Cath Bond - Art Online

Reflections on printing exercises

Monday, 06 March, 2006 - 18:46

Did I make a good selection from my drawings to use as source material for design ideas?

I think the best source material I chose was the images which created simple designs e.g. designs based on sketches of rocks in Pink Bay, Porthcawl:

Being able to boil images down to their most essential qualities is important in creating a strong design. The other images I chose were good for creating contrasts and trying out different fabric printing techniques.

What qualities appealed to me in the fabrics I chose?

I like the way that silk paint lends itself to communicating a simplistic image. I wouldn't be drawn to using silk for communicating lots of detail. Some fabrics carry patterns easily, and in these cases the pattern speaks louder than the fabric itself. This isn't the case with hessian. Hessian refuses to be bowled over by a pattern, and I like the tension that creates:


Is the scale of marks and shapes on the samples appropriate to the fabric?

I chose a dark fabric to capture a sponge print, and the scale of the marks worked well here. I wanted to make sure that the texture of the sponge was captured in the print, and therefore it was essential to use a fabric which could carry the thick paint:

I didn't really consider the scale of the marks when I was printing, but in retrospect I must have gauged this unconsciously. The balance of harmonies works well in the green circles image, as I used the sponge and the cut-out parts of the sponge to create the print:


Larger samples

I was really pleased with how the larger samples turned out. I took on board my tutor's feedback and added layers of different styles of printing to create depth in this sample (you can see the original that it developed from too):



The experiment in salt and silk worked well in creating this final sample that is based on sketches of sea water:

I like the way that the silk paint is darker on the edge. I also like the way the technique of silk painting in this way lends itself to spontaneity, which links back to the original sketch I did.

Author: cath
Categories: textiles, printing,
Comments: 0

Visit to tutor - March

Friday, 03 March, 2006 - 18:00

I showed printing samples to my tutor, and the colour work I did. The feedback she gave was to experiment with building up layers of print to give a different effect. Most of my printing so far has involved just one layer. She liked the organic looking piece and the purple sample done with bleach.

I really enjoyed doing these. It's fantstic to watch the bleach slowly change the colour of the fabric. We talked about how I should try experimenting with salt on silk so I tried that when I got home as one of my larger samples.


I’m really pleased with the way it turned out. I’m also pleased with the way silk painting works well without gutta. It’s a fast moving experiment, which leads to less thinking and more spontaneity.

I have to be honest in saying that I've learned a lot from the printing section of this course, even though it's not something that motivates me intrinsically. My tutor's encouragement and feedback has been really valuable. I'm amazed at what a difference it makes when someone you respect comments on your work.

Author: cath
Categories: textiles, printing,
Comments: 0