Unit X - Investigation

Topic 2 - Line of Enquiry/Investigations:

Following the initial research stage, I wanted to work with wire because I felt that it would make my samples look more interesting, and also making paper cut outs using the shapes I have picked out from the circuit boards, wires and patterns that I have developed in my sketchbook. I took pictures using the paper cut outs which produced interesting shadows. From a group meeting and from feedback I learnt that my 3D wire experiments and paper cut outs were working better than my flat, 2D samples so have decided to present the majority of my work as 3D.

I have been taught how to use the cording foot on the sewing machine so have put together wire, yarn and then used the cording technique to wrap relevant colours around them. I have had a few unexpected developments like learning how to use the the cording foot as mentioned and also learning the facing technique. Cording with the wire has become a big part of my individual work and I plan to use facing in my independent final 6 pieces. So I feel that by not knowing these two techniques before the project, but knowing them know are very important skills for me to learn and have impacted the way I have developed my worked a lot.      

I have also produced some corded wire to be put into some weave as a collaboration. When collaborating, I have sewn onto a print, worked into a weave and cut a print into shapes inspired by a circuit board and then attached it back together using wire. By showing this in one of our group meetings we have decided to take the idea and cut our samples into shapes then use wire to attach our final 6 samples together if everything goes to plan. From the collaborative aspect of work that we have undertaken, I've found that I've enjoyed working onto something that someone else has already worked on and having a base to work with; I feel like this makes me think more outside of the box and helps me to produce more interesting ideas. By making bases for people to work on was also something I liked doing because it could be as simple or as busy as I wanted and by someone adding their specialism to it, it made it into something completely different.

My key developments of this project was finding that developing my 2D ideas into 3D should be the new approach I should take, so from the drawings and images in my sketchbook I have reacted to the shapes, colours and lines of them using mainly wire and paper cutting. I plan to use nuts, bolts and any other metal pieces I can get my hands on. From changing my creative process into a 3 dimensional based aspect, I don't feel as restricted as I did when working on 2 dimensional pieces, therefore found that this could be the way I go with my work in the future. For this project I think it's nice to have a range of 2D and 3D pieces because it shows the capability of a sewing machine and the use of hands and how they have had to work together in order to develop something that's 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional.

My plan of action required in order to finish the project is to look more into the artist, Michael Brennand Wood as he is using weave but not in the traditional way which is what I have been experimenting with, with the wire. I will also work on developing my own final 6 pieces, develop my paper cutting into 3 dimensional samples, work as a group to put our final 6 samples, board and presentation together.

http://www.selvedge.org/shop/michael-brennand-wood-forever-changes