Chapter 1 Research on Stars

Hello Sian,

thank you for your constructive and helpful feed back on my posts for Chapters 1 and 2. I have revised my work on Chapter 1 following your tips and advice.  It is included below. I  added some extra material  as well as including notes and numbers for the images. I am progressing with Chapter 3 and will include some information on Health and Safety issues as well as photos of my self at work next time I post. I was a primary school teacher for many years so realise that a safe working environment is important. However I feel , as you said, that much of it is just common sense! I am lucky to have a dedicated ‘work station’ it does not have to be packed away and  is not in a kitchen. There is a picture of my work place below.  I already have several design ideas inspired by my research images. I am developing these in my head and on my pin board. (I managed to find space for one!) I have been looking around for suitable plain fabrics here but have not had much luck.  I found some white, pure cotton, Portuguese tea towels that I could dye/print etc but I need more variety. Can you recommend any good web sites for fabric?

I would still be happy to come to the summer school  at short notice. Many thanks again.  Regards Lorna

 

 

Module 1 . Shape and Colour

Inspirational phrases – stars in your eyes – star quality – star struck – star gazing – morning star – shooting star – galaxy of stars

 

Inspirational  Images

 

 Image 1 a

These images of galaxies were taken by  the Hubble telescope. They are amazing.

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Image 1 b

These images of  tile patterns were taken from several sources. The top line were inspired by the ‘Arts and Craft ‘ movement. The middle tile is a traditional Portuguese design and the bottom images are of tile patterns from the Alhambra in Grenada.

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Image 1 c and d

These images of star fish were taken from the National Geographic’ magazine library. They are so colourful and inspirational.

 

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Image 1 e

 These images are of traditional patchwork blocks. I love patchwork and they come from my own collection of books and designs. 

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Image 1 f

This  image is of a patchwork quilt I made recently. It is my serendipity quilt because it was finished just before I decided to start this course and  had no idea about the ‘star’ theme.

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Image 1 g

These images are of crochet motifs. Crochet is another of my passions. Designs can be very  traditional as in these motifs or  more modern and free form.

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Image 1 h

An appliqué star made from scraps of patchwork fabric

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Image 1 i

This image was made using broken pieces of scallop shell collected on a nearby beach. The ribbed pattern gives a lovely surface texture.

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Image 1 j

A random collection of umbrella pine needles that I noticed on the ground when out for a walk. I can see a distorted star shape and I feel it has the look of a star galaxy with radiating spikes of light.

Colour Wheels

These colour wheels were painted with water colours because I already own lots them and I will need to use them for the coloured papers in Chapter 2. The recommended inks are not available in Portugal.

Image 1 k

 

The hues are intense with lots of pigment added to a little water.

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Image 1 l

 

Image 1

The tints were painted using the traditional water colour method of adding more water to the original hue and allowing the white background to show through. Adding white paint would make the tint dull and opaque.

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Image 1 n

The shades were painted by adding black to the original hues. The changes are amazing, they appear very different from the original hues.

Chapter 2 –Making Coloured Papers

Distant Stitch - Embroidery Certificate Level 3

Module One

Chapter 2 - Making Coloured Papers

I used water colours for my coloured papers because the recommended inks were not available in Portugal where I live for much of the year. Water colours have special qualities, the intensity of a hue is directly influenced by the amount of water used when mixing. Traditionally white is not used to obtain a tint because white makes the hue dull and opaque. Instead more water is added to increase transparency, this allows the white background paper to show through. It is possible to make intense, vibrant washes and soft, subtle washes just by varying the water content. Wetting the paper before adding the wash will  make an even more interesting effect. I initially chose the complimentary hues of a red – green and blue - orange because I feel these will work well with the images of star galaxies and starfish from Chapter 1. I found those images inspirational.

 

Chapter 2 - Making Coloured Papers 

Image (2) a /1

These photos show a selection of the coloured papers I made before printing with star inspired shapes. I really enjoyed making these papers and experimenting with different techniques! The hues were washed on with a wide brush onto dry or wet paper, daubed on with a sponge or rolled on with a patterned sponge roller.

 

 

Image (2) a/2

This photo shows my experiments with colour mixing to obtain the hues I wanted and tests prints with various stamps. I used a rubber, make-up sponges cut to diamond or triangle shapes and a kitchen type sponge cut into star fish shapes

 

Chapter 2 - Making Coloured Papers 

Image (2) b

These samples are intense water colour washes of my chosen complimentary hues. They were made with a wide hake wash brush on dry paper. I like the vibrancy of these washes.

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Image (2) c

This time my background washes were applied using a sponge, this makes them more subtle and transparent. The complimentary colour was daubed on with the edge of the same sponge. I like the way the background hue shows through the applied sponged print.

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Image (2) d

These split-complimentary hue washes were brushed onto a dry background . The printed samples were daubed  with a sponge. The background washes are intense here. I feel the warm orange background with green printing is more successful.

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Image (2) e

Again these split-complimentary hues have been brushed onto a dry background then daubed with a sponge print. I feel the warm red background with blue printing is more successful.

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Images (2) f

The analogous hues of blue and blue/green were washed onto wet paper and then printed with acrylic paint prints.

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Images (2) g

A water colour wash sponged onto dry paper with acrylic paint prints of starfish. I used the analogous hues of blue and blue/green.

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Images (2) h

Water colour sponged washes with acrylic prints using rubbers and sponges

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Image (2) i

Watercolour washes  brushed onto wet paper with acrylic paint sponge prints. I used the analogous hues of orange and red/orange.

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Image (2) j

The water colour background  was sponged onto dry paper, the overprinted  starfish are also water colour. These prints are more transparent than acrylic prints. I like this effect.

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Image (2) k

The hues here are split complimentary, the background red/orange was rolled on with a sponge roller. The ‘pinwheels’ were stamped with acrylic paint in blues and blue/greens.

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Image (2) l

The hues here are split complimentary again, the background blue/green was rolled on with a sponge roller. The ‘pinwheels’ were stamped with acrylic paint in orange/reds and the diamonds with a pale bronzed orange.

 

Chapter 2 - Star Shapes Cut From Coloured Papers

Image (2) m 

A vibrant watercolour wash brushed onto dry paper. The star shapes were cut with a craft knife or scissors.

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Image (2) n

A subtle watercolour wash brushed onto wet paper. The  star shapes were cut with a craft knife or scissors. The maroon hue was an experimental mix of  my comlimentary colours red and green