Module 1 Chapter 9 Explore With Abstracted Fragments

Overview

In this chapter a small section is taken from a source and developed into a design.

Select a Fragment

I looked for likely designs from my sketchbook, the solid shape exercise and the hollow line exercise. I drew the designs in 4x7cm rectangles.

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8.1 Simple abstracts from previous design work.

I chose a very simple design based on the joints of a bamboo cane.

8.2 My chosen abstracted fragment.

I identified these words  which I associated with bamboo. 

• Slender
• Thin
• Shiny
• Smooth
• Jointed
• Tubular
• Straight (ish)
• Strong
• Hollow
• Scarred
• Layered
• Linear
• Spikey

These designs were made by making copies of the basic design on tracing paper and then overlaying them. The word list above was used to as inspiration to add other elements to the designs.

8.3 Developing the design on tracing paper.

8.4 Developing the design on tracing paper.

I chose this design to develop further. I was mindful that the design might look like a postmark!

8.5 Chosen design

I used various photo manipulation apps on my iPad to develop the design.

8.6 PS Express app.

8.7 Superphoto app Circle warp option

8.8 Superphoto app Neon option

8.9 Superphoto app Neon option

8.10 Superphoto app Colorify/Jet option

8.11 Adobe Photoshop fix app. Liquify option applied to 8.10

8.12 Two photos stitched together to make it long and thin.

8.13 Repix app. Edge and Bokeh tools

I also developed the design using coloured papers, experimenting with various colour combinations.

8.14 Neutral (brown) as dominant colour, contrast this with 8.15.

8.15 Neutral (brown) with green as dominant colour

8.16 Equal anount of green and brown.

8.17 Two colours mostly blue to be contrasted with 8.18 mainly yellow with blue

8.18 Mainly yellow with blue

8.17 Cool colours.

8.18 Light colours with small area of dark.

8.19 Dark colours with small area of light.

8.20 Analagous colours.

The next stage was to produce designs using texture and colour.

8.21 Glue gun, tissue paper, paint and metallic highlighter.

8.22 Layers built up using cardboard and foam board.

8.23 String glued to  backing and painted.

8.24 String glued to backing and covered by tissue paper with unravelled sisal string centre.

Module 1 Chapter 8 Design Exploration with Hollow Outline

Overview

This chapter takes a shape from a previous study and explores how it can be manipulated to produce a design.

Looking For Edges and Lines Around Shapes

I chose a shape based on an individual flower from verbena bonariensis which I had used in the solid shape chapter. I experimented with overlaying the shape to create different designs. I found it useful to draw the shape several times  onto clear, stiff plastic.

8.1 Shape exploration.

8.2 Shape exploration.

8.3 Shape exploration.

8.4 Shape exploration.

I also tried using cling film which produced some wonderful results.

8.5 Shape exploration on cling film.

8.6 Shape exploration on cling film.

8.7 Shape exploration on cling film.

Sections of these designs were enlarged on to A5 paper and the designs were coloured in.

8.8 Enlarged sections of designs

8.9 Coloured with water colour paint.

8.10 Coloured with wax crayon and water colour paint.

8.11 Coloured using masking fluid and water colour paint.

8.12 Coloured with water colour paint,

8.13 Collaged paper.

8.14 Coloured with wax crayon.

Stacking and Unstacking

The next step was to create a stack using the papers created in chapter 5. I drew a design on the back using the previous designs as a guide. The pages were firmly clipped together and the lines were serrated by using a threadless sewing machine. The pieces were separated and used to develop the design. I found one of the shapes reminded me of an open mouthed dog or crocodile and that was all I could see! I discovered that changing the orientation of the design could overcome this.

8.15 Design drawn on to reverse of paper stack.

I tried removing layers of paper to reveal the other layers. This exercise is a good example of how the impact of colours can be affected by their immediate neighbour.

8.16 Removing various pieces to reveal lower layers. Note the contrast between the dark brown and light blue.

8.17 Removing various pieces to reveal lower layers. The central green/yellow piece stands out against the dark background. The small triangle in the lower right initially stood out against the original background but in the final design is is barely noticeable,

I then played around with the shapes, arranging, weaving and slotting them together. I tried various colour combinations.

8.18 Arranging the paper shapes.

8.19 Arranging the paper shapes.

The next step was to create more resolved designs using stitching or sticking with glue.

8.20 Pieces of the same shape slotted together and stuck down

8.21 Pieces of the same shape folded, arranged and stuck down.

8.22 The pieces of the design were separated slightly to reveal the background and then machine stitched. The design made me think of a dog or crocodile with ears and open mouth and once I saw this I couldn’t unsee it! It looks better when seen with a different orientation.

8.23 The pieces of the design were separated slightly to reveal the background and then machine stitched. The piece was cut into three and reassembled. This also over came the problem of seeing the dog and crocodile!

8.25 Pieces arranged and stuck together. Wrapped with thread and stuck to the background.

8.26 Four pieces of the same shape were placed face down on the background and machine stitched along the lower edge of the shape. The pieces were then folded back to reveal the layers.

8.27 Several shapes were stuck together to make a long strip. The strip was then pleated and machine stitched.

8.28 Four of the triangular pieces were arranged on to the background paper and stuck down. Tucks were made in the paper to distort the shapes and machined stitched.

8.29 Similar to 8.28 but ieth diagonal tucks.

Edges as Lines

I tried the “pin man” exercise using my slightly modified flower head shape. The idea is to see the effect of removing pieces of the design to see how much can be inferred from what is left.

8.30 Removing parts of the design.

Using the same motif I used the “whack and stack” method of designing. Several layers of paper were stacked and cut using the sewing machine. Designs were created using different combinations.

8.31 Different colour combinations.