New project for the As group

Alton College Textiles AS Course 2012-13

Fruit and vegetables project

The transformation of fruit and vegetable slices into a rectangular scarf

"as you cut into a piece of fruit, take time to enjoy the beautiful patterns revealed in the cross-sections" (from applique stitchery by Jean Ray Laury, 1966) 

Project duration:   7 weeks

Half term week   Produce 1 drawing of a slice from any piece of fruit and veg. Use the oven, microwave a radiator or airing cupboard to dry some slices of lemons, oranges, etc. Take photographs of fruit and veg you have at home, in a garden, a shop display (explain why you’re doing it and get permission first), wherever you can.

Week 1   w/c 5^th November

This week you will do more drawings in your sketchbook, it is wise to continue adding to this production of imagery throughout the project so you have lots to use for your final design.

You will also be using the photocopier to photocopy your fruit and vegetables and your own imagery, which you will then manipulate and use to develop further work for your project.

Plus you will use the light box and coloured gels to produce more photographs.

You will scan any successful imagery produced so far into Photoshop and start to experiment with manipulation of colour.

It will be important to stick all of your work into your sketchbooks as you produce it and annotate as you go.

Make yourself a name and project title sticker to label your sketchbook.

For homework every week we expect you to continue with your own work, and to investigate the work of other artists and designers to help you develop your own work and ideas.

Research and response to: Michael Craig Martin. Think carefully about what technique to use and please include at least one sticker image you have made.

Materials needed: 1 x A4 or A3 spiral bound sketchbook, drawing pencils – HB, 2B, 4B, etc, a good, soft rubber, pencil sharpener, a camera (borrow one if need be, only necessary for a few hours or good phone camera), black biro/drawing pen.

Week 2   w/c 12th November

You will be introduced to appliqué and acetate collage.

You will be asked to start to explore ideas in inventive and individual directions, using processes and techniques together to produce your work. We will expect you to draw on your existing skills and knowledge as well as using new techniques.

Research and response to: Laura McCafferty

Materials needed: Sewing thread, a small piece of Bondaweb which you can buy from fabric shops (C&H fabrics, Fabric land, Christine’s Art & Craft shop), acetate.

Week 3   w/c 19^th November

We would like you to produce 3 examples of a silhouette of 1 image using Photoshop and will introduce you to simple repeat patterns using Photoshop. You will discuss these with us and print them onto acetate (1 x single image and 1 x repeat image) for making into a silk screen for printing.

You will also be introduced to gold card printing

Research and response to: Marimekko or Orla Kiely

Materials needed: acetate and a scalpel (available from the department).

Week 4   w/c 26^th November

You will be introduced to crochet or knitting this week and expected to produce 1 or more samples. You will continue to develop work in your sketchbooks as well as working on practical pieces in the studio. It is important to continue to document your work and keep everything you produce for future reference and evidence of your progress.

You also need to produce a set of 3 badges.

Research and response to: Your choice of a fashion (not soft toys etc) knit or crochet designer

Materials needed: badge blanks (20p each) and either 3.5 – 4.5 mm knitting needles or 3.5 – 4.5 mm crochet hook and 2 colours of double knitting wool. You can often find knitting needles and crochet hooks in charity shops. You could pair up with a friend to each buy 1 ball of wool and share the 2 colours or you can buy small skeins of tapestry wool (much cheaper) instead of knitting wool.

Week 5   w/c 3^rd December

This week will be spent exploring silk screen printing and experimenting with your ideas through this medium. You will watch a demonstration and then produce your own examples of screen printed imagery ensuring you produce samples of repeat patterns, single images and overlapping images using both transparent and opaque inks. You will also use this week to complete any incomplete work from previous weeks.

Homework: Start your scarf designs (see below).

Week 6   w/c 10^th December

This week you will need to complete 4 colour designs for your scarves, each with information and swatches of materials to be used and details of trimmings if relevant.

Some of you will produce a scarf from a single thickness of fabric, others will use 2 layers of fabric. This can involve the use of dying, embellishing using any of the techniques you have learnt this year, but you must remember that the scarves you design need to come from the work you have produced for this project.

It will be your responsibility to ensure you have discussed your designs with us so we have helped you select the best one to make and organised what you need to have produced to make your scarf, eg bought more Bondaweb or screen printed your fabric.

Print your fabric and/or make embellishments for your scarf.

Materials needed: Thin cotton fabric such as tana lawn which will drape well.

Week 7 w/c 17^th December

Complete your scarf, your sketchbook presentation, your 500 word evaluation of the project and your photo shoot (dress your model in black or white and style your scarf in a variety of ways).

Hand in: Tuesday 8^th January 2012.

Extension tasks of photograms, colographs and wire sculptures are suggested for anyone wishing to produce additional work.

Your 3^rd and final coursework project of the year will be a skirt project and we will be expecting you to start to gather imagery needed for it during the Christmas holiday.