Connecting Lines and Scribbles

Connecting lines, connecting the wrong hand and video tapes, linking a thread from one to another. After knitting with the video tape, the wrong hand illustrations, stitching and designing products I have been thinking of what links it all together.
When Knitting it is a continues line like a scribble. Creating a continues line drawing or a stitch with thread of images from the wrong hand.

The images created with the wrong had are uncontrolled, it becomes controlled when I stitch it with the right hand.

When working with the wrong hand I became frustrated at times, some of the drawings were messy or unclear to what they represent. I found this interesting the idea of a line which is one thing but could mean another. A continues line which links controlled and uncontrolled together.

What is a line? How long is the piece of string? what determines controlled or uncontrolled?




This is a scribble which became a scribble when I was getting frustrated with not being able to draw so I scribbled all over it. This was actually strangely satisfying, I continued to scribble every now then when I was thinking. I become interested in what is a scribble or a line and the different types of scribbles which I could create.



I decided to play around with different types of pens and creating different types of scribbles, just like the wrong hand drawings especially now that I have no broken arm. It made me think of what would it look like if I stitched the scribbles just like the stitched illustrations.

So I am going to look in to the idea of the controlled line and the uncontrolled line and incorporating text and illustration as part of my final MA work.

Cy Twombly

One thing which I have looking at recently is the "Wrong Hand" drawings i did whilst my hand was broken. I have been trying to incorporate the wrong hand in with the video tape work, by doing this I created design t-shirts flyers and posters. It got me thinking of styles and out comes of work in an art sense especially on scale, size and what it looks like when it is finished.
I have been looking at artist who are interesting to me in their way of creating a final out come such Cy Twombly.

CY Twombly was one of the artist who I have been looking in to, his work at first appears to be a messy scribble or a piece of graffiti; which actually it is.
His paintings and drawings are a mass of doodles, layer upon layer of paint scribbles and doodling and using all types of medium's. He spends his time developing the doodle, exploring the idea of the line, controlled and uncontrolled then expressing it thorough his paintings.

I have become interested in my scribbles, the controlled and uncontrolled, the idea of a line becoming something other than just a line.

A line, a pencil line a piece of thread I can determine what this can be in a controlled situation and an uncontrolled situation. They can become linked, they can cross over and they can become one.
"The Wrong Hand' work is important I feel it is a missing link for the on going development of my work a necessity for my design development.

Wilder Shores of Love, 1985, Cy Twombly

Untitaled Print CY Twomblys

Untitled (New York City) oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas Cy Twombly

http://www.artnet.com/artist/16910/cy-twombly.html

Snow In Cornwall
A walk in the Snow at Night

Its late Monday night Tuesday morning I cant sleep, worrying about my work what I am doing and how I am doing it. So I decided to go out for a walk to try and clear my head so I could sleep. I walked around for about an hour I took my camera with me to get a few photos.

I was so quite there seamed to be no one around and the air had a strange feel to it which was in a way comforting. I could sense that the clouds were low and at any time it could start snowing again at any time. With the snow covering everything which it could cling to and the snow clouds so low made it feel as if i was walking in a bubble or a giant snow globe. There was hardly any noise apart from the crunch of my foot steps which was strangely satisfying to here. I just walked and listened to the snow underneath my feet, taking in the atmosphere. Everything was wrapped in a blanket of snow as I was walking I did not notice at all how it cleared my mind it was peaceful.

When started to walk back the snow started to fall but it was OK I had cleared my head and now ready for bed.

The Next Day

The Next day I was up early, it was cold but peaceful and clear.

Giant knits for Snowy Day's

OK. . . . . . So it is Monday morning the 2nd of February and it is cold outside but the sun is shinning but all over the rest of the country it looks like this . . . . . . .


So it has been making me think just a bit more about some big giant knits which would worm and suitable to ware in today's current weather situation. I think that Giles Deacon Giant Knits are inspiring and well I was thinking of something of a more everyday Knits whit this sort of spin on it.

Yokoo
And her Giant Knits

I found this Designer who creates Giant Knits which are complete fun and have the Giles Deacon feel to them but in a way which everyday people would wear. I love Yokoo's scarf's they are just like a mini duvet which you wouldn't mind wearing everyday, they just look worm and protective. These examples I found on the website Ety ( http://www.etsy.com/ ) etsy shop.
She creates a range of knits from the giant scarfs to the cozy's, hats, knitted chains and more. I do not know how I could create the cosy feel with the video tape.
I find her work food for thought especially on a snow day like today.

The Woodchip Brown Soopascarf

http://www.etsy.com

The Cambridge Chain in Citron

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19161387

The Vermont Snuggler in Charcoal

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20144902

Things which I have been involved in

Since Christmas have been getting involved with other projects outside my MA but I have been incorporating the wrong hand illustrations and way of working. I have been working with the university radio station and some of the DJ's helping with designing for promotion for the shows. Things such as flyers and promotional hoddies and T-shirts as well as ideas illustrating and art work for linked websites. One of the shows is called Spinninseed, it is trying to work outside the radio also creating a collaboration with music art and design. The show itself is a backdrop of music that creates a platform for the student culture to put forward creative ideas and stories. The radio show is there to get people involved and to feel part of something and getting students heard and keeping them in contact with others.

"Spinninseed"

The word "Spinninseed" was inspired by seeds falling in the wind such as a dandelions being taken in the wind or helicopter seeds or maple seeds falling from trees and being taken in the wind. When the seeds are spinning they fall or it carried far but then they replant creating more plants trees and there for new seeds. and this is continuously ongoing, which "Spinninseed" is trying to recreate but through music, art, design and collaboration.

Here are some of the examples which I was asked to create for "Spinninseed"



This is a CD front and back cover, the CD is a snip it of student life with examples of music, interviews and audio from creative nights which "spinninseed" put on last academic year. Its a real example from people, students, professionals and ex-students communicating the need for collaboration in and out of university. Explaining the need for connection, communication, and collaboration, making the most out of what is on our doorstep.

Example of T-shirt design for the show

This is also an example of another t-shirt for the "Spinninseed" but on this on i have taken a illustration from "The wrong hand" sketch book but put a "Spinninseed" spin on it.

Giles Deacon

Other giant Knits which I have been inspired by are These By Giles Deacon, These massive Knits are Amazingly Massive, using all different types of Wool.
The knitting needles must be huge to create this type of tight knit with big wool. I love how they are just wrapped around the body like a massive duvet.

Artty Tee's

Gap Artist T-Shirts

-Shirts as a canvas; Gap Artist edition T-Shirts. 13 Different artist design limited addition T-Shirts. Jeff Koons, Barbara Kuger, Chuck Close and many more.
In May 2008 Gap launched their limited addition t-shirts all designed by famous artist.
This is an example of how art becomes design and then a product but has a sense of being a one off at the same time as they are limited addition.
This is something which I am currently looking in to creating a cross over in to these areas. Art can become a design product or desin product can become a piece of art. but it is about making it clear what it is and then how you show this. I think that these t-shirts are a perfect example of this cross over or thin line between one area and another.
I think that the T-shirt idea of showing the cross over is quit important its like being a die hard fan of a band like Led Zep and owning al the T-shirts. I like the idea of owning a limited products thing which like t-shirts, I collect Records/Lp's original albums not just because I like the music but because I like the art work.
I have currently been in charge of the PR of the University radio station and have been designing T-shirts, hoddies and flyers for the radio and different radio shows. I have been using the influence of "The Wrong hand" to create the designs and it has made me understand just how the cross over can be made with my art and designs.

Artty Tee's for Gap May 2008

PHAT KNITS! THINKING BIG!

I have been thinking BIG as well as small.

I have been thinking of scale and how this could work if I used Knots and kitted within objects made from video tape.
I have come across these artist and designers who have managed to create giant Knits:


Sebastian Schönheit, a design student at the Bauhaus Universty Weimar Germany.
One of his projects is the knitted carpet, his oversized knit work looks as if it could have come from a different. This is a hand knitted carpet, it represents what it is but also it represents the processes of work as a preforming act.
His intentions are to create a product identity creating a reference to material and hand craft tradition.
I an inspired by the simplicity of the end result and how much impact that scale and performance makes it what it is just by a few images.
I could imagine this just how it would be as a live exhibition performance.

www.sebastianschoenheit.de

Bauke Knottnersus is an artist from the Netherlands.
His approaches to design is on a macro level using large threads to create large scale woven objects.
The objects can be arranged in anyway which suites, the giant threads can be knit, woven or simply piled to a variety interior products.
I think that they are Brilliant it reminds me of the film "Honey I shrunk the kids" or "The Borrowers"

http://baukeknottnerus.nl/

Knitted Jewellery

I have been looking at knitted accessories, sometimes they can be uncomfortable, strange and unwearable. But I came across this which I think is pretty sweet, lovely in fact, its from a company called lady luck their pieces are fun and pleasing. This piece I think is lovely and gives me pause for thought.

www.ladyluckrulesok.com

The Wrong Hand

The Wrong Hand Doll

One of the gifts that I designed for Christmas gifts was this one the wrong hand doll.
When I was unable to use my right hand I used my left hand to draw and design things and the wrong hand doll became one of them.
I have three younger sisters so one of the ideas which I came up with for them was to make a wrong hand doll as well as t-shirts designed by the wrong hand also.
The wrong hand doll came about because I was doodling whilst thinking of what to draw instead the wrong hand doll came from it.
I made a pattern from the sketches I doodled and then stitched it together when my wrist was a bit better.
But because the pattern was not as well drawn to start with meant that the outcome would look like it had been done with one hand.
I made a small collection of these dolls and gave them away as gifts to my sisters and friends for Christmas.
I know that they are not amazingly put together but in some way they became special because they were created by using the wrong hand.
They do have a strange vodo doll feel to them but yet they also have a homely home made feel,
each one is different slightly so no one is the same.
I think that as gifts the wrong hand dolls worked for me this Christmas, they seamed to be appreciated especially that they had been made whilst I had only full use of one hand.

Knitting

Joanne Haywood

Joanne makes jewellery by knitting, crocheting and stitching and mixing it with a mettle to create jewellery. She explores the materials and she draws on the contradictions of opposites to create a physical objects that is her jewellery.


When I stumbled on to Joanna's web site I felt inspired, I love the fun yet complex ideas behind the finished pieces.
It made me think about how my own work would look as finished pieces especially if I am using material such as video tape.
I also felt that the vibrant colours that she uses is brave, but maybe that's because I don't use much colour, its inspired me to think of how I can incorporate colour into my work.

www.joannehaywood.co.uk

Person Joanne Haywood

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knitting and knotting

I have been looking at my knitting again now that I have full use of both my hands again.
I was inspired by the piece of string which I was given for Christmas from my brother and how we made friendship bracelets.
I have been looking at how I can incorporate it in with my Video tapes, the samples which I have made previously I have been wondering how I can shape them for jewellery.
The samples themselves look worn and have stitches dropped.

This is the Video Tape knitted as raw material it takes up more of the tape and creates a bounce within the new material.

This is the Video Tape as it is when it is stretched and then knitted, it has a net like finish but with wire like control which can be shaped.

New Year Form Me. . . . . .

Happy New Year

So its 2009 and a new year ahead, I actually spent new year in but then went to Brighton to celebrate it for a few days after.
I had never been to Brighton before, I spent tow nights and three days in Brighton, it was supposed to be a photo opportunity to walk around and take lots of photo's which I actually didn't do.
I just walked and wondered around taking in all of the atmosphere that it had to offer.
I found it quite inspirational in a strange way, its so cultural but yet it is completely British.
I loved the second hand shops down side streets, book shops packed with books from floor to ceiling.
The one off shop's which you just know that you would only find it in Brighton, and so many independent shop's selling one off items.
Brighton had quite a fun, cultural and inspiring feel to it, whilst walking around it just made me think of the design label "Red or Dead".

www.redordead.com

"Red or Dead was started by Wayne Andrew Hemingway Esq and his good lady wife, Geraldine Hemingway back in 1982. They had no money, so they emptied their wardrobes and sold them on Camden market one Saturday and before they knew it they had 16 stalls."

Taken from The Red or Dead web site. 13.01.09

Red or Dead

Thames & Hudson Ltd (Nov 1998)

"The "Red or Dead" team established preconceptions of fashion on their head, making the uncool cool, and saying the unsayable. . . . . . . ."

"The Philosophy of Red or Dead comes from my belief that design and fashion shouldn't be only for the rich. Today the whole population is bombarded by media and people have developed a seance of style or something which once preserved for the few."

By using music and culture and own experience as Hemingways inspiration he embodied the ideology of British culture.

Thoughts so far. . . . . . . .


The wrong hand, The dice, video tapes. . . . . . . .


So I have been using the dice decision and as well as working with the wrong hand and been thinking of things which could be made as products .
Now i am thinking of the work which i was doing before I broke my arm, i have been looking at how the recycled video tapes and thinking of how they can be used but using my new way thinking and working.
I think that although braking my arm was a set back it was also a blessing it made me think and adapt to things.
So first things first; I tried to look ant the matirial that iIam using and tried doing some small experiments by using the wrong hand to shape the video tapes.
I did this by just rolling the video tape to create ball like shapes and then trying to keep doing them to see how many I could make and the difference in shapes.
From this I think that I can go back to where I left off and think about ideas for jewellery whilst incorporating the wrong hand.
This is some of the shapes which I created with the wrong hand. . . . . .

Inspiration. . . . . .

Some ideas for Christmas waste. . . . . . . .

I was looking through some of the other Bolg's that I follow (Inhabitathttp://www.inhabitat.com/) and I came across this, a simple yet stylish why to reuse rabbis.
Here sweet rappers have been used to make different types of bags just by using different sweet rappers.
I thought that it was appropriate to put up on my blog just after Christmas as i am sure that many of us have so much waste after Christmas especially sweet rappers.




Talk about trash to treasure! Where the rest of us saw a candy wrapper, Ecoist founders Helen and Jonathan Marcoschamer saw a material that could be re-used to create unique handbags. And they didn’t just stop at candy wrappers, they also use food packaging, soda labels, subway maps, and newspapers to weave together their stylish, study handbags. Unsurprisingly, the broad range of materials have yielded diverse aesthetics: from the bright and colorful to repeating motifs. The company offers a variety of sizes and shapes, so the eco savvy can show their style with something as small as a coin purse or as large as a tote. Now a selection of Ecoist’s handbags, including their popular Every/Any (three shown above left), are available through the Inhabitat Shop.

www.inhabitat.com