Mixed Media - Week 2 Review

Throughout the second week of mixed media, I have spent my time  refining my ideas for our laser  cutting session, as well as creating more thought after 3D sculptural pieces.
After gathering a body of contextual reference work and initial drawings, my ideas started to become more original and more relatable to my initial reference points. While continually experimenting with paper, I began using the technique of layering, cutting simple shapes and then overlapping the stencils, creating a variety of different lines, as well as interesting curves and shadows. Due to the fact that my drawings where simple, this allowed me to recreate the cut outs quickly and i could  begin to visualise how these shapes might react when made of different materials or manipulated in different ways.

I decided to pursue my layered motif idea in the laser cut session, I now had the chance to change up my material choice and create samples using harder surfaces. I really enjoyed my time in laser as this was the first time i had ever used the machinery. Seeing my designs translate through the technology, sparked an array of fresh ideas and has led me to look into sampling with different material options such as leather, woods and a variety of papers.

(Laser Cut Sample using MDF Wood)

After my laser session I had time to reflect and envision how my layered samples could now translate into a 3D Fashion context. Looking back to my contextual references and initial starting points it was clear to me that the idea of curve was very prominent in my work, my ideas led strongly to creating a structural piece of art that moulds and works with the natural curves and edges of the human form. I began working with collage and abstract fashion illustration, imagining the variety of bends and arches i could achieve when working on the body.