Ideas and Processes: PART 5 SYNTHESIS: Exercise 5.1 Review

I have chosen pieces that inspire me from my previous creations, each incorporating critical elements that resonate with me, such as colour, nature, family, and fun. The vibrant colours reflect my happiness and energy, whilst the natural forms reflect my connection to the earth and its natural beauty. Family remains a central theme woven into the textures and patterns in my work, representing the bonds that ground me. I also want to embrace fun and playfulness, allowing these pieces to capture meaningful ideas and bring a sense of lightness and creativity to my work.

Reflecting on my work, I’m most excited by pieces where texture, tone, and line come together. These most successful pieces capture my vision of family, fun, nature and colour. I feel particularly drawn to works where I’ve explored texture in greater detail, and where tone and line complement each other effortlessly. Expanding my colour palette has also been key, bringing new energy and depth to my evolving textile work.

My recent art installation draws inspiration from Judith Scott, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Shilling, and Sheila Hicks; each of them has influenced my approach to materials and form and helped me express my story. With their dense layers and mysterious forms, Judith Scott's sculptures inspired my exploration of wrapping and binding materials, allowing me to convey hidden stories. Andy Goldsworthy's work with natural elements, alongside Richard Shilling's land art, inspired my use of organic shapes and nature's cycles. Sheila Hicks' skill with textiles and bold use of colour inspired me to think more broadly about scale and space. These artists have shaped my vision, mixing sculpture, environment, and textiles into a cohesive expression.

https://www.ignant.com/2017/06/12/andy-goldsworthys-land-art-photography/

https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/sheila-hicks/

https://www.creativityexplored.org/artists/charlie-barthelet

https://www.richardshilling.co.uk/installation1

Research

https://www.textilecurator.com/home-default/home-2-2/marta-santos/

https://www.powwows.com/what-is-a-dream-catcher/

My mood board helped to inspire a theme, choosing my work on journey and identity. The theme then organically grew and developed to explore family and nature; my final piece from MMT came to mind based on family but of a darker time. I wanted to build on from the dark times to the happier, nurturing times, being a mother helping my children grow and thrive, like the shooting seeds I brought through to this series of work representing my four children, the shoots also symbolise growth wrapping yarn around them, reflecting my yearning to nurture and protect them, using the delicate threads representing the balance between safeguarding and allowing them to flourish.

In developing ideas for my textile work, I focused on family, nature, and personal journey, reflecting on how they shape my identity. Using organic forms and textures suggests purity and protection, symbolising a nurturing bond. I could weave together each piece to symbolise growth, love, and resilience, creating a wholesome expression of life’s connection.

Ideas

Now focusing on developing my research to explore concepts of composition and colour, aiming to align these elements with the message I intend to convey through my work.

My initial idea blossomed from the concept of roots, serving as a metaphor for lineage, ancestry, interconnectedness, and the essence of life.

Building on the theme of growth, my second idea is inspired by the rings of a tree and their meaning. Tree rings represent the passage of time, growth, and endurance, with each one marking a stage of life and moments of change or progress. They also symbolise resilience, showing how trees adapt and thrive even in challenging conditions, reflecting strength and perseverance.

My third idea revolves around symbolism, inspired by the dreamcatcher and its profound meaning. Dreamcatchers represent protection, balance, and the filtering out of negativity. The circular frame symbolizes the interconnectedness of life, while the web reflects the idea of holding onto positivity and letting go of harm. The feathers add a sense of freedom and connection between the physical and spiritual realms. This concept ties into themes of resilience, harmony, and finding clarity and strength in life’s challenges.

The wheel inspired my final idea, representing completeness, journeys, progress, movement, and the circle of life.

Colour Palette

Colour is central to my ideas, and I wanted the colours I chose to hold meaning. Researching colour psychology and the symbolism of the evil eye helped me create a meaningful palette, adding depth to my design.

Samples

Combining the samples with themes of protection, balance, time, growth, endurance, lineage, ancestry, interconnectedness, and the essence of life creates a narrative rooted in completeness, journeys, progress, movement, and the circle of life. A thoughtfully chosen colour palette enriches this vision by bringing emotional depth and meaning to the work. Purple represents creativity and spirituality, while pink represents love, compassion, and playfulness. Yellow symbolises happiness, optimism, and intellect, and orange conveys energy, warmth, and adventure. Blue reflects calmness, trust, and reflection, while green represents growth, balance, and renewal. These elements weave a story of resilience, connection, and harmony.

Roots

Embroidery hoop, various thicknesses of wire, selection of yarns.