college updates..

Back to college with a vengeance, renewed enthusiasm and creativity.

We have been giving our current module briefs, it feels very different to last year.  I think its because the current work load feels more 'academic' and I use that term loosely - totally understanding that a little bit of Computer Aided Drawing (CAD), PPD - designing a brand and writing CV's and artists statements plus a short essay on ethical consumerism is hardly academic but compared to sitting a embroidering, weaving or drawing all day its quite a change!

Learning 'Illustrator' is easier so far (one week in) then I expected - this time on the Photoshop module I was crying with frustration and deeply rejecting the whole system as it was slowly painfully poured into my little non technical brain.. obviously something stuck as it helped build up an immunity, this time it all seems so much more simpler - mind you I made sure I sat next to someone who knew and was helpful... BUT -  its still computer stuff and my eyes and brain were tired after the second week.

As I suspected w are using our summer sketch books and last years drawings for inspiration and I'm looking forward to designing a Ruby Starrs Brand image... but where to start.  This summer I took lots of inspiration from landscapes both urban and industrial, I drew lots of textured stone walls and rocks, interesting shapes but a little drab in colour for my taste.  I want to find a way to use these drawings, the shapes and add colour and depth to them

garden wall with garden!

For my brand I have lots of ideas and have done quite a lot of research into what other people do, its quite amazing whats out there - sometimes it just feels like there are no new ideas, so I've stopped looking at Pinterest and am looking at my own work and seeing what jumps out.

detail of hand made/ brown paper machine embroidered collage

The work I love most is all constructed, the embroidery and collage pieces are the bits I feel most comfortable with so it make sense to pursue that direction and I'm hoping to go for something small but select with 3d tactile effect - how not sure yet but I feel confident something interesting will evolve - watch this space...

inspiration from tall ships