I have always been an artistic person; I have the drive to work and perfect everything I do. I’m never satisfied if I don’t do my best and even then I strive further. I find textiles fascinating; the patterns within fabric and the decoration on the surface, whether it be embellishment or print. Without a doubt, your course would enable me to expand my techniques and love for textiles and design as it will help me explore textiles from all angles.

 Drawing has always been an essential part of my work. My work includes a range of drawing; from quick sketches to detailed tonal work. I find it immensely satisfying producing detailed drawings, it gives a sense of depth and shape to the image; this makes the development work more interesting.

I always used to have my own way of working; always sticking to it and never straying from a detailed, naturalistic style. This was until I was told that I was just playing safe. After that I was determined to prove to others that I could work in whatever way was needed. I’m always grateful for the criticism as much as it may irritate me at the time, it drives me to do my best and never settle for an average outcome. Since then I have expanded my ideas, not only to the way I work but the fantastic design and textiles around me. I have developed my own style now; it gives my work a certain identity nevertheless it doesn’t mean I produce the same work repeatedly. Your course would inspire me to produce work that could potentially change my life. If you accept me, I would show you that I am an exceptionally hardworking student that will never accept less than hundred per cent throughout everything I do.



'Seascapes'

Being able to create my own theme for this project I decided to go with 'seascapes'. I had just been to Mallorca that summer and I had taken a variety of pictures of the sea and I thought it would be really interesting to look at. During this project we were able to visit 'The Biscuit Factory' which is an art gallery in Newcastle. Amazingly I found an artist who focuses on seascapes and landscapes. Mike Bell uses mixed media in an abstract way and this inspired me greatly.

This is a clay piece experimenting with texture and colour. I was trying to convey the feeling and movement of the sea and what's beneath.

This is the final piece I produced for this project using mixed media: sand, glue, clay, tissue, material and acrylic paint.

'Magnified Images'

Using the theme 'manified images' I looked at the detail and reflections within the eye. I took my own images and with these I experimented with different techniques which helped me produce this final piece. The three eyes were produced using watercolour paint, ink and bleach.

'The Garden of Earthly Delights'

Using the theme 'garden of earthly delights' I explored a variety of starting points firstly through illustration, drawing and visual studies. I took an obscure approach to this project as I wanted to use shapes of and within mushrooms to create fashion prints, an unexpected combination, nevertheless I used an abstract style with a fashion related colour palette and it worked.

Sketchbook work, experimenting with print and colour.

I worked with my own images, editing them and focusing on differing layers to create an interesting colour palette that would work on a garment. I took inspiration from Matthew Williamson's work and Cybele's colour palette.

This is my final print collection. I worked in a very abstract way always linking back to my development work. See on the right hand bottom corner experimentation with the final prints onto garment fronts.

'Multiples'

‘Multiples’, a construction project introduced Textiles processes of knit, embellishment, hand embroidery and fabric manipulation. We had to respond to the theme multiples; firstly investigating rural and man made environments. I decided to focus on coral and sea anemone’s looking at the detail in their form. I was inspired by Anita Quansah’s tribal neckpieces and reflected her use of earthly neutral colours. I produced drawing boards and development work to help me produce a final piece.

Sketchbook work linking the natural use of multiples with construction techniques which in turn links to fashion garments.

Sample boards, sketchbook work and research journal. The sample boards focus on knitted loops linking back to the theme. The samples also include bead work and couching.

  Final piece. Includes knit, bead work and couching.

Model= Rachel Atkinson (sister)

Photographer= Lizzie Atkinson