Portfolio Visit - Krishta Fitzsimmons

I met with an Art teacher, Kirshta Fitzsimmons who teaches art to primary school pupils at an independent school in Cheadle. Kirshta provided very helpful feedback and advice on my portfolio. I decided to select a few sketchbooks and design sheets from previous projects as well as current ones, to show Kirshta the progression of my work. Also if there were pieces from previous projects that could be developed and incorporated into my Final Major Project brief.
After showing Kirshta my Midsummer Night's Dream sketchbook and my photographs of flowers she commented, "the sketchbooks are so tactile and fragrant. Pages are inviting and the size of the book works in complete harmony with its contents. " Kirshta also said, "Ink Illustrations show real progression. Love the monochrome theme. Designs are beautifully executed. Ideas are modern and fresh. Excellent use of media, very varied and professional, sensitive use of colour."
Kirshta also suggested to add a bit of character and texture to my sketchbooks in future and to have a go at trapping flowers inside empty tea bags and possibly cover in hot wax.
It was lovely to hear such positive feedback and also to get feedback from someone who is in another area of design, which I found invaluable.

The Gallery of Costume...

Evening dress, Zandra Rhodes

I took a trip to Platt Field's Gallery of Costume recently to have a look at a selection of old and new clothes, ranging from the early 1900's up to the present day. It was great being able to take time out of working and see such amazing garments! 

There was a beautiful, bohemian styled Zandra Rhodes dress, with the most intricate and flowing pattern, it was made from a chiffon/silk material; this gave me ideas for scarf designs. I also really loved a 1920s/30s flapper evening dress, which was completely embellished in beads. It was a lovely deep green shade and had a wing like feature at the back of the dress revealing some of the back, so unusual and rare to see such a varied dress design. 

I saw a lovely display of bags from the thirties also very much adorned with beads and they looked so delicate and glamorous, I just wanted to take them all home! 

As well as the many couture dresses by Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino; there were dresses from the fifties and sixties which were akin to Primark where costs through production were minimised.

Now i need to get back to work and start designing, though no doubt I will be taking a leisurely trip back to The Gallery of Costume soon enough!

New year, new brief!

Have been thinking about Final Major Project and decided my next brief will be to design and make a collection of silk scarves to be sold in a highly desirable designer shop, e.g Selfridges. Which is similar to the negotiated brief but this time I want to pursue it further and come up with some really striking colours and designs!
For themes I have decided to focus on floral, insects and birds, Peacocks in particular! I have been inspired by iridesent and transparent blue hues and greens. Also want to try and capture the patterns on insects wings and the Peacock's feathers for some colourful, abstract inspired designs. 
 At the moment just compiling research together and drawings, have taken a few photographs of some pretty, pink Orchids (above) because they have such a beautiful shape.