Accessories
For accessories week, we were asked to bring in something that had a special meaning to us. I brought in an old photograph of my mother when she was little. This photograph is very appropriate to our brief, 'Identity and Self', as I see both myself and my sister when I look at my mother in this photograph. Our first task was to record our special object with as many methods as possible. I began by using the photocopier to experiment with the scale and the colour of the photograph. I produced many different repeats and made the photograph negative in colour which was interesting. I then used acetate to layer rapid drawings I made on top of the photograph. Additionally, I experimented with ripping my photocopies and layering different parts of the face together that also differed in scale. I had never done this before and was very pleased with the result as it was very abstract and did produced a complex but quick approach of recording my image. I then produced rapid sketches onto some collages which also allowed for an interesting outcome. I was also pleased with the colour scheme that was being produced, so although I had photocopied with experiments of different colours, I decided to base this assignment on black, brown and white.
At this point I had difficulty considering how I would use this photograph within my final accessory. My tutor suggested that I focus on a specific aspect of the image. I decided to focus on the plait my mother had in her hair in the back of the photograph. Therefore I made another collage and this time concentrated on the plait so I raised the plait in many of the images to narrow my thoughts into its shape and form. I then decided to develop the plait itself. I reproduced its shape and form by plaiting some other materials. I also plaited my friends hair and photographed that. After studying the form of the plait, I then went back to the original image and dissected its shape. I drew over the photograph and developed them in my sketchbook. I traced over the images using tracing paper to produced one part of the plait. I took that shape and exhausted it creating different forms of the same shape.
At this point, I had my shape and I knew I was going to create some shoulder pads. I always try and think outside the box so I also knew I wanted my shoulder pads to be oversized and dynamic. I wanted to get a real feel of how my accessory would look on an actual body so I took some photo's of my friends bare body and designed over these images. I think I will use this technique again as it allowed me to imagine what my designs would look like on an actual body.
Our next task was to design some accessories onto figures from magazines. For this we used acetate an tracing paper and overlaid them on to the images. The next step was to then cut our shapes out and position them onto figures in magazines. I concentrated on the shoulders of the figures as that was where the plait was resting on my mother's shoulder and also I felt it was the place on the body where I could experiment the most with the shape in terms of scale and form. On reflection, I should have even turned these experiments with the tracing paper into 3D by leaving some raised up a bit. This may have contributed to ideas in regards to the positioning on the body of my accessory. I then decided to produce some quick designs in pencil on a figure in my sketchbook. By this point, I had realised I was focusing on the shoulders and that a shoulder pad accessory would be the most appropriate.
The fabric I used was from Shepherd's Bush Market. I don't know its name but I intend to find out as it was perfect in making something with a large structure. It was brown which was relevant to the colour scheme of my development. I considered using other brown, black and white materials but I felt this one would produce the most dramatic final outcome. This project was a perfect example of inspiration for me in the fact that I really observed myself being inspired by something and developing and exhausting it into something completely abstract. I have enjoyed working from direct observation of an object. However, again I feel I need to manage my time more efficiently as I had not completed my accessory by the end of the week. Not only does this mean I am behind but it also means I do not get the valued feedback of my tutors.
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