Victoria & Albert&Fulham

Today I went to the V&A with Melissa. As usual, we didn't get too much drawing done...but we still had a look around all the same, and of course went to the post card shop! We are trying to get some inspiration for our new projects. I'm a bit stuck so I think I'll post up some pics from the rest of the day out instead...visiting the Butler and Wilson Boutique on Fulham Road...
I shall of course upload some images from the Baroque Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert...soon...


Mel enjoying a browse


All the jewels inside...


I love Simon Wilson's window displays...the way he displays his jewels are unusual and enticing!

Harriet Russell [Envelopes]

Work: Ismail Erbil

It looks like this Easter holiday is going to be very busy. Along with starting my new job, I have also found some small work experience, with the fashion designer, Ismail Erbil, based in the Tower Hamlets area, but is origianlly from Turkey. Ismail Erbil, graduated in fashion and women;s wear in 2002 at Central St.Martins. Erbils designs involve lots of draping fabrics and flowing pieces, as I saw when I visited his vibrant studio. He also uses a lot of nautral but bright colours, especially green, inspired by natural elements. I think the most exciting bit of Erbils work is his use of crochet, feathers, beads and unusual trimmings.
http://www.ismailerbil.com/index.html





you can definately see the influence of natural elements in these images, they are delicate and beautiful.


one of my favourite pieces, love the colours and the use of layering, creating a weaved look.

At the moment, Erbil is working on a new collection, for alternative fashion week, in which he will showcasing his new pieces. I am helping out and at the moment completing som beadwork for him. I'll be sure to upload some photos when the pieces are complete.

Spring Time

Spring is finally here, and the sun is shining. I thought this would be a good opportunity to finally upload my etches, which are quite Eastery, I've been working on for the past couple of months. There are not many of them, seeing as they take a while to produce but I'm quite happy with the results.
Birds are a classic motif to work with and do not seem to go out of fashion. Melissa says birds are going to be in this summer! Hopefully I can develop these prints into a further project, although I like them just as they are too.
These are dry point etches, my favouite form of ethching and over the last 2 months I have learnt so much, including my favouite new technique, chincole. This is a traditonally japanese technique, and it includes glueing paper, or any suitable material (feathers, thread) to the plate (glue side up). When pulling the printing paper through the press, the pressure allows the the cut up bits of paper to stick to the print.
First plate, then I experimented with the second plate and other colour.


second plate, loose lines.


This was the first time i experimented with chincole, trying out different paper and colours.


Really love this print, one of my favourites. I used two of my favourite colours and I love the outcome.


This time I used feathers, I love the colours and the effect of the feathers on the print. Definately my favourite.

Barcelona

Hola! I haven't updated this for a while. I have been really busy and I've just come back for Barcelona! It was great to have a break and get some inspiration for future projects. The weather was lovely and sunny and the streets were really beautiful with tropical terraces and medivial alleyways and wrought iron lanterns. Barcelona is Surface Design paradise, the walls are covered in decoration and colour. Gaudi's architecture is stunning too and there were some great museums and art galleries inlcuding the Picasso Museum which was amazing.


the beautiful terraces and balconies with palms and lush foliage and even birdcages.



the higgledy-piggledy streets that are very easy to get lost in!



just one example of the intricate patterns on the old buildings, each one unique.


Crouching to get through the doors.

Ephemera here and there...



Antonio Gaudi is Barcelona's mosrt famous Art Nouveau artist. His buildings are weird and wonderful and one of Barcelonas main attractions. He was proud of his Catalan roots and his buildings reflect this and are spirititual, but were also strongly influenced by Gothic and Moorish styles and include themes of the natural world. This is La Sagrada Familia, the most famous church in the world. It is under construction however is still breath taking.


The beautiful Parc Guell, My favourite place in Barcelona. It is colourful, bright, busy and welcoming. It is one of Gaudi's most adventurous works, and is known as the 'garden city'. It is a mad mismatch of decorative lizards and fountains and palms, and my favourite bit, the meandering ceramic bench. It is made up of broken glass and tiles, a technique called 'trencadis'. Stunning!


'trencadis'

I wish I had this in my own back garden!

An unusual mix of mosaics, chintz patterns, geometric, Islamic motifs.

Me sitting at the colourful, gorgeous, magical fountain...



Barri Gotic, the medieval part of Barcelona. It was quite untouched at very atmospheric...


twisting archaways and columns that are very distinct to Gaudi's designs, and me enjoying the views at Parc de Guell...

printmaking

Unfortunately I haven't been able to upload the pictures of my dry point etches because I didn't get a chance to finish printing the plates this week. there is a lot of preparation that goes in to printmaking and it is quite time consuming but you can get some great results.

Collographs based on 'city surfaces'. I chose to focus on middle Eastern surfaces, mosque tiles and geometric patterns.


Trial and Error, I felt there was too much ink on this plate so took another print...






Experimenting with textures for collographing. I think the most successful is the paper cut outs on the top left hand side, also the most simple.

screen printing

I've spent all day preparing for some printmaking: screen printing and dry point etching. I'm particularly excited about the etches and I hope to have some results by Thursday. I thought this would be an opportunity to display some of my other prints.

A screen print I printed last year, taken from the 'collections' project. Screen Printing is not my favourite medium to work with because I find you have to be really accurate and technical but I really love the colours and motifs in this print and I think its one of my most successful.

Here is another screen print, I also did last year. These screen prints are from the 'collections' project. I based my work around collections around my house and grandparent's house and designs included paper weights, jewellery, Egyptian perfume bottles and intricate fabrics. I designed my textiles for a luxurious sitting room.

I like this screen print because of the contrasting colours. I decided to cut heart shapes out of the print and applique them to a fabric the colour of the dye I used.





This is another screen print out of the 'collections' project. I experimented with colour and embroidery. This was an idea for a cushion cover.