Concentrating on Colour

This week gave me the opportunity to refine the choices I make in terms of colour and proportion. In previous weeks I have struggled to communicate the exact colours that appear in my sketchbook ideas and development. As I continued to develop my ideas it became easier to depict the balance between the soft pastel and darker colours. 

My goal this week was to also connect my samples with my intended audience, making sure that I produce work that will interested them in terms of techniques and colour. I have established that my final collection will aim towards an unique audience of fashion knitwear for women as my samples evoke elements of individuality and creativity. I have contextualised my work towards fashion knitwear labels such as Leutton Postle and Sibling because their work is based on presenting knitwear in an exciting and innovative way.    

 Creating more yarn wrappings based on colour placement and proportion aided me when designing new sample ideas. The wrappings also assisted me when making decision based on what type of yarns work together well to create a sample that communicates with all the elements in my visual research, from my drawings to the context of my work.  

In terms of presentation I need to improve the way the samples are displayed as the sides tend to curl inwards, making it difficult to see the piece as a whole. When producing final samples I intend on steaming both sides of the fabric to ensure that they lay perfectly flat when mounted onto card. 

As I enter next week my intentions will be to improve and refine the samples I created this week by applying their strengths to start producing final samples, which are the broad use of techniques and intense colours. The coated PVC circles knitted into the samples will also be included in my final collection as they contribute an element of fun and individuality that relates to concept and context. I will also work on the weaknesses of the samples by varying the background colours, using intarsia to create a staggered effect that breaks the plain one colour background of the samples above. 

  I have introduced darker colours such as navy and deep purple into my knit samples to make the vibrant hints of orange and florescent pink stand out as unexpected colours, incorporating the idea of interrupting, unanticipated sounds of everyday life. This technique can also be interpreted as a way of depicting the difference between conscious and subconscious sounds that appear in my concept, utilising the contrast in colours as a means of creating this divergence. 

In previous weeks I have struggled with my colour combinations, using only light and subtle coloured yarns that failed to give my bright florescent colours the desired effect of standing out as interrupted, loud colours. Therefore the artist that has been relevant to the context of my work this week is Barbara Rae as I could relate my samples to her abstract paintings of the Scottish landscape. I found inspiration in the way she employs dark colours to make the bright colours seem more vivid and lively.