Photography in the park.

As it's officially the third day of Spring, the weather is FINALLY beginning to warm up in Wales so I decided to take my newly customized shirt to the park and photograph it. I hung it from branches and got some odd stares but there we are. I'm really getting into photography now that I've bought my new camera. It's really amazing and I wonder how I've managed all these years with my average digital camera. I really don't know how to take advantage of all its features yet and I'm dreading having to sit down with the manual... But I'm taking it everywhere with me, who knows what you'll find on a random day out! But... I need to buy a case because with it hanging around my neck I feel I'm bound to get robbed (knowing my luck anyway.)

 

There was a bit of a breeze up and the shirt kept blowing off of the tree which was a bit of a pain but the flowing of the fabric and the freedom it encapsulates looks quite nice in the pictures!

 

Customizing - from old to new!

I spent last weekend looking through my wardrobe and focusing on the idea of re-invention. I thought god, over the last year I must have thrown out about fifteen bin bags full of clothes. I mean they went to charity but still. So taking this forward, I looked again at some of my clothes that I knew I wouldn't wear again whether they're too small, too big (I wish) or I just don't like them anymore. Instead of throwing them out carelessly, I've been thinking of ways in which to promote a more sustainable future for fashion, as a designer and as part of my project for Uni.

Sooo.. I bought some fabric pens from 'Pen and Paper' in Cardiff and started to experiment with a shirt that has gone too small for me. It was cool just vandalising something in a way, and using visual inspiration from the photo's I took from the previous weekend, I totally re-invented it! From drab to fab as they say. It's currently on a mannequin in my living room and everyone who has come over think's I bought it that way, which is a cool compliment.

These are some photo's of the process:

I started by decorating the button stand and used black ink throughout to give a classic but edgy finish to a basic white shirt.

Not only is it fun to draw on your clothes, but it also makes you cherish them more. At first, this shirt was going in the bin, now I'm keeping it for sure. When you've done something by hand, used your time and energy you definitely learn the value. Give it a go. Don't thow it, re-define it!

The only thing I would say is the fact that 'Dylon' fabric pens don't last long. Fair enough I used a decent amount of ink on the shirt but not a crazy amount and I went through 3 of the fabric pens at £2 each... hmm.. Maybe you think that's decent, I don't know I'm on a student budget! haha.

Also, another pointer, you have to go over and over the lines you're drawing if you want them jet black and opaque, otherwise they're kind of grainy and grey. Don't want to sound like I'm moaning about it! I'm just documenting my process and hopefully helping anyone who's reading this and thinking of having a go! Pros and cons to everything I suppose!

 These are the photo's that inspired the graphic design:

And this is the final outcome. I didn't time myself but it took about 9 hours maybe? I know, I take ages. You don't have to! Just splatter it with paint!

I decorated the cuff with numbers that play a significant role in my life, inspired by the concept of time. I scrambled key dates that are important to me and drew them in an abstract form onto both cuffs.

Feeling a bit weird.. weird is good!

The feeling of fairytale land stayed has stayed with me ever since I went last Sunday. I've been doodling ideas, with Alice in Wonderland being the biggest theme right now. Everything revolves around time, there's either too much to kill or it's gone in a blink of the eye. It's your biggest enemy... or your best friend?

And this is how I work as a designer:

RAW.

As well as final perfected illustrations, I thought it would be cool to upload one of my primary resources from an old sketch book that I keep next to my bed. I often wake up in the night and have to jot down ideas and also throughout the day. These are two pages I scanned in where I have loosely scribbled ideas, designs, concepts, themes and people as a starting point for my research into my project 'Fashion Re-defined.'

I'm a neat freak with my work, but I'm changing everyday. The goal isn't to be pretty. The goal is to be free.

I find it quite interesting to re-read these scraps of paper because at the time when I thought of a particular idea, I write it down and carry on with my day and sometimes really can't remember it, which sounds weird! Some of the things don't make much sense but it's good to get everything out all the same. Whether I use the idea's now or not, they'll always be there this way.

The concept:

In a bit of a nutshell, for the illustration below, I took the white rabbit as inspiration. The drawing captures a bit of my quirkiness with the hybrid and the heart being worn as a fashion necklace shows courage in showing the world our secret, most deepest desires.

I used pro marker pens, ball point pen, tape and spit....... to smudge!! haha, don't judge.

This work is for my Uni project - Fashion Re-defined. The way I work is on paper. I know typically a designer works on the stand with fabric first, well, not always, but still. I like to use illustration as medium, capturing moods, scenes and characters and then my garment designs come from that. Below is another hybrid which carries themes of sexuality and vulnerability behind a fashionable mask!

Today I went to Fairytale Land...

Today, me, my sister and my nephew went to Margam Park to visit 'Fairytale Land.' It's an area in the park dedicated to old children's stories, such as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and The old woman who lived in the shoe. It was so cool, there's these minature houses just big enough for a person to get into, and inside is decorated with the theme of the particular fairytale. Obviously the place was crawling with children but I'm not gonna lie I had a ball! haha. It's OK, I just pretended I was going for my 6 year old nephews sake. 'Can't believe he's dragging me around here" *rolls eyes* (secretly having a whale of a time.)

How many of you can honestly say you've visited the old woman in the shoe?! I have!

I think my favourite was probably going to Snow White's cottage! We walked in and there was a distinct woody, dusty smell which was just great in creating a sense of reality. Using all our five senses (or six?) to experience this 'fantasy world.' Seeing little beds engraved with Dopey and Sneezy was just.. ahhh! much love!

Check out the embossed seating! The colours alone are so whimsical, tea party anyone?

I also felt a strong feeling of nostalgia looking at these fairytales 10 years on and this is also a feeling that I could interpret into my design work.

As well as the whole fantasy, child-like, almost vulnerable aspect of the images, I find the colours inspiring. At a glance, I like the image with the red draped curtains against the dark room with the misty light struggling to shine through a window full of curious finger prints. I think that was part of Sleeping Beauty's house? maybe? Can't remember now but as we recall happy memories with these disney films, there seems to be something a little darker within the photographs and their stories.

Anyway, I'm such a daydreamer and am always in my own world. That's recently inspired me to take this piece of my persona and put it visually into this project 'Fashion Re-defined' that I am currently under taking in uni. Inspired, as always by Dali, I've been looking at Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and as well as this being visually stimmulating I'm overwhelmed by the secret fantasy world that everyone can visit if they just open their minds.

So this day trip to fairytale land has really inspired me. I took lots of photo's to keep on record that I've just uploaded and I think right after I go and have a shower, I'll print them out and play around with print ideas to put onto dresses, blouses and jackets...? I can just see a shirt emblazoned with with mushrooms!

(All these photo's are my own. If you'd like to use them for your own personal use, contact me - out of respect don't copy and paste, I will hunt you down!)

Who do I look to?

I'm still trying to find my own distinct style, not just in terms of new projects but throughout the years. That's a big goal really. Finding out who I actually am and what I stand for. And I'm getting there one footstep at a time.

I admire a variety of people in a variety of different ways. As a fashion designer, it may sound wierd but I'm not overly inspired by other fashion designers. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy looking at the work of Vivienne Westwood, Donatella, Cavalli and of course Alexander McQueen just to name a few, but visual inspiration just isn't enough. I need inspiration from all directions, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I've never really been anywhere apart from London a few times (yes I've been on great summer holidays abroad when I was young but I can't really remember them so it doesn't count!) I'm inspired by my home life but I can't wait to travel and see the world. So original I know! But I think the sky will look completely different somewhere else and that's really what pushes me.

This is a page I scanned from my sketchbook when I was brainstorming the people I admire. Just another starting point in discovering where I want to go.

These are some of the people who inspire me everyday whether I've met them or not.

Sustainability.

In Uni, we've been looking at the idea of sustainability within fashion, recycling, zero waste etc so ideally our creations for this project of 'Fashion Redefined' should incorporate this ideology.

And I was thinking about the reasons why we're not that bothered as a nation about sustainable fashion. Well stereotypically, clothes that come from natural resources are cream, beige, brown, green, grey, dull... BORING! Even website layouts about recylcing send you to sleep. White and green. Plain font. Bland logo's. Let's make it more interesting! Is this the problem? If I'm designing with the concept of sustainability in mind, then I want to make it COOL. Anything but beige! Oh and I should probably venture away from florals, etc. on flouncy dresses and tshirts. Too literal. Zzzzzzz...

ECO FASHION DOES NOT HAVE TO LOOK LIKE THIS!

I don't even like the thought of using this picture on my blog (no offence) but I need to get the point across!

Image ref: http://www.maisiefantaisie.co.uk/blog/2009/05/eco-friendly-bags/

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL.

The Journey.

So this is going to be a bit of a diary to record my thought process throughout my design project. The brief is entitled 'Fashion Redefined' which is a really broad topic so it's tough finding a starting point. I've got so many ideas in my head, almost like a kind of explosion; most of which are totally random. I think the first step needs to be finding a concept from which to pin point a theme and therefore develop ideas from that.

As a spiritual person, I always find comfort in the words of the German philosopher Rainer Maria Rilke and like to read 'Letters to a young poet' when I feel a bit lost. (Cheesy I know but don't knock it till you've tried it.) OK so, I've also been reading 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho which is AMAZINGLY INSPIRING. A tale of dreams, aspirations, trials and tribulations. I don't want to babble on but here's a little part from the book which has helped me in my design work right now. Don't be scared by the length of the story below, it's fairly short, honestly, it makes you look at life from a whole new angle!

The two drops of oil

by Paulo Coelho on February 4, 2010

Paulo Coelho

A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.

“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages. “The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”

I don't want to sound like a preacher but I really recommend the book if you curious about the purpose of life - find your destiny!

You don't need a face to be noticed?

I found this really interesting designer over the summer - Robert Bartholot. He's a berlin based freelance artist/designer/photographer who has a particular emphasis on Art Direction. His work was right up my street and I was instantly attracted to his images. As I was having some pretty graphic nightmares over the summer, a few of which I've actually posted on one of my blogs, his work appeared so fantasy and dream-like, it really reached out to me.

It seems his images capture the deepest parts of the subconscious mind. It's almost as if he's preyed on some sleeping human being and grabbed their dream with his bare hands. A kind of stolen innocence maybe? I love the air of mystery that comes with these particular pictures. The majority of his work that I've seen online shows faceless models. I love the fact that this is his signature style, which makes his work easy to point out in a crowd.

I'm just so intrigued...

Why are your characters faceless?

Again, these two pictures caught my eye. I really love the abstract characters and the bold, geometric blocks of colour. These images are so simple in design, yet they say so much. A pool of blood? what happened?! If something makes you question yourself, then it's all the more interesting and gives a sense of purpose, an untold story waiting to be spoken.

When looking at the first image, you can see the purple and green triangles suspended in mid air, then in the following image, the shapes are in the back of his head and he's laying in his own blood...

What does this say to you?

BACKSTABBERS ANYONE?

These are two Fashion based images that I thought were pretty good.

It's like they're being suffocated by fashion.

There's so much more of his work I'd like to post on here, because it's fantastic. But I'll leave you check it out yourselves.
http://bartholot.net/

mind if I post another illustration?

I'm just posting some of my illustrations to see what you guys think really? I'm inspired by photo's of people I find interesting and enjoy translating their expression into a particualr syle of illustration (I might have mentioned this in my previous post though so excuse me if I'm like a stuck record.)I love the wild but slightly tamed mane of hair  on the model and his icy expression so I thought hmm.. wouldn't mind drawing a bit of that! I added my own statement jacket design in a cool royal blue. He also has a black eye which was actually inspired by my nephew having a kick in the eye in football over the summer... I looked at him and thought how cool would that look in make up on a model to portray a kind of asymmetric design? weird or..?

I'm just having fun with experimenting in different areas of Fashion, whether it be illustration, design or construction. I'm learing new techniques in each core area so I can gain the skills to express myself, hopefully more in 3D, the millions of ideas that I have in my head waiting to pounce into the world.

illustration

The above is one of my first illustrations for menswear fashion, inspired by the photo of Carl Blake (above) that I found in a 2008 edition hair magazine.I like to look at photograph's of people I find interesting and then convert that initial inspiration into a particular style of illustration whether it be loose and fluid, animated or intricate sketching.

 Here, I've taken the styling of the hair in the photo and the mysteriousness of the model's facial expression and interpreted it into my own style of drawing. There's a definite element of cartoon in the illustration together with an essence of rock and roll. I added the leather jacket just because I think it represents his persona.