Life Drawing

I feel like I'm walking on air. Life drawing is one of those things I have enjoyed doing a lot in the past because I always feel like I'm making progress. To be able to do it and learn new perspectives and idea so far from home really makes me feel good about myself. It has been such a long time since I have done any proper drawing and so I'm rather rusty. but what better than to graft from the beginning.

The first rough poses were 1 minute drawings. Later a range of 5, 10, 20 and 30 minute drawings. In the final drawing, I was guided to start from the centre of the model, then map outwards using directional lines and points to guide me. I was also to use my weaker hand as doing so will force me to look harder at my subject rather than relying on habit to create lines. The result is the beginning of exploration of the form, which adds weight and solidity to the model on paper as well as just being more accurate

I feel revelation for not restricting myself by doubt or ego and just really exploring my way into the action and waiting to see what happens. It was very different for me and I feel like I have learned something new. I like the result.

Dynamic Braking

http://www.ge.com/thegeshow/rails/#ch2

Today my friend Bex Elley directed me to a video I will used to influence me in my project. Just like her, I find it really inspiring and interesting, probably because it touches on subjects that I do not usually deal with such as Physics, Math, chemical engineering and sustainability. She said something I found just amazing today which was that, as human beings, she thought that we should always aim to use our brains at full capacity and intend never to stop doing that to the full potential of our abilities. Fuel for thought? To me she has pointed out something really intrinsic to what I do. To what anyone does and how we can all live better lives. To me, engaging the brain includes using both sides of the brain together as much as possible. And this was why I find her statement so remarkable and true. It is now also my aim.

Innovation - SHOCK OF THE NEW: In the Salon des Refuses

Statement of Intent

I intend to make a coat and trousers with a top at the very least. I'm also going to consider the presentation at each step I'm going to make towards that. This outfit is going to be made inspired by an experience I had as a younger child. When I fell from a bench blindly with all four limbs restricted, on to solid concrete with my forehead landing first.

Influences include my memory. This will be supported by my investigation and my abilities to recall and make sense clearly and exactly of what happened in this experience by watching videos of objects breaking down, or things happening in slow motion. This is because I really want to breakdown my memory as if replaying it in my head in slow motion, really re-absorbing that experience and translating the abstract feelings into a visual representation directly on different parts of the (my) body, in cloth and clothing construction. I am also going to experiment on the stand in order to illustrate my ideas prior to making a decision(s) on my final garments. This will be supported by drawing and colour application in 2D, collage and painting. 

Week 1 - Research / Experimentation

Experimenting on the stand. Drawing from slow motion videos and thoughts, recording these with writing etc (2D). Production of attempts to record in slow motion. 

Week 2 - Design development / Exploration / Execution / Product

Further Research. Creating a single inspired piece of artwork. translating abstract images on to designs. Then refining designs and details. Fabric research and making decisions on final fabric, taking into account ethics and sustainability. (Before in researching and whilst in designing.) Create 2 samples that are significant to the final prototype.

Week 3 - Consolidation / Realisation

Create toile for each of the separates. Sewn together and completed. Trouser, Jacket, Shirt (top, bottom, overgarment). Confirm and realise finalisations.

Week 4 - Presentation / Evaluation

Realise Final Prototype. Evaluate the result. Create Presentation illustrating the process - see Evidence for Assessment on the brief.

To assess the success of the project throughout I will use various dialogue between tutors, peers and myself. I am going to record commentary, processes, findings, influences and explorations in my personal visual diary, along with 

the briefing notes, 

the weekly tutorial I will have with Colin Thompson (design tutor) (x1), 

weekly sessions with Anthony Abebrese (pattern cutting tutor), 

Florence (for manufacturing guidance) (x4), 

Formative Assessment (Colin) (x1), 

Self-evaluation throughout, 

Final self-evaluation, 

and peer to peer evaluation, 

as a tool to comment on developmental issues and the completed project.

Isolation. Fall.

Isolation. Fall. Picture from Sal. Pressure on forehead reminds me of falling off a bench as a child.

First I isolated myself. I struggled. Then I gave up, and I fell. Down I went to the pressure on my downwards on my forehead. The hit was shocking. Shockingly pain-free... A strange sensation.
Red Band across forehead on hood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brYgjW-zKxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU7iYYpSrlo&feature=related
http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/just_plain_stupid/Slow_Motion_Smashing_Stuff/
Today I have spent a lot of time looking at slow motion videos from this website. I type in 'smashing stuff slow motion' and funnily enough that video by James Adair and that other bloke was the first to come up on google video. Having not been able to obtain a hi speed camera, I will still attempt to record things being dropped breaking on Monday with a Canon 550. However, on further thought, it wasn't like I split my head open. I realised that in the videos, things that didn't brake were more relevant. The strange sensation was very distinctive and I would like to express it in my outfit. Or developments. I can start off showing it visually maybe. Will I do it?

70s

I feel like there is a very 70's vibe in the air. 

J-Saunder's a/w 11 collection is crazy, wild, has an almost william morris  mixed with psychedelia and consolidated with a 70s sheen to it. The new gentlewoman is out. Very excited, this is no.3!