Tracings and Watercolours.

I started drawing by tracing some of the floor plans that I thought would be most effective within a print/design. 

I added colour through the use of watercolours to the tones of my color palette, I found that the less white space there was between each colour, the more the paintings worked. 

I normally enjoy working in quite an expressive way, so drawing and painting in this way was actually quite a challenge for me to begin with. However I think that it's good to try other things that are out of your comfort zone as sometimes they can create unexpected results that you would not have found unless a new method of working had been used. 

Colour Scheme.

I took inspiration for my colour scheme from an article featuring Christian Lacroix who had designed a baroque style interior using more contemporary colours. 

Baroque style interiors used very rich colours, so I feel this colour palette is fitting with that, as well as giving it a modern spin.

Floor Plans.

Floor plans from baroque architecture were what I found most inspiring, and I've decided these will be the main basis for my drawings. 

I find the patterns created in these plans really interesting, so think I can definitely work with

them to create some patterns and designs of my own. 

The book that these plans came from was quite old and yellowed, so hence the yellow photographs.

Baroque Architecture in Manchester.

 I've been researching buildings in Manchester that are built around the baroque era, or are inspired by baroque style architecture. One thing that I noticed with all of the buildings is that everything is symmetrical, the same windows will be repeated on each side, with the same features on each side, like the building has been mirrored.
This could be something that would be interesting to play upon when I start to create my prints later on in the project?

Baroque.

I have decided to split my time equally between both the Baroque and the 1950's Digetex briefs, as I think that if I was to do both of the briefs at the same time I would get very confused. I am much better at focusing on one project at a time, working to two shorted deadlines will be interesting to see how I manage my time.

I've started with the baroque brief, seeing what I can find that's visually inspiring.

I've looked at a variety of sources for inspiration, both old and new, looking for modern takes on baroque and also the traditional baroque artwork and architecture.

I'm particularly interested in the baroque architecture and the floor plans which create really

interesting patterns.

Digetex Research.

Digetex are a digitally based print company who create a range of wallpapers and fabrics for furnishings, and also offer a bespoke service.

Digetex offer a range of different styles within their collections, offering designs for 

a wide variety of different clients. 

Working digitally is something I would like to progress with further within my own practice, 

so I think doing the Digetex brief will be something that can really help me advance with my digital skills.

Locating- Digetex Brief.

For the Locating project I have chosen to undertake two of the Digetex briefs; Baroque and the 1950’s. My time will be split equally between both projects to create two collections of digital prints.

My aim for both projects is to create collections suitable for an interior based outcome with prints designed for multiple purposes, such as wallpapers and soft furnishings.

For the Baroque section of the project I will focus on the baroque architecture, with particular focus on the architectural floor plans of baroque buildings. These will be used to create pattern and repeat. Research for this will be gathered from various library books and journals, also supported by my own photographic research into baroque buildings in Manchester. Drawing will be the starting point, creating various motifs and patterns that can then be digitally manipulated and put into repeat. Watercolour and inks will be the main medium used to create a painterly quality within the prints created. Digitally manipulating drawings into pattern is something that I often explore throughout projects and is something that I want to progress with further in this project.

For the 1950’s sections of the project I will focus on cell/plant cell structure, this is related to the fact that the structure of DNA was realised at this time. I was interested in the often abstract print designs of the time, so thought the structures of cells would be the ideal subject to take shapes and pattern from. Most of the research for this will be taken from the library in the biology books, looking at microscopic photos and interpreting them in my own way. Again this will be explored through the means of drawing, experimenting with colour ways though the use of watercolours and inks, which again will be digitally manipulated to create pattern and repeat.