After attending the 2015 Manchester School of Art Degree Show, I realised that my final year at MMU maybe isn't going to be as scary as I had imagined previously. Looking at the third years' work inspired me to try new things and push the boundaries of my thinking. It also made me realise that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
I started looking at the work with an open mind, and considering how it relates to my work in the following categories: Context, Processes, New Things To Try.
Carmen Etches
As one of the first sketchbooks I had seen at the show, I noticed that Carmen's drawing style was similar to mine, in that she uses abstract shapes and layering of papers to create drawings. I think she adopts a more sophisticated approach to mark making than I have done in the past, but to develop my drawing I believe I should not over-think and over-work marks on the page. I will continue to draw using mixed media methods.
With regards to material process, I came across Shannon-Paige Hartley, Laura Kent and Lucinda Pender who all have very different styles of working, but relate equally to my own way of working.
Shannon-Paige Hartley
Using mixed media and embroidery processes (similar to myself), Shannon has mapped out a journey with thread and acrylic - a simple, yet effective way to translate an idea. I could use thread and acetate over the summer to develop my drawing style.
Laura Kent
Laura's work appears to be a more decorative and hand-sewn approach to embroidery than I would normally use, however, the majority of these marks have been produced using digital embroidery which I prefer to use. I believe it has a neater finish to it in most cases, and with a context of interiors in mind, digital methods would be easier to mass-produce in industry. Laura is continuing her education by doing a Masters in Textiles at a university in London.
Lucinda Pender
Lucinda uses mixed media processes with industrial materials to explore how the materials react. She plans to undertake an MA in Future Materials to strengthen her knowledge of innovative materials for future use. I believe the processes she uses such as laser cutting and folding could be adapted for use myself within an interior context through the use of alternative materials - non-industrial and more suitable for the intended context.
Considering the context of my work being interiors, Katie Edwards is working within the same audience base as myself.
Katie Edwards
Katie uses print techniques to create patterned wallpapers which are traditional but contemporary, and are aimed towards a high-end interiors market. She has been inspired by English Heritage gardens and floral motifs from historical research. Her work is on trend for the intended context and I believe she will have thoroughly researched these trends throughout her project which I will also endeavour to do over summer. She has used repeat patterns to create these wallpapers, however you cannot tell where the repeat is, which is also imperative for a repeat to be effective.
Things I Would Like To Try
Hannah Heaf
Although Hannah designs knitwear, I believe the same effects could be achieved using embroidery techniques. In addition, her subtle use of colour could also be suitable for an interior market. I will consider the use of colour in my final year so that my samples are sophisticated and suitable for my intended market. I do tend to go a bit mad with colour when I have used it in the past.
Rebecca Worrall
I have briefly worked in a three-dimensional way in previous projects, however I believe I could re-visit this way of working in my final year - it could need adapting though, to be suitable for my intended audience. Rebecca has used shapes formed inside the body as inspiration for 'making the invisible, visible' which I think is an excellent concept for a project. I will try to think outside the box over the summer period so that I can create an interesting and unusual concept for my final year projects.
