Amelia Zandra Textiles

Geometric artwork has derived from many sources mainly Islamic, Indian and Celtic designs. Early civilisations believed science, mathematics, religion and art were connected. In Islamic artwork many different shapes can be seen. Circular designs are used to define 'one God'. Other patterns that exist are six point (hexagons), 8 point (octagons) and ten points (decagons). It is thought that as figurative imagery was banned in the Muslim faith, a new form of original art work based on geometric designs started too emerge. This art work often included not only geometric designs but also arabesque and calligraphy. These rhythmic linear patterns containing, scrolling and interlocking designs are mathematically precise, aesthetically attractive and very symbolic. Often the different modes of geometric, arabesque and calligraphy were not only used individually but also combined together. The combination of different shapes and sizes such as circles and squares duplicated and interlace...

This unit allows students to choose and develop their own self initiated project and live brief. The project should reflect our own personal interest and professional aspirations. Thinking about my time management within this unit and how I will split up my time equally between the two elements. The unit is a 8 week long unit, I intend to use the first 4 weeks to produce and create for the live brief. Starting off with visual research and following through with my design ideas. The final 4 weeks I will dedicate to my self initiated brief.   Looking through the various live briefs offered, as a student who specialises within print I was immediately drawn to the I-DOTT section. I felt this brief would suit my own creative ideas and compliment my skills as a designer. The I-DOTT brief is to design a geometric wallpaper with a hand created feature.  I now intend to start with my visual research into the...

Reflection on any project is an important and beneficial aspect, allowing us to develop our own effectiveness and skills. As always, as a designer I take inspiration from the world and the things that surround me, whether that's consciously or subconsciously. At the beginning of this project I wasn't inspired immediately to produce designs. On further visits to various museums I eventually found which path way I wanted to pursue. Once I had made this decision I then found the whole process flowed more easily and I was inspired to create effective designs using various different medias. During my research I explored many different possibilities of different themes. In the first unit the poppy theme derived from my visit to The Atkinson and subsequently The Imperial War Museum. As it was 100 years since the end of the First World War, I was constantly surrounded in various media forms ...

The second part of this unit required us to visit the Royal Armouires Museum in Leeds. Housing arms and armour from all over the globe and and exhibiting warfare from many different times. There are many different exhibitions on display including the Oriental Gallery and The Swords of Middle Earth.  I feel a lot of the items on display were more applicable to students specialising in weave or   knit, however, I did take inspiration from markings and thin linings. Rather than looking at the image as a whole, I zoomed into certain sections to highlight individual areas of interest. This enabled me to produce simple drawings that could be used as my motifs to form overall prints.  Although I am not particularly interested in warfare as a whole, I do feel the trip was beneficial for me to visualise and take inspiration from objects and translate this into a design form.  Scanned in pages of my sketchb...

Inspired by the abstract artwork I had viewed I decided to create my own version of abstract poppies. Using the principles of shape, form and design I created a basic flower consisting of straight lines and triangles using a ruler. The image was drawn first with pencil and then finished off with water colours in various shades of red, orange and pink. I intend to experiment with more colour and media. I aim to explore using new techniques I have been learning on illustrator. Here I have started experimenting with simple motifs that I have created by scanning in my drawings and creating them into paint brushes. I have mixed motifs together to form various designs. Next time I will start to incorporate a range of different colours. 

I have decided to research the poppy theme further. I feel I can experiment with simple images and more intricate designs. I also intend to further explore the possibility of abstract images of poppies in various colours and designs, This way I can bring together a broad and varying collection.  Pages from my sketchbook showing the research and experimentation into the range of colours for poppies. Through this I can explore colours to create my own colour chart to advance in the development of my personal designs.

The piece of artwork on display at the Atkinson. A solid glass and metal creation with the imprint of a rifle and soldiers helmet. The bleak black and grey background is brought to life by the vibrant red poppies at the fore front. A simple image that has inspired me to research further into the victims of war.  The poppy flower I felt was the perfect image for me to interpret in many different forms. This poignant flower evokes emotion remembrance and hope.  My interpretation of the above image... "In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row" John McCrae, 1915 Here I have used various paint brushes with water colours to create a muted watery background to the bold original image that I took as a photograph. On another piece of paper again using water colours I used a small fan brush to create the illusion of rows of poppies which is a common image of remembrance. Abstract Art is like Marmite you either love it or hate ...