Sampling Weeks 2 and 3: Print Rotation

·         For print rotation, I have decided my print motifs and designs will be inspired by folk quilted blankets. During CP1 I came across the American Folk-Art Museum, who have a abundant archive of quilted blankets. I wanted to mirror these to create a quilt like print with simplified symbols from my woven tapestry. I also experimented with natural dyes, through walks in the Stroud area I collected metal pieces like car parts and nails to rust dye with and plants to sketch motifs from and to use in contact printing.  Overall, I was happy with how my rust dyeing onto Calico went, finding that I could achieve a blue colour if I sprinkled tea leaves on top of the metal. However, my contact dyeing didn’t go to plan. I think I need to use the plants dipped in a metal mordant to get a good print, but I was worried about ventilation and poisoning hazards. In the future I would like to try this again, but outside with a better dye pot and increased ventilation. I found my Shibori pattern whilst during with onion skins successful! I gained more confidence in these two weeks with Photoshop, learning how to scan items in to manipulate them, using the eyedropper tool, creating repeat prints and colour libraries. Further on into the project I want to use my new skills to create a more interesting repeat pattern, suitable for interior design. One of my favourite bits of  experimenting from this rotation is creating Motifs. First I explored different types of printing such as mono-printing, lino printing, wood blocks and mark making, but one of the designs I am most proud of are my Castles and Roses painting. inspired by the barges found near Stroud's Canals. Despite taking me a while to decide on a final colour pallet, I am happy with my choice of colours, I believe the my Film Corn Dolly photo is a good visual reference that related really well to my project.