Motifs for print design

Using my research from Georgian prints, I began to doodle and create small motifs within my sketchbook which I will go on to scan into photoshop and layer upon each other to create my prints. Here are a few of my favourite motifs which I plan to use in my prints.

Print research and colour palette

Our next task was to research various prints from our chosen era that took our liking. Mine, being Georgian, involved lots of often pale prints, with symmetrical patterns repeated across the page. There was usually a theme of two main colours, a light and dark one. Here are some of the patterns I enjoyed and chose to take further into my print development:

I really loved the Toile prints, which is one of my favourite style of prints anyway (my bedroom wallpaper is an off-white and blue toile, along with my bedding and cushions!). I took this almost as a sign of coincidence. I plan to use the clustered style of the Toile layout to begin developing my ideas, also taking influence from the monotoned colour palettes. I used all these images to help me discover my colour palette for my own prints:

Introduction to textile applications: Painting on to screens with fabric dye

Having a blank screen at the ready, I chose three fabric dyes to stop my painting onto the screen..

I used different techniques such as: scratching, dotting, and layering to create visually effective prints.

In order to stop the prints running and smudging I used a hair dryer to dry them quickly and effectively to stop the distortion.

I pinned a reasonable sized fabric to the table and placed my screen on top. Using the gunge I screen printed along insuring I covered the whole screen.

This is the final outcome. I am pleased with the range of different colours and exploration of techniques that we used. However, the smudging of the dye annoyed me. If I was to do this again I would insure the dye was dry fully before screen printing it on to the fabric.

Critical and Contextual - Essay Synopsis

“Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else again.” Horst, 1984. 

I have chosen this title as I consider it to be a rather audacious and courageous statement. I find this particular title interesting to research and debate due to the different opinions it will produce. Everyone’s opinion varies when it comes to their own idea of Elegance, meaning there is no definite right nor wrong answer which is one of the reasons why I am intrigued to answer this question.First of all, I plan to look into the definition of elegance, and what it means to various different people. I feel like this would allow myself to have an understanding of other’s opinions and would give me a basis to start my debate on. I will also be researching different ways and types of expression and how fashion can consolidate with it. Many people, myself being amongst them, believe that it is possible to express emotions with clothing and how you style it. I will obviously be referencing Horst amongst other artists such as Elie Saab, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior, Valentino, whom all host Haute Couture shows. The relevance to Haute Couture is important in my debate as Haute Couture garments are deemed as elegant in almost anyone’s eyes.I will be using sources such as the Internet, quotes and articles from magazines and books as reference to my side of the debate. I believe magazines such as Vogue will be highly useful to me as Horst himself worked for the company starting in 1931, mainly focusing as a Haute Couture photographer.To answer this question successfully I will need to access and document relevant information in order to develop and define my own opinion and answer the ever-talked about statement based on my findings.