Which area?

Blog set Topic: Crossroads II

Choosing which area to specialise in?

Before I started at Chelsea for the Foundation I would have said that I was ninety percent sure I would specialise in Fashion and textiles. However, now I am stuck between two Fashion and Textiles and Fine Art. I have noticed during the foundation that my work has become more loose and I have managed to let go more and move away from ‘a level’ work. Embracing mistakes has actually lead to my work growing unexpectedly, In a good way.

I thought my least successful project areas were 3D Spatial and Visual Communication. I’m glad I have had the opportunity to learn about them and experiment in different ways to what I am used to, however it has proven to me that these are not the way to go. I just felt that both areas were too restricted and tight I wasn’t too keen on having to work to ‘briefs’, having to create ‘something to walk through’ or ‘something to sit on’. In my opinion, In order for me to become fully involved in a project, I need to feel like the work is coming directly from me. Particularly in Fine Art I felt it was much easier to explore personally what I wanted to do.

I believe that from studying at ‘A level’ both ‘Fine Art’ and ‘Art Textiles’, I can judge my strength in them in comparison. Fashion and Textiles has always been my core subject, and because of this I feel it definitely is my comfort zone. That’s why if I specialised in Fine Art I feel I would be pushing myself more. ‘Fine Art’ took more of a ‘backseat’ role at A level, it was the less important one for me. So I think it would be exciting to explore it further, even though I eventually think I will apply for a degree in relation to fashion or textiles.

I loved the free atmosphere during ‘Fine Art’, it was great that we were given the opportunity to question or contradict the tutors. I felt that your opinions were seen as most important, I can see how this is correct in working life though. For example if you are working within ‘Visual Communication’ to a brief for a particular company, your unable to question your employer, however ‘Fine Art’ is literally your work so your opinion is the most important.

Even so, my head is still saying that ‘Fashion and Textiles’ is the way to go. I do feel that my strongest work on the rotation did come out of ‘Fashion and Textiles’ area. I just don’t want to limit my options and stick to my comfort zone too much. Many of the Tutors have mentioned to me that I have a very ‘fashion and textiles’ style so if I don’t follow this route would I do myself an injustice?

So which area would keep my options more open for university degrees?

Second week of 3D spatial.

The first part of 3D was really really fun. i loved working on A1 with the experimental drawings, i expecially loved the 45 minute drawing. It was great to take care over something and be able to created a good peice of work. I have never really been a 3D person, so i thought i'd embrace something new and flow with it, however it got to starting to create things in 3D that wasn't to do with dressing the body, and i started to fall apart. I began working from my drawings and transferring some of my ideas into 3D using the toothpicks, plasters and pins they told us to bring in. But i have to say i really think my drawings worked alot better than any other media used. Which is why i ended up reverting to drawing. Well at least i've worked out that 3D isn't my thing......

End of Vis Com

I found the first week of Vis Com fairly enjoyable, however i wasn't too keen on the second. --- I missed fridays studio time due to a funeral which mean't i wasn't there to hear the brief for the third project. I managed to get my friend livi to email it to me but i received it late and so wasn't as prepared as i could have been for monday. I mainly just didn't get the idea of creating something to say something to another thing without words, it just seemed so vague and unrealistic. I eventually began on the idea of 'stealing from the rich and giving to the poor' i was inspired by working with the icon of a 'barclaycard'. I liked the idea of it being precious, guarded and important. The message being sent would be the pin number transferred via the eagle (barclaycard symbol) to the less fortunate person. I explored ways of  transferring this message, i finalised my ideas by having the numbers attached to 'tags' that would casually be dropped by the eagle to the person in the particular order.
i enjoyed Vis com but not as much as i enjoyed fine art or fashion and textiles, i think this is obvious within my work as i think my previous work shows much more attention.

drawing proj