Week 4: Drawing 3D Structures (BLOG TASK)

I enjoyed week four because I learnt so many new techniques! For my 3D structure I decided to embrace Stroud’s textile and agricultural heritage by reviving the traditional craft of wheat weaving. Sadly, I discovered that many arts and crafts are facing extinction since they rely on oral transmission - there are very few instructional videos on YouTube, blogs and books were hard to find and I had to rely on intuitive learning and perseverance. I gathered contextual research into my folk theme onto a mood-board - these included photos of Bisley Saxon cross, Bisley well carvings, the Clypping at Painswick Church and Stroud cemetery gravestones to develop a cross shape.  The outcome was a success and I believe the wheat weaving was successful because the plaiting is neat, the design is detailed and the overall aesthetic fits with my folkloric theme. The woven cross has really inspired me to create more prints and I think that replicating the Welsh fan and Corizon structures in a pattern would be interesting. I am thinking of using these influences in my knitting samples and I want to make a lino print of them. I found it instructional to weave with a medium other than yarn. I would like to develop my wheat weaving and look into reviving more crafts.  It would be interesting to embellish the wheat further such as by naturally dyeing the ears of corn.