Origins Evaluation

The first taster to start with was print. The body of work over the past 3 weeks did not look possible from the time scale given, seeing the collection together now it has paid off. The introduction to the print unit of basing the collection on the colour boards personally produced has came into practice of looking back using the board to relay on when in the print room mixing dyes to create similar colours based on the board to then again swatches of colours in illustrator. The colour has fed the collection of mainly choosing 5 main colours which can see in my collection being shades of greens, blues, yellows, and purples, orange. 10 objects chosen to combine in the work to create motifs again tried to keep an even balanced of the same objects being used but in different scales. Print collection has combined together and created a body of work I’m pleased with from the time scale given.                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Mixed media was a struggle to let go of some kind of structure of having the words ‘PLAY’ involved, changed the objects to create a different body of work to print and with that decision it worked well as I was not producing similar work I was allowed to play and not compare. Allowing myself to play with my 100 drawings which lead to simple basic shapes of creating on the same software being illustrator but totally different outcomes... playing with the materials and looking back at the drawings does feed my body of work as well as the mixture between materials.
As I have mentioned about feeding both projects by keeping ‘collection’ and ‘play’ in mind, my development has progressed of drawings, changing and adapting in both projects, a structure of development being in sketch books and to larger scale of A3 and A1 drawings to collaborate with software like illustrator which have not used before.
Print allowing me to keep it more 2D based and expanding my motifs for a collection through the use of colour to then mixed media allowing me to work 2D also but then development from the objects being hand drawn which brought back the original concept of the majority of the objects were 3D based and the ones which aren’t to 3D allowed me to play around with them to create a 3D outcome. But it’s not just the development of drawing which I have taken into consideration it’s the development of myself which I felt was a strong impact of willing to use new software to me allowing myself to be more technical based even if they were quick workshops the confidence and allowing to 'play' has let me open my mind and knowing I can create clean, crisps, simple and not so simple designs on a software.
Carrying on my development as mentioned above was the choices of materials and mediums, stripping back to just black and white media helped me progress of letting my mind just draw the objects and develop them further and further and to link with my print was basing the colours on the colour board to create my collection, whereas mixed media I didn’t want to think of colour.. Natural colours worked out well as I was using the materials chosen which just kept the project simple and organic. Prints development based on colour and motifs, which seeing as a collection has paid off. Prints development was more structured for me which I can see does work together now. Mixed media being based on 'play' allowed me to develop further with drawing skills and thinking scale where combing different types of materials could help and allow me to develop further and further. Although with mixed media I tried to play as much as I possibly could especially with the paper task, it was not my way of working but I got pass that mind set and mental block which allowed me to use a material that would allow the development to progress, majority of the designs are cardboard based as well as paper but it allowed me to create structure and layers within my work.
Engagement with these short time scales was key in my work, Print I needed to be engage which was hard at first as it was workshop, workshop, and workshop learning new techniques involved with the software. Very technical. Carrying out all workshops and experiment with the software illustrator allowed me to loosen up and learn exciting things which I never thought was possible. everyone has a opinion on print and mine was more its textured based and hand drawn- illustrator being introduced and Photoshop has completely made me change my mind, but the 'drawing' days suited me more of allowing me to work outside of print and create a body work which was still linked by the colour and motifs but not in a technical way, thumbnail designs to create with print but hand drawn, hand painting, collage it gave me a break from all the information and 'DDAYS' was a relaxing day and letting my hands create. Mixed Media engagement I felt was harder to actually engage. Could not see where I was going with this project where in print knowing a collection was an outcome is what was easier to achieve but more technical than mixed media. Understand mixed media is about mixing media but what? Attending every workshop. 'D-day’s' just couldn’t engage see what I was achieving. Struggle is the word. I was engage through hand not through mind. All tasks was followed out though, made sure of that. 'playing' always there and knowing no outcome I can keep going and going with this, drawings adapting in taught session and independent time,  different materials which combined together in taught sessions and in independent time.. Research was a huge help with mixed media having to find artist or designer’s that were inspiring me I realised nothing was as my work is not strong.
Rounding off print was an achievement, realising this being a first assignment felt good. Technical side has now changed my mind on printing and how I can create patterns easily with the combination of hand drawn and technical prints. I have developed through print, allowing myself to develop as a person was a good opportunity. By me developing is more of meeting deadlines, organisation. Just key objectives for me to keep developing, realising with a time scale work is achievable, especially a collection. Whilst Mixed media body of work came more together nearer the end, development seemed to drag. Only when artists started to come to mind it influenced where I could see this work heading. Louise Gray and Una Burke both designers but in different scenes. Grays work influenced more for her mixed media accessories and quirkiness, Burke was more body art, work on the body using the body as work to help create these pieces.
In conclusion the 6 weeks in total has been an experience, a fast experience to say the least. Two practices that are different by name but similar in methods which came together from producing clear body of works. I do feel at ease now that both tasks are completed, only fault is that more development could take place and achieve an outcome but that was not the tasks given. Both units have allowed to show the development from both having the same starting point (objects) to very different outcomes and different based backgrounds. Print being more about structure and mixed media about play.