As you can see from my final piece it is centred in the space. This meant that I had to consider the piece from all angles. Over all I am really happy with the outcome , I think that by adding the muslin piece that is hung above the plinths to create height has allowed me to create a sense of growth upwards. Read more in my final evaluation to see what I think has worked most effectively.
Final Evaluation
I chose “Growth” as the theme for my final project as I thought it would be an interesting subject which would allow me to explore different materials and could potentially give a lot of different outcomes. I worked towards my proposal at the beginning of my project by researching artists that I could connect to growth. I started my project by taking my own photographs of my local woodland as I have always been interested in nature and the local environment. From previous projects I have found success in textiles and I knew I wanted to create a textiles based piece and remain in the textiles pathway.
I originally planned to contrast our built environment to the natural world. I wanted to showcase the difference between a townscape and my local woodland. But as the project developed I became more interested in the natural world and how I could reflect my interests in a final piece. The photographs I have taken have influenced my final outcome. Through researching a variety of materials and exploring different techniques I felt I was achieving textiles pieces that had a clear connection to growth.
My focus became clear on natural forms. I found fascination in the natural world because it is forever changing, organic and evolving. I am interested in how it manipulates structures.
I began the project by researching honey comb and the hexagonal shape due to my dad being a bee keeper. I found that hexagons are one of the strongest sustaining shapes in nature. I then begun to look at the Giant’s Causeway which was formed by a volcanic eruption and subsequently left behind hexagon columns. Over time the sea and landscape had caused the columns to weather and change adding new textures and surfaces.
After reading the book “Land” by Antony Gormley and narrated by Jeanette Winterson I was intrigued how his iron figures are forever changing through weathering and erosion. I am interested in how temporary structures are in the world compared to the never dying growth. I have looked at a variety of artists who cover all pathways to gain a better understanding of how other artists chose to reflect the natural world within their practice.
At the beginning of my project I explored printing processes and digital drawings however from these findings I felt that the results were too flat and I didn’t feel that they reflected the organic, natural world realistically. I became disappointed in the results so I began to explore new techniques. I was much more excited by physical scale, shape and form and creating something that would cross between sculpture and textiles.
I then began to explore with yarns and latex to try and make something more three dimensional but again I didn’t feel that this gave the best natural effect. I then tested weave because I could include different textures, colours, materials and I would be able to add wire to shape and manipulate it. I also tried felt making which was very successful as the wool was very malleable and could be manipulated. Felt making worked in harmony with my ideas and I was now able to successfully create pieces that represented natural growth such as lichen, mould or fungi. With felting and weaving I was able to combine different textures, colours and surfaces which would achieve my desired outcome. Dallinga uses felt as her main media when creating artwork. She has heavily influenced me she makes three dimensional pieces that have been inspired by her surroundings. Through exploration and experimentation of these mediums I have developed my skills and technical capability. The process has also given me more of an understanding of time scales. Felt making is a very time consuming process so working towards targets and deadlines that are self-set is essential.
I did a great deal of research and experimentation into the potential of materials to see which would be best for creating a final outcome. Dallinga’s pieces have been photographed in a woodland space and I think it makes the pieces look more effective by placing them directly into context. If I was to develop this project further I would have explored different compositions and placed my experiments in the local environment and recorded the changes the natural world made to my artwork over a period of time.
For my final piece I created my own hexagonal prism plinths. I made them from MDF wood and painted them white to sit in a gallery setting. My hexagon plinths were inspired by my research into the columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Each plinth is a different height to give the appearance of stepping but also the idea of growing upwards. I placed my felted three dimensional pieces over the top of the columns to express my idea of the natural world attaching itself to structures, be them built or natural.
I used felt and weave as the main media in my final piece. I chose felt because of its ability to be manipulated due to the fibre structure of wool. I could create pieces that reflected three dimensional forms in nature. A lot of the artists I researched had created pieces from felt and I was inspired to challenge myself to create three dimensional forms in this way. I also used weave as it allowed me to showcase natural colours. By adding wire to the weave it allowed me to make the weave a growth in its own right. I am really pleased with how I have combined the two main mediums. I added a muslin piece above the plinths which I attached felt to and embellished. This adds another dimension to the piece by creating height. I think I have successfully managed to represent growth in nature and natural organic forms.
The main messages I wanted to convey in my work was the idea of something growing and slowly evolving. I have been fascinated through this project by growths in our world which often go ignored by walkers. I wanted to create something that would create impact. I wanted to create the sense of growth. Personally, I think I have achieved this by starting my piece on the floor and working upwards. Additionally, when setting my space in the exhibition. Other students where commenting on my work saying that it reminded them of forests, swamps and woodland.
Overall I am pleased with my final outcome I think my favourite part is one of the side walls on the biggest plinth. As my piece is centred in the room it meant then when making the piece I had to consider it from all angles. This was difficult as it was hard to work on different areas and see the piece at the same time. However, I am really pleased with how it looks. I attached flat felt pieces to the walls that I had gathered. I added wire to them and made the effect of stacked fungi. I think this looks really effective and that is the area I am most pleased with. I additionally like the felt vessels as they add height to the piece and create the look of growth. I think where I have added felt beading and yarns spilling out of felt look effective and they represent nature well. By adding felt beads it has added different shape and texture to the piece and areas of brighter colour which will make a viewer look around the piece. My weave has created a foundation for the piece. The colours pull the story together and provide visual harmony.
If I could change anything I would have made more felt to cover more of the floor area leading up to the plinths. Additionally, with more time I would have taken the piece outdoors and photographed it in different environments. I think it would have been interesting to take photographs of it in my local woodland as it would put the piece in context. It would have also been interesting to see if nature changed the piece over time and I could have possibly done a time lapse video. However, this shows there is more potential in the piece and something I will explore further.
I chose to present my final piece on the floor and have a hanging element above the piece. I think this has been successful as it relates to my idea of the Giant’s Causeway. Plus, by starting from the floor it has allowed me to work upwards creating height and the appearance of growth. I think my final piece and research throughout the project has fulfilled my initial proposal as I have created a textiles based outcome. I have changed direction slightly as I didn’t focus on the build environment. However, I do not regret this decision as my work evolved I became more focused on the natural world and I am happy with the outcome. I think I have explored growth throughout my project and through the mediums I have chosen I have successfully created a piece which demonstrates my findings.
Presenting my final piece
My main inspiration for setting up my final piece was of the Giants Causeway due to the hexagonal prism plinths. However, there are artist that have also influenced me. If you look at a previous blog post I had messaged artist Sue Hotchkis asking her about the ways in which she displayed her work. Mainly her work is hung by a gallery wall and this looks really effective as you can see white space around the piece making all the textural elements stand out.
I also took inspiration from Marjolein Dallinga a contemporary textiles artist who works with felt. I particularly like the “Bloomfelt forest” work she has created. A lot of this work is centred and surrounded by white space in a gallery setting. I want to centre my plinths in the room so that the piece can be considered from all angles. Her 3d felt pieces stand alone and due to them having space around them it allows the viewer to consider the piece from all angles and appreciate the artwork.
In addition, I took some inspiration from artist Dana Barnes who has casted shapes that she displays in a gallery setting. Each cast has space around it allowing a viewer to walk around her artwork and interact with it. This is something I really like so when doing sketches of my set up I have considered this. I have also thought about creating an impact by adding height. Refer to my sketchbook for plans of my outcome.
Facebook feedback
Throughout FMP I have posted these about my own work and contributed to comments on other peoples art work.
Its a really good way of showing students work and getting feedback from students and tutors outside of college. I received likes and comments suggesting ideas on taking photos of the honey comb at the beginning of the project. I also received comments on my plinths that they was looking good.
Catalogue
For our end of year show the Foundation students have each selected a photograph of their art work from any unit to use in the catalogue for our final show. I have selected one of my weaves as the photograph. This will be seen by any person who enters the show and collects a catalogue therefore it had to be printed professionally and had to be a good quality image. One of my friends James kindly took the photograph for me and this is the image I have decided to use. I thought with it being an element of my final piece it will connect the two together. Additionally I have now added wire and structured the weave a lot more.
COSTING
For the majority of the project I have had to pay very little. But the spends I have made I have kept all receipts in the back of my sketchbook. The things I have paid for have just been materials and the cost of wood for my plinths which were essential for me making the final piece I had planned.
MDF wood – £ 30.00
Muslin fabric 1 metre – £ 2.00
Instant Prints – £5.32
World of Wool ( felt ) – £59.94
Perran yarns – £12.40
TOTAL : £ 109.66
Unofficial Research
This is my Pinterest blog that I have collected research on throughout the entirety of my final major project. Some of the research has lead me t artists websites and pages if I have used them as a research source I have recorded them in my bibliography. But I use interest mainly as a tool to get a wide search and variety of different art work that relates to my ideas.
Here is the link – https://uk.pinterest.com/leilaroworth/fad-fmp/
Below is a few screenshots of artworks I have pinned over my project.
Dana Barnes / Studio
Ideas for presenting my final outcome from looking at her artwork.
Dana Banes is another artist who has influenced me greatly during my FMP. Similar to Dallinga I found her through Pinterest and then found her personal blog and website. She has created work inspired by rocks and lichen and this is the work I can connect to most and relate to.
A lot of her projects are based around texture and space. When looking at the work she did using lichen it has clear connection to the ideas that I am exploring.
I made my plinths inspired by the volcanic eruption which made the giants causeway. Through my project I have found more interest in the way that growth occurs on everything from rocks, to lampposts to trees, growths form.
From looking at her blog and her artwork you can see that she is influenced by architecture and the natural environment. I particularly like the way she displayed her art work about lichen using the rocks in the studio space and then casting elements adding real life to the pieces using growing lichen they look really effective. The colours she has used reflect the outside world which is also something I wanted to demonstrate when making my final piece.
She creates very textural compositions and you can see that she works in an experimental way from her sketching to actually creating a piece.The presentation of her work from studio to exhibition is interesting in exhibition space she has hung many of the pieces and this is giving me ideas about my presentation by adding height it adds another dimension to the viewer. It gives a better idea on scale but additionally it can make the viewer feel something. Things that are larger scale can look imposing and be quite intimidating when looking at her work on her blog these are the feelings I get. I don’t want my work to be huge and have an imposing feel but it is interesting to see.
B, Dana. Dana Barnes Studio. Available: http://www.danabarnesstudio.com/projects. Last accessed 14 May 2017.
Majolein Dallinga Bloomfelt (secondary research) Inspiration for final outcome
When creating my final piece, I wanted to explore more artist that work with a textiles medium. As I was looking at felt making and weaving I came across Majolein Dallinga on pinterest. I then began to look a little deeper and found her website which shares images of all her current work. You can see from her imagery and her pieces that they are inspired by the natural world that surrounds us. What I like most about her work is that she includes her pieces back in the nature that she took the inspiration from. She has photographed them really well in what you would imagine to be their natural environment.
If I had more time on my project this is something I would have liked to explore, I think it would be interesting to take my felt pieces into the local woodland and capture them amongst other growths. Due to the time frame this would not be possible but it is potential for the future.
I like Dallingas outlook on her medium this quote is taken from her website
“Felting is an ancient technique which allows unlimited freedom in the creative process which demanding very limited mechanical intervention such as weaving in a loom.”
Which I completely agree with from using both processes in my final outcome you definitely have more freedom with felting as it is easy to manipulate and shape.On her website I am particularly interested in the “Sculptures” section this part of the gallery is where most of her 3d felt making is shown. I am fascinated by the way she shapes and manipulates the felt in order to make it appear like a real life form. The colours she uses and the techniques she has learnt are evident in the outcomes, I like how in her felt pieces she almost blends colours together like you do with paint. The work is finished to a high standard and she has photographed them well.
I particularly like how she has displayed her work in gallery space as well and this has given me ideas for presentation. I like how they look as if they are growing upwards and start on the floor. I additionally like the ones which have been hung as they add another dimension to the piece.
I have also looked on her blog she shares imagery of the things which fascinate her many of them are of the natural world. Her blog has also given me ideas on how to present work and how to talk about artwork as well.
Below is a video where she has put her artworks into the environment , I find this really interesting. If the time frame wasn’t so tight for my final piece deadline this is something I would explore. There is still potential left in my work and this is something I want to try in the future.
Dallinga, M. (2012). Bloomfelt . Available: http://www.bloomfelt.com/blog/. Last accessed 15 May 2017.
Bloomfelt: Blooming forest. (2016). (Video) United Kingdom: Majolein Dallinga
Final Piece additions / Primary research
From idea to design
All my felt pieces where inspired by the images I had taken of my local woodland & Cumbria. Over the walls of my plinths I wanted to include the idea of stacked mushrooms growing beside it. For this, I would have to add wire to the felt in order for it to stay structured and remain horizontal. I attached these felt pieces with staples. Underneath I added wire which I wove into the wool to make the felt more stable. In my opinion this is the most successful pet of my final piece , I think it looks really effective as it looks as if they’re growing out of the side. I used cream and green wool that I blended into each other as often when you see mushrooms in nature they are turning white.
The images I took of the growth in Cumbria by the side of a rotting tree trunk fed my inspiration for my felt pieces. This growth had appeared near our caravan over night almost ! It is a really strong structure and has accents of bright colour yellows and oranges whilst it’s still relatively new to its environment. All through my felt making I have carefully selected colours to reflect those that you find in nature. The way that the mushrooms are layered gives a really interesting look to the piece. I wanted to recreate this within my final piece.
What was successful about making this out of felt is that felt is easy to manipulate. I gathered the felt using stitch to make it appear to have folds and creases like the mushrooms have in life. Using the wire allowed me to manipulate the shaping of each piece.
Leila Roworth 