initial screen prints

These images show my first screen prints where I am trialling layering colours to produce birds which reflect the effect of my watercolour drawings but with the impact of bold colours using up to 5 screens. My favourite of these prints is the first, because of the tonal appearance. However I also like the touches of blue and orange to make it relate more to my colour palette. I am satisfied with the textures that appear in these prints which I achieved by colour reducing my own watercolour drawings.

scarf designs

Trying something different, by creating pattern and layers of colour with my colour palette in mind using photoshop to edit my watercolour drawings.

I believe my scarf designs are becoming more successful with the use of texture. I like how the spots and stripes give the scarves a more interesting appearance as well as giving a commercial look to appeal to more people and will also match a variety of outfits. 

scarf ideas

I have begun using photoshop to arrange compositions for square scarves. I have chosen to stick to my carefully selected colour palette, but have also kept the natural colours of the birds in my paintings. I would like to produce a variety of scarves which demonstrate different scales, so that some scarves may show the detail of my drawings whereas some are a small motif so that they can be seen when the scarf is ruffled when worn.

As I believe these scarf designs are beginning to show development and potential, I will most likely use digital designs for the mid-term exhibition. However, I would also like to produce my bird drawings using a screen printing method, so that they prove to be suitable for a commercial market. This may also enable me to continue printing after I graduate, where I don't have access to a digital printer. 

drawing

I am pleased with my on-going drawings and would like to keep this level of detail when I take my drawings forward into print for my scarf designs. I am considering using digital methods to separate the tones so they are suitable for screen printing. If I cannot achieve this detail or as exciting imagery in screen printing I will also try digital printing methods.

creating packaging

This week I have been developing ideas for the house-shaped boxes for my final scarves. After researching similar house-shaped packaging I decided to combine my two favourite box designs together so that my box will be unique and innovative.

This was one of my first box mock-ups. I chose to make this one up because of the similarities it has with a house or bird-box shape. However I felt it appeared too similar to an easter egg box. Plus, my scarf would simply sit in the bottom of this box. 

I like this origami style box because it unfolds out into a complete square shape, which means my scarf could unfold out with the box, making it more exciting to unwrap.

I began to combine these two packaging ideas to create an unfolding box with a pointed lid. However the lid wasn't very stable and I thought it would look more pleasing if I made the sides of the lid the same length as the box within. This also gives the appearance of a box in a box which is more intriguing.

I then chose to practice some boxes with coloured paper so they look more inviting and professional than the plain white. I chose colours which match my colour palette and I believe they look a lot more sophisticated and exciting. The designs of the various houses will also all fit onto the flat sides of the box evenly, so long as I ensure the boxes are measured precisely with the measurements of my designs.

After researching whether my boxes could be laser-cut for a sharper edge, I have decided to cut my final boxes by hand because the laser-cutter would not match up exactly to my design printed onto card and I feel it is more important to have my design digitally printed onto card for a more professional appearance. The image above shows my prototype box which I have made on photoshop and then digitally printed onto a textured card. However, I may need to re-think the textured card because it tears on the folds. I will also add more detail and possibly make the colours more tonal and less block colours.

drawing British birds

I have been focusing on the drawing of British Birds this week because I feel it is one of the most important and dominant aspects of my final scarf designs.
I have continued to simply draw birds, but will now look at their characters and how I can make them more human-like.

drawing! drawing! drawing!

I am really enjoying drawing with watercolours at the moment. They can give a lovely soft texture when used lightly and layered up for texture. Below are a few of my bird paintings at the moment. I am happy with the amount of detail they have but I will need to start thinking about other features and patterns that they can be put with to form interest on my scarf designs.