Scarf Designs

'Sanctus Strix' are a range of scarf designs focusing upon Owls, which have been considered a bad omen and a symbol of death throughout art history, and intricate patterns inspired by religious Medieval art. The designs echo repeated themes of my project, such as dot work, gilding and halos.
When initially conceiving the designs, I decided that I wanted the designs to be connected to my elaborate repeat designs, however they are not intended to be worn together as the scarves are large, bold statement pieces.
The designs feature a Barn Owl, as ever expressing my long running obsession with Barn Owls, and a Long Eared Owl, which I find incredibly beautiful, yet sinister and menacing, which I felt was rather fitting due to the symbolism of the imagery.

Now the designs are complete, I intend to screen print them onto silk using a variety of techniques and processes.

Sin Repeat

After compleating my 'Virtue' repeat design I began intensive work on also putting 'Sin' into repeat and manipulating it digitally to ensure that the design is perfect. The final repeat can be seen below. I decided that the design should be simpler than Virtue to create a range of different levels of complexity across my collection, and because I intend to work onto the digital print using metallic powder.

Virtue Repeat

After cleaning the high resolution scan of 'Virtue' and resolving any errors, the next step was to put the design into a prefect repeat unit. This was achieved using the 'Offset' tool in Photoshop. Once in repeat, the background of the design was removed, meaning that the colour, texture and pattern behind 'Virtue' was easily interchangeable. I experimented with painting watercolour sheets and placing those into repeat, to act as a background and add subtle texture to the design, preventing it from becoming flat. The results can be seen below:

'Sin'

Another design which I have been working on, and acts as the opposing design to 'Virtue' is 'Sin'. Naturally I chose to echo specific aesthetic aspects within both designs to unify the collection, such as halos and dotwork, as well as scale. In order to reflect the more sinister subversive message of the design I decided to design the halos black with gold dots, as a twist on the more tradiotional approach. Halos are a fascinating aspect of ecclesiastical art, as they change and develop through time periods, and different artists have very varied approaches to the halo (my personal favourite being Fra Angelico and his many different visual interpretations of the halo).

'Virtue' progress

As my 'Virtue' repeat is an A1 design It has required extensive photoshop manipulation post-scanning to piece together each section of the design and retain its high quality. The design is now 'pixel perfect' and ready to be put into repeat and move onto the next stage of editing; adding a background.

New Sketchbook

Since Paris I have been using a new sketchbook to collate my ideas, inspiration and designs. I wanted the book to reflect the personal journey and message of my work, so as ever an impacting cover was an important element to consider.

As my work has been focusing on a lavish, ecclesiastical style of illustration since visiting the Louvre, It felt apt to continue this manner.

As within my design work I have focused on the opposing themes of 'Sin' and 'Virtue' or as I have termed it on this occasion; 'Summum Bonum' (supreme good) and 'Summum Malum' (supreme evil).
On either side are quotes from Virgil pondering on aspects of 'good' and 'evil'.
Placing 'Summum Malum' as the focal point (ie the cover) was an intentional decision, as evil is often far more focused on and predominant in the world than good.

The Amaryllis has been used as a symbol of Pride (and therefore categorically a sin) and the white Lily as a symbol of Purity and The Virgin Mary (in accordance with historical art symbolism). I also chose these flowers as they are consistent with my most recent design work.

'Virtue' Design

After working for some time on a design I have been calling 'Virtue' I have completed the mixed media piece and scanned it ready to edit using Photoshop and put into repeat. The themes of the design are drawn directly from my extensive research into the historical use of flora and fauna as symbolic imagery, and of the styles and aesthetics of ecclesiastical art. Within 'Virtue' I chose to incorporate 3 different birds which historically represent purity and virtue in Christian art; the Dove, the Goldfinch and the Sparrow. With the Dove representing; the Holy spirit and the Virgin Mary, the Goldfinch; The Passion of Christ and the Sparrow; Gods concern for living creatures. The flowers within the design also represent aspects of 'Virtue'; the white Lily; chastity, purity and immaculate conception (can traditionally be seen in pieces of art depicting the annunciation), the Passion Flower; the passion of Christ, the daisy; innocence and purity, the Star of Bethlehem; purity and hope and coltsfoot; the Virgin Mary (due to its radiating, halo appearance). The flora were also carefully selected as they were aesthetically complimentary, as well as symbolically. Here is a close up of one section of the design:

York

York is one of the most beautiful cities Ive ever visited, so a visit to accompany and inspire my project felt natural, especially given the historical nature of the city.
York has an abundance of Religious buildings and architecture, so there was a wealth of visual inspiration to be gained from the various sights of the city. The walled nature of the city means that its quite an insular, tightly packed city, so interesting sights were to be found at every turn, including; the Minster, the Shambles, a vast array of churches and of course many taverns and shops.
Over the course of the day I explored York, soaking up the limitless culture of the city.

The Louvre in studies

Using my sketchbook to document various inspiration within my project means that Ive had the chance to complete a number of studies of art within the Louvre which I found most impacting, and in particular the small details of these elements. Below are a few pages from my sketchbook looking at art and sculpture of the Lourve:

The Louvre

As art is a key part of who I am and has shaped my entire life, visiting the Louvre was a natural desire for me, as it is one of the most famous galleries in the world, and houses some of the most stunning pieces of art.
Due to the nature of my current work the Religious pieces on display interested me greatly, as did a lot of the actual architecture of the building. I found myself incredibly moved by a number of the sculptures on display (my favourite two are pictured below).
And obviously a visit to the Louvre wouldn't have been complete without seeing the 'most famous painting in the world'

Père Lachaise Cemetery

One place I was eager to visit in Paris was the Père Lachaise Cemetery. At a staggering 110 acres, the vast cemetery could quite easily have had an entire day devoted to its sights.
With an undeniable atmosphere the cemetery had a tense, breathless quality I have only felt a few times in my life. A truly incredible, emotive place.
The most harrowing sights came from the Holocaust monuments within the cemetery, the skeletal figures of men, women and children lined one particular avenue, virtually rendering me speechless.
There were so many beautiful, yet sad, monuments and graves of varying sizes, styles and states of decay, it was impossible to give each the attention and respect they deserve, one can but try.
One thing I had looked forward to was leaving a rose for a great inspiration in my life; Oscar Wilde. His tomb was a beautiful sight, and I felt a sense of pride and loyalty to leave him a kiss like so many before me.

Paris

A short visit to Paris with University was the perfect opportunity to seek out some inspiration within the city. Intriguing and inspiring sights came for a huge range of different sources, including; architecture, sculpture and art.
The sights, sounds (and smells!) of the city were intriguing, so I took the opportunity to soak up some things of particular interest to me within the city.

Meadow Conservation

As I am highly interested in nature, and my project is based around flora and fauna, I always attempt to keep abreast with current issues, news and changes in the natural world. On a small scale, I keep a watchful eye on my own garden, the birds which visit, and things I see on my daily commute. But I felt it appropriate to watch the programme 'Bees, Butterflies and Bloom' on BBC iPlayer. Initially I was concerned that the programme had over-simplified the issue of bee decline in the UK, as this is a complex situation with many factors, namely disease, however I persisted with the programme, as Einstein supposedly said; 'If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.', and insect decline is a worrying issue.
The programme did raise some interesting initiatives to encourage people to plant pollen rich plants (as we do in our garden), however the inclusion of even more wild flowers is an interesting idea which I'm keen to get involved with, so Ill certainly be visiting some local meadows and collecting a limited amount of seed in June to sew in the garden (I encourage you all to do this, but please be sensible about it, watch the programme and you'll be instructed on collecting seeds).

I think encouraging councils to sew pollen rich plants, wildflowers and perennials as opposed to ridiculously expensive bedding plants is a strong idea with the opportunity to have several positive outcomes. Perennials are far more cost effective and require far less maintenance, in times of financial difficulty such as these, planting wildflowers as opposed to bedding plants is a much more cost effective option. Obviously a lot of councils are far more concerned with adhering to a visual stereotype of a village/town/city, but I commend any council who takes the brave step of of practical planting over shameless squandering.

The programme did make me consider what I can do to raise awareness about the benefits of pollen rich planting and wildflowers (other thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhan includinghttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif them more in my own garden and encouraging others to do the same). By designing some prints featuring wildflowers and bee friendly plants, I hope to change many peoples perceptions of wildflowers as being 'weeds', or less beautiful or 'showy' than any other flower. British wildlife and nature is something I am very passionate about, we can all contribute to protecting different species of flora and fauna, so think about what you can do to make a difference, watch the programme if you have a spare hour, or visit the BBC site for more information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0152fty/Bees_Butterflies_and_Blooms_Villages_Farms_and_Countryside/



(Above image, a bee on a nectar rich Scabiosa in my garden last summer)

Dissertation Result

As history and the written word are very important elements of my life, I approached my Dissertation with passion and drive, striving to achieve the highest grade possible, as context is a very important, and personal module to me. Today I discovered that I have achieved an A-, so with relentless work, I can still thankfully achieve a First in my Degree.

If anyone would like to read my dissertation, please contact me, however your likely to find it rather dry if you have no interest in the French Revolution, current social issues, or Textiles :)

Stanton Moor

A new year and already guilty of a nice, long walk. My good friend Lynn and I went on a 7 mile walk around Stanton Moor and Rowsley, to get some fresh air, indulge in the countryside and have a good chat. Despite the cold weather the walk was a great one, with some stunning views, and I finally got the chance to visit The Nine Ladies stone circle, which Ive wanted to see for a number of years. A beautiful place, sometimes I forget how lucky I am to be on the doorstep of the Peak District!



(And I couldnt resist a little brave tomfoolery on a rope swing we discovered during our walk)

Ill Omens

Of late Ive been incredibly busy working on my dissertation, but I am still finding time to build up my collection of studies. To take a small break from flora I have focused on fauna for a few weeks, looking at symbolic animals, particularly sinister ones, here are a few examples of my recent studies:

Timorous Beasties, Clerkenwell

During my visit to the V&A I also took the time to visit the Timorous Beasties showroom in Clerkenwell, to aid both my studio and context work.
The designs were breathtaking. As a printer I enjoy the labour intensive, hand process of screen printing, so I loved seeing hand printed lengths of wallpaper and getting to see their fabric ranges up close for the first time.
Having printed 3 metre lengths on fabric in the past I was especially interested to observe the paper pigments and different effects they can be used to create.
The assistant was incredibly friendly and helpful, so I encourage anyone interested in contemporary design, especially print, and in textiles with a concept, visit the Timorous Beasties showroom now!

V&A Inspiration

Today I visited the Victoria & Albert museum in London with the hope of being inspired by a range of different pieces on display, and with the hope of viewing a number of prints key to my studies.
The vast range of items on display had so many wonderful visual elements that I took hundreds of photographs. Below are just a few of these. I hope to use these for inspiration within my work, for colour, themes and visual style.

Riber Castle

I seem to be becoming synonymous with spontaneous walking! My latest was from Matlock to Riber Castle. I find walking and spending time close to nature relieves stress and calms me, so I enjoyed this short walk, even if it was steep and bitterly cold. The views and the sunset were utterly stunning, just breath-taking :)