Bluebells and Berries

As I considered my design work further and the sort of prints i wish to achieve I began creating a ditzy print suitable for indigo discharge. Many of Morris's prints were indigo discharge, and it is a method which I am eager to use. As bluebells appeared to be everywhere I decided to study and photograph these, eventually creating the repeat below.
Fruit was also a topic I was eager to study, so I began drawing blackberries from my own photographs, and created a repeat from my studies:

The Weird and Wonderful

On a recent trip to IronBridge in Shropshire, I photographed a variety of weird and wonderful visual feasts.
Wall's packed with beer mats at the Brewery made for some exciting images.
One bizzare sight I couldnt resist capturing were iron rails topped not with spikes, but Teddy Bear heads at the Teddy Bear Factory.
The town was a wonderful mixture of sights and sounds, and full of quirky inspiration.

William Morris at BMAG

In order to inspire me within my project I visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, to see Morris's design drafts, not for the first time. The designs on display at the BMAG varied to previous visits, and I was pleased to see 'Willow and tulip' on display. As Morris is my favourire textiles designer, I always enjoy seeing his work, and will never cease to be marvelled by its detail and accuracy.

Kingfisher repeat

After what seemed to be an age of painting and delicate photoshop work, my kingfisher design is finally in perfect repeat, and here he is!

Kingfishers

As my projects moves forwards and I consider the elements of nature I want to specifically focus on and study I focused on my surroundings and the places I had visited for inspiration. As I see the River Derwent almost every day on my journey to University, and enjoyed following it through Marlock on my walk, I decided that I wanted to paint an oak tree, as Derwent mean 'Valley thick with oaks'. Birds also fasinate me, so putting a bird into the tree seemed highly natural. I chose to study a kingfisher, as it is a bird I love but have never seen in the wild.

I looked to Morris for inspiration in my work, and sought to create a large scale repeat unit, reflecting my own obsession with nature, and the local nature which inspires me daily. I used unity and symmetry when designing, in an attempt to create a harmony within the design.

Spring is sprung

As the spring flowers bloom and colour begins to blossom everywhere my recent trip to Matlock allowed me to take a number of photographs of flowers and nature for my project. Below are some of the images which I believe may be inspirational within my project:

Thinking Space

As my ideas for the project begin to develop and pressure mounts, a break and some thinking space is always useful for creative development. So a long lone day trip to Matlock allowed for some deep thought about my project, and to get inspired by the nature which surrounds me. Walking is one of my favourite pass times, so a 10 mile walk in the hills around Matlock allowed a much needed break.
Here are some images from the High Tor and of the river Derwent:

Colour Palettes

Once again, I began to contemplate colour palettes for my project. I am keen to draw my palette from nature itself, so I used my own photographs of nature to observe the different tones and shades in nature, and considered the type of atmosphere I want my colour palette to capture.