Monday, 23 April 2012

Space Prints.

As I've been doing so much painting recently, and spending most of the time on one type of material, I thought I'd experiment with other types of fabric to see how the paint takes. I've made these prints which have a kind of 'space' theme. My whole project so far has taken this fantasy/surrealist ideology so I kept that in mind and made some cool prints!

I'm also utilising this idea of sustainability in fashion by encouraging reinvention of existing fashions. If you're bored of that tacky denim skirt in the back of your wardrobe, don't throw it out, paint on it and create something you can treasure! Plus no one else will have it, a complete one off ;)

These below were painted onto dark greyish scraps of denim. It was just an experiment before I actually paint onto a skirt or something. It's always good if you have scraps of material to test out an idea that you have, that way there's room for mistakes!






Which one's your favourite?!

Friday, 20 April 2012

Anyway, back to the jacket...

I've been working hard into the night painting my jacket! It's not finished still, mostly because the painting is so intricate and small in scale, but I thought I'd upload some more of the process...


 Then I went on to paint the Lapel and collar...



  I've done a fair bit on the bottom of the sleeve which is where I started, and I'm slowly making my way up to the top, I want it completely covered because it's looking a little bare at the moment! all in good time! The blue swirly design below is a mixture of inspiration between Van Gogh and Tim Burton. Oh and water. Not sure whether to continue with that all the way up the bodice, hmm decisions decisions...



I'm happy so far with the randomness of the objects and shapes on the jacket. It kinda fits my personality. I painted a chicken's face on one sleeve, which I saw on a farm recently! People are like why is there a chicken on your sleeve? Well I've never seen a chicken on a sleeve before, and that's why.

 Time is playing a key role throughout, with the inclusion of numbers, the freedom of birds, the roll of a dice and the strength of the human heart. Hope to cover the whole jacket completely with images soon!! tick tock tick tock!!

Feel free to comment or ask any questions at all :)







Saturday, 7 April 2012

Who'd have thought curtains could be so inspiring?!

I included this photo in a previous post which has recently inspired some design work. Yeah I know, slightly going off the subject of the blazer I'm painting (which I'll upload more photo's of soon!) I'm just doodling some garment designs in between. Its just that I was browsing through my photo folder and the way this veil-like curtain draped across the window in 'fairytale land' made me want to pick up my pencil!

You really can find inspiration in anything!








I also took this photo (below)while out and about in Margam Park which is literally up the road from where I live. I edited the colours slightly and I'm not exactly sure what it's supposed to be.. It was hanging from the ceiling of an old hut and I thought hmmm... one for the album...




I'm really envisioning a rough textured, wild, forest-like dress. Maybe in an emerald/olive tone? with hints of lavender..? Better get to work then, these stitches aren't gonna stitch themselves!

Sunday, 1 April 2012

Pick up a paintbrush.. Jazz that Jacket RIGHT UP.


FABRIC PAINTS.

I've been working on re-inventing a blazer of mine, this time experimenting with fabric paints. I bought the 'Dylon' brand paints in a variety of colours which were about £3.50 each roughly? You can buy them in most arts and crafts shops. I bought mine in the 'Range' in Morfa, Swansea. I wouldn't say they were the best but I suppose it depends on what you want to paint and what colour you're painting onto. For example I find them very watery and you have to let them dry and paint over and over your design in layers to get a bold, opaque colour. 

There's also things to consider for example how many colours do you need for your design etc? If you're on a budget, why not stick to a monochrome theme? Save the pennies at the same time! I notice 'Pebeo Setacolor' are good fabric paints, more expensive at about a fiver a pot? I bought mine off ebay.



Firstly, I photographed my blazer before I did anything to it, kind of looking at the before and after effect so you can see the journey and pics along the way of the painting process...
I've got a new camera, a lumix g2 which is really cool! don't really know how to use it but still.. might have mentioned.. but anyway I'm snapping away here, there and everywhere!!








DON'T DRINK AND PAINT.
Only joking, have a glass or two whilst being creative. It helps the imagination ;)



Not the most flattering photo or good quality even, but this is how I spent last Saturday night, painting in my living room. Should have been out partying and terrorizing the streets like a normal 20 year old I suppose, but I am not normal... haha.


I started by decorating the sleeve, using a fantasy, surrealist theme to the images.
                                                                                                         




So this is the start of the process. So far it's taken a good week or so, about 10-15 hours on an off because each object is quite intricate, but I love it all the same.
If you don't put the work in, how do you expect to get the best from it?!