a mounted note on a dark background with a small plaque or sometimes handwritten note of important information, like designer, bank and date of release.

Above is an Australian £1 banknote circa 1949 framed with detail in type about the above note...this is how I would like to display my notes after I've come up with the final design...

I will base my design and display of it on the examples I have in the research section of my sketchbook, and photographic research I've done too.