Garden project

I started the project looking at pretty, general flowers but i grew tired of drawing cliche flowers and pretty petals.
I found my drawings look boring and not interesting as a subject.I began to concentrating on gardens that are not typical beautiful but dead and lifeless,
I have collected weeds, dried up flowers, with the intentions to turn something that you wouldn't take a second look at and make it into a something beautiful.
After visiting the ''museum of gardening'' in Vauxhall and drawing and observing the old photographs i began to get inspired bu the old photographs of the gardners, caretakers and helpers and the old gardnening tools which look like weapons.I started to Look at the project from a new angle of creepy, deathly gardens.

After sampling my weeds on the heat press the samples began to to achieve this look, looing ghostly and creepy.
I started to look for inspiration and i came across old vicorian spirit photography:

How did the safety pin evolve into a symbol of rebellious fashion for punks?

Vesace's famous dress, worn by Liz Hurley- important example of how the safety pin became a fashion symbol.










I will be exploring how Vivienne Westwood and Malcom Mclaren created punk,
What other symbols were used to show rebelion
The history of the safety pin and how it was evolved into a fashion item it is today
At which point the safety pin became known to be rebelious and fashionable
history of the shop.
What the purpose was to rebel?

12 febuary Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili's exhibition was very interesting, My first thing that stood out to me when i walked in was the bright colours. His works ranged from explicit, and childish to dark piece. Spread out between seven rooms I learnt about his paintings and what they represent. I wouldn't normally approach theses type of works but after learning about what they symbolise I have grown more interest to this artist.

A piece that especially caught my eye was the the piece ''no women no cry''. The painting is a tribute to Stephen Lawrence a London teenager who was murdered by a racist gang, the message behind the painting is based on a racial murder case . He has painted the mother with tears rolling down her cheek, Inside the tears are cut outs of the her son. I find this piece to be very delicate with a sensitive , political message behind it . His use of colour's are not over worked unlike some of his other works.



Walking through the exhibition I came across a dark alley walkway, which lead to a very interesting with dim lightened room.
Here Ofili had propped up his paintings across the wall. Great paintings, which test colour on colour, has used bright colours but has made the paintings but has still obtained the delicate paintings they are.

4th december

The Blythe house was a great and helpful visit. walking into the archive I was immediately drawn to the beautiful design collections.
Looking through the sample books I gained inspiration and ideas, I left feeling motivated and eager to work in my fabric sample book. I would definately recommend the blythe house to anyone, I would love to go back and revisit.

Ethical fashion forum

On the 27th of November 2009,The ethical fashion forum was held at the Triangle gallerys. This event was an eye opener. I gained a new understanding concerning the future in fair trade. There were many stalls with amazing new concepts in saving the future generation many of which was not only helping the planet and our resources but helping local familys and supporting the old cultures and techniques.

The Ardalnish Isle of mull Weavers is a organic farm and weaving mill. The company bases there belief on sustainability. The weaving resources are made from un dyed and sometimes naturally dyed wool from the native breeded sheep. The final product Is beautiful tweed fabrics with different patterns and shades. Many of these fabrics and turned into throws, scarves, shawls and floor mats. This independent company is based around the idea of tradition unlike many of the other stalls based in small community's in India, africa etc. This company is a fine example of running a company and producing fabrics in the most considerate, resourceful manner.

A comparison to this company would be an organisation based in Brick Lane called ''Heba Womend's Project''. with the intentions to help women and familys. Originally the group was set up because womens rights to funding had been blocked due too men on the Board of Bethnal Green City
After pursuading BGCC They managed to set up a project teaching English to local women in order to work and communicate.
''Heba'' meaning talent in Arabic represents what the project is about, providing women from diverse backgrounds and teaching an developing new skill and design ideas. This organisation is a good comparision in the the fact both company's are working in a considerate and honest way.

What was interesting was the approach in which the companys went through to interest the customers.They did this by advertising there works in a fashionable manner,trying to get away from the idea of hippie oraganic approach which does not appeal to the younger generation. In conclusion the Ethnic Fashion forum is a great place for the young generation to understand and learn sustainability.

23rd OCTOBER- Horniman Museum

Horniman Aquarium from Horniman Museum on Vimeo.

Horniman Musuem was a great place for self study. The collections that really came across to me was the nature themed ones.The aquarium was not only a great place for drawing observation but also a place to bring kids and gain insprirations. The plantation and fish's is an interesting inspiration to textiles,the colours and shapes could be very helpful for the future. The jelly fish's were the most beautiful inspiration. The movement and transparency is very ghostly and delicate.

The Natural History section is another part of the museum that intersted me was the vicorian influenced taxidermy section which holds Mammals, birds,insects and birds.I could stay in this section all day. The stuffed creatures are a great inspiration and a wonderful thing to draw and observe.
I will be returning to this museum in the future no question about it.