Design

An interesting critique session with fellow students from different disciplines really helps to focus on  your research/ practice and allows you to stand back to observe as a non specialist.
I am always being asked what am I making with my dyed textiles which has made me consider the market for naturally dyed textiles. There are as many limitations ie consistency, fastness, size as there are possibilities ie uniqueness, sustainability, historical and traditional evidence. In my learning agreement I have mentioned this aspect of my practice and have been interested in the ways contemporary practitioners market their work. Ian supplies silk scarves to Jarrolds who want scarves which will have an individuality and uniqueness. Helen works within the Fine Art field and Isabella relies on her teaching and is publishing a book on her research into lichens. I have made scarves and dust covers for books during the past weeks but have found that it has detracted from my design ideas.
So the critique has led to re visiting my water resources and planning ways to interpret them.

Maggie Hamblings work that I saw at Kings College and the sketches I have done of a weir near my home have movement and strength. I am just using indigo to dye the water and use the wax resist to keep the crest of the wave white. I have used a stipple brush for the wax which needed to be considered in relation to keeping the wax hot when it is brushed onto the fabric.

I need to re visit the research from Japan to understand the care/type of brushes they use and methods 

When I saw the examples of reflections in water in Monet's painting at the National Gallery it related to photographs I had taken at the Wharf

I have used the spatula with wax to represent the areas of colour and started by waxing the areas which will remain white and those which will be dipped into Madder for the rust colour of the reflection.

The Shibori workshop with Isabella Whitworth really helped me to understand how to get a range of blues from Indigo. It all comes down to understanding the nature of indigo ie it lays onto the fibre therefore covers what is there unless it is resisted in some way. So the times the fabric is dipped, the more layers and the darker the colour. By keeping exhausted or well used vats where the percentage of indican is low the outcome will be a paler blue.
I still enjoy mark making but find this next step ie interpreting design challenging and invigorating - just hope that after tomorrows dyeing session some of my ideas will be realised!!