Mirror Shack

Lucid Stead is an architectural installation by artist Phillip K. Smith III. He took an existing structure in the desert of Joshua Tree, California and attached mirrors, LED lights and custom built technology to accentuate the beauty of the bare landscapes. He transformed a 70 year old shack that was weathered and worn in to this beautiful and interesting piece of art. In the daylight it looks like parts of the shack is missing and the other pieces are floating in mid-air. 

 He hasn't altered the shack's structure in any way, the windows and doors are exactly how he found them. He simple builds upon what is already there.

 

 Smith says, "Lucid Stead is about tapping into the quiet and the pace of change of the desert. When you slow down and align yourself with the desert, the project begins to unfold before you. It reveals that it is about light and shadow, reflected light, projected light, and change."

 

Here is a video of the artist explaining his concept:

 

 

 

Creating Patterns and Swatches in Illustrator CS6

In the last brief I had to create a spec drawing for my design, which you can see if you look at my previous blog post. while creating my spec drawing I learnt how to create a fabric swatch. This allows me to convey the fabric I use in my designs.

This is what I used to help me. It is from the "Creative Bloq" website, which has loads of useful step by step guides for CS6.

Step 1

 

First open the objects that are used for the base of the pattern, then go to Object>Pattern>Make. This puts Illustrator into a new Pattern Creation mode and opens up the Pattern Options panel. The original object is still there, but with copies that give a preview of the pattern.

Step 2

Dim copies to see the original artwork more clearly, and get ready to add some elements to the pattern. You still have access to all the transformation tools in this mode, so you can copy objects and change the colours until you are happy. You’ll notice that the parts of the object that extend outside of the tile automatically wrap back in on the other side.

Step 3

When you are happy with the pattern, turn off Dimmed Copies to get a quick preview of how the pattern will look. When you are happy, you just need to click Save a Copy and name the swatch to see it added to the Swatches panel.

Step 4

Try out the pattern on some blank product examples to see if you are happy with the way it looks. If at any time you want to make any changes, just double click on the swatch in the Swatches panel and this will bring you back into the Pattern Editing mode.

Step 5

Everything in the pattern can still be edited. You can add objects, change their colours, size and position or create new objects. To apply the changes click Done, and this will automatically change the swatch and bring you back to your page and out of Pattern Editing mode.

Fashion Illustrators

I have been given a new brief at college which is about illustrating. The first task is about researching into fashion illustrators.

 

While carrying out this task I have found Two illustrators I really like and would consider using their style as influence for my illustrations. 

 

 

Anna Kiper

 

Kelly Smith




These two illustrators create very detailed and elegant illustrations. They both use similar media e.g. watercolour, pencils and pens.



Neckpiece 2

To finish of the neckpiece I put bias binding around the neckline and sewed on the bones. 

I cut a strip of grey fabric on the bias and make sure it is 4cm wide. I then attached it around the neckline on the wrong side. 

I cut triangles into the curve to reduce the bulk and ironed down the bias binding to meet the neckline.

I then folded this down on to the right side of the fabric and made sure it covered the top stitching. This was then top stitched down.



Here is my finished bodice and bone covered neckpiece.

Record Breaking Sculpture

An incredible artist called Zheng Chunhui, who is a Chinese wood carver, created this 40 foot wood sculpture. It took him four years to complete and it is all carved from a single log. It features beautifully carved houses and boats with incredible detail. It even includes 550 little human figures. It has recently been awarded the longest wood sculpture by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Neckpiece

My design for my current brief includes a neckpiece made out of animal bones.  

To create it, I drew a shape I wanted on pattern paper. I then added a 1cm seam allowance all the way around.

I cut two of muslin and one out of light weight interfacing. The interfacing was ironed on to one of the fabric pieces.

I then sewed the two fabric pieces together and bagged it out. This got me the base to sew the bones on.

Portraits

I have been practising drawing people. I mostly draw famous people but have also drawn family members.

Taylor Swift

                                                              Benedict Cumberbatch

Bradley Cooper

Johnny Depp

Lady Gaga

Matt Bomer

Kris Holden-Ried

Henry Cavill

Zooey Deschanel

Finished!

I have finished making the bodice of for my sustainable brief. 

Manufacture of Final Design

I started to manufacture my sustainable garment. You can see the design for it on my previous blog post.  I chose to use to different fabrics for the panels, a cross-weave cotton and a muslin fabric. The panels that were in the muslin fabric were also pleated. In the picture above I have pleated the fabric before cutting the pattern piece. This made it easier and allowed me to make them curved and slightly wonky.  After assembling the panels I cut a strip of the cross-weave cotton and gathered it on one side. This became the frill at the bottom.

I placed a concealed zip in the back and the construction of the bodice was complete. 

To finish it of I did put stitching around all the raw edges and on top of the frill. 

I created a spec drawing for the bodice.

Final Design

 

This is my final design.



To create the bodice I made a basic bodice out of calico.

I then made it fit a mannequin and cut it to the shape I wanted.

I drew on the panels and numbered and notched them.

I cut up the panels and traced them on to pattern paper and added a seam allowance.