These are images which i took during a recent trip to Durham.

I like this page in my sketchbook, I think it looks effective because i sketched the coins using pencils and a black marker pen. I could take these designs further by printing with them, transfer them onto fabric using dye-sublimation etc.

I also drew the coins onto different backgrounds, newspaper, tracing paper.. to see how they would look on different backgrounds. I think the newspaper looks most effective because it combines and contrasts the different in the old fashioned looking newspaper and the modern coin, which show different era's in Britian.

I looked at architecture in britian and one of the most popular architectural buildings in England is Big Ben. I took a photograph of Big Ben whilst i was in London, i sketched the building using a combination of pencils and pens. Architecture will be interesting to use in my work as i could use the sharp edges and shapes used in architecture and how it has changed over the different eras in britian.

Experimenting with materials to create the underground sign used in London.

I looked at the victorian postage stamp. I find the British stamps interesting because i like how they change over the years and there are thousands of different designs on them. I will use the postage stamp in my work, i have created a canvas with the stamp and queens head on it because the stamp is traditionally British.

These are images I took when i visited London.

I Like the picture of the picadilly circus sign, the underground sign could be used to create interesting fabric samples.

Remembrance day

Remembrance day is coming up which inspired me to use the Poppy as a focus for my work.

I will create the poppy using fabrics and other materials such as paper and plaster.

I like the poppy because of the bright red colour of the flower and the deep black in the middle. The red colour of the flower will fit nicely into my work and my theme of red, which to me is the colour which i associate with ENGLAND.

London

I looked at images off London from the internet which show the chaotic life on the busy streets of London.

I particularly like this image of a post box and a red bus flying past because it shows the busy atmosphere in London at night. I re created this image with my own picture of a red post box and painted the bus in the background with the technique of smudging the paint with pallet knives. I can create interesting fabric samples and outcomes using the motion of the bus moving which show interesting lines and bright colours. Materials I could use are... paint, plaster, pastels, pencils, tissue paper

Local

I am going to use my local area as inspiration.

• Beamish Museum
• Beamish Railway
• Durham
• Newcastle
• Countryside

I will use these pictures of money and postage stamps as inspiration as they both have images of the queen on.

Cornelia Parker

I have to chosen to study Cornelia Parker as an artist. I visited Cornelia Parkers exibition at the baltic newcastle and was intrigued by her work. "Her compelling transformations of familiar, everyday objects investigate the nature of matter. Employing numerous methods of exploration to test the physical properties of her materials - suspending, exploding, crushing and stretching .."

I was inspired by Cornelia parkers work because she uses materials of typical British objects such as brass musical instruments, teapots and spoons.

This image shows objects which have been flattened, they can all be viewed as being typical old British objects and is what inspired me to look closely into Cornelia's work.

Personal Study

For my Unit 3 personal study I have chosen to study England and the British Culture. I am going to study Victorian times during the reign of Queen Victoria, and soldiers being at war. The first postage stamps (penny post) came into use during the Victorian times, which could be interesting from a textile perspective. For first hand research for Victorian era I could make a trip to Beamish Museum. I will then look at the contrast of Victorian England to England today, and study the British monarchy and royalty. I can look into British architecture which fits into both eras because they were built during Victorian times but are still around in England today. I will look at the Royal family and crowns and jewels and the signature colours of red blue and white. I could also study the British Countryside. I will go out into the countryside and take primary images of the landscape. I will look at different traditions in society; I can find information at local museums and museums in London. Museums I can visit/study are Tate Modern, V&A, National History Museum. Galleries I plan to visit are The Lain Art Gallery, Baltic, The Biscuit Factory and Bowes Museum. I will visit exhibitions at these galleries for inspiration and look for any artists whose work which reflects traditional Britain. As a fashion designer I like Vivienne Westwood’s clothing because it is traditionally British.