500 word evaluation arts and crafts

500 Word Evaluation Arts and Crafts

For my secondary research, I decided that it would be best for me to collect a series of books relating to the art movement tied into our project, arts and crafts. Therefore, I worked from a book centred around Art Nouveau. Featuring artists such as Mackintosh.

I could not decide between either only Mackintosh or Morris to focus on solely because I found different aspects of both of their works appealing, such as the varying methods that they both use to depict flowers. For example; Mackintosh uses a very similar method to the one that I use to draw roses, which shares the simplistic look that I am familiar with. Whereas, Morris tends to draw different types of flowers to Mackintosh (instead of continuously creating varying sizes and patterned roses) also preferring to draw them with much more intricate detailing.

I put my moodboards together by choosing which of both artist's works are my favourite and would also fit in best with the theme of arts and crafts and choosing 3-4 different pieces, either replicating the whole piece or a specific section. Then, adding colour to them by completing them in different media or on different coloured paper, making the pieces more interesting.

I decided to use Katrina Pallon as my contemporary artist because she uses flowers as well as the female form as a common theme as well as Mackintosh. I find her use of watercolours interesting as well as also linking into Morris' consistent use of watercolours in his work.

As for experimentation, we went down to the textiles workshop to create a piece using Batik to recreate a piece by Mackintosh shown on the board, then use coloured inks to make them look more interesting, next we used puff binder to create an image by using a paint brush covered in puff binder to paint an image on the paper, then use a heat gun to raise the binder, revealing the pattern that had been lightly painted on. Lastly, we used various tools such as forks to create patterns in acrylic paint that looked similar to Mackintosh's works.

Later on, we added to our Batik piece by sewing into the patterns that we had created down in the workshop. 

As for health and safety concerns, whilst in the textiles workshop creating out experimental pieces, we were told to sign in first (to avoid people being un accounted for in the event of a fire), then to put on a plastic apron to avoid damage to clothing/ making a mess. Also, to tie long hair back which is common practice in the workshops as a number of things can become dangerous if it is not out of the way. 

After recieveing the peer assessment, I did take into account what they had to say and applied it to my work. From that point, I took all unfinished work or sheets that needed to be worked into further and completed the pieces that clearly were incomplete and could be brought up to a higher grade by putting more time into adding detail. 

I feel that the strength in my designs are that I can accurately recreate them as they were drawn originally, but that I also have the ability to see room for improvement/subtle changes within the designs to guide them more toward fitting in with the guidelines for the assignment/arts and crafts movement. For example, on my artist research sheet focusing on Katrina Pallon, she had used floral patterns often in various works, so I decided to add more interesting features to the piece that I would include flowers in a Mackintosh inspired style. 

If I was to start this project again, I would write down a clear time table for me to effectively manage my time at home to work on any pieces that may not be completed at college, as opposed to leaving it until another sheet is started, no longer focusing on the incomplete work, this method repeating until there was more work to be completed than there should have been. 

I would also have asked more questions about the projects, instead of worrying that the ideas for the project that I had created were incorrect, meaning that I would put off work until I thought I understood, leading up to an ever growing load of work. 

We mainly used new mark making processes throughout the project such as the main techniques learnt from the textiles experimentation work shop (Batik, Puff binder) but also we have had experience using weaving and sewing also, to add new kinds of depth and intircacy to our work. I do see the point in using these techniques in our work, it seperates our work showing clear differences in how we wish to execute the ideas that we had. 

I feel that the artists I chose were good choices, Mackintosh (historical artist) fit into the arts and crafts movement as well as having created work that appeals to me and that I enjoyed working from as well as Katrina Pallon for the contemporary side and I am also happy with the results that I created as a result of studying these artists and their works. As mentioned before, what could have gone better is my time management as well as being more willing to ask more questions about the tasks that I am being set.