This exercise is taking a word and drawing around the subject. From reading the coursework explaining the project I understand the purpose of this exercise is to learn how to respond to a brief in a more instinctive way bypassing the more logical approach of generating ideas through words.
From the list of options provided I choose the word “Fashion”
My first attempts at drawings around the word “Fashion” are tentative pencil sketches of a usual wardrobe of T-shirts, trousers, skirts.
I find that in doing the drawings I am writing my ideas beside them. Words are still necessary and I am unable to relinquish them. I move from thinking about shapes to details of pleats, tucks, gathers & pockets, smart/casual wear, day and evening clothes, swimwear and whether the fashion is for children, girls/boys, menswear or women’s wear. So the drawings are helping to gather momentum in thought.
This exercise is not about the accuracy of the drawings or how they look. Neither is it just about a summary of general wear. It is about developing ideas on the word fashion.
After this tentative start I now try to follow the thoughts through further with colour and some collage:-
Doing the “short-hand” drawings has led to consideration of accessories (buttons, tassels, fastenings, fringes) and then thoughts around the purpose of fashion, to keep cool or for warmth and whether for indoor or outdoor.
I acknowledge how involved the subject is. Any one of the items drawn could be developed in terms of style. I have chosen to concentrate fashion in terms of clothing however it could easily be applied to indoor decor, furniture, cars and so forth. These simple drawings are certainly helping with ideas.
I cannot resist incorporating this picture of an Elizabethan lady and can almost see how the ballet dancers costume may have developed from this. My thoughts now are historical dress: Edwardian, Victorian, Elizabethan. Theatrical costume, uniforms and the more global national dress. I started with just tops and trousers taking a very Western approach to fashion and through this exercise have expanded ideas to considering how others dress in different countries and their dress in response to their environment. I have begun to think more in terms of the purpose of dress.
I recognise I have not been completely able to let go of the use of words in this exercise and find I need to write down my thoughts next to the pictures as I go along and annotate everything. This is not quite keeping with the requirements of this exercise. However the ideas are still from drawing the pictures and not from the words and gradually as in the example above I am moving away from reliance on words and feel ready for the next exercise which is a mood board without words.
This exercise has proved quite difficult as I have not been able to quite “let-go” of the logical listing and “filing” of ideas through words as I draw the pictures. However I realise this and this is something I can work on at my own pace.
At least I have understood the nature of the exercise as a whole and how powerful it is in generating ideas.
From the feedback from Assignment one, it is recommended I develop digital skills and I may try and remove the text from one of the images as I think this would be good practice as opportunity to learn these skills.
The written words have been removed so now I need to “paint” in the gaps on the computer. This feels a step in the right direction using some digital software.
It is a little bit patchy however it feels good to alter the sleeves on the suit and meet the purpose of this exercise producing pictures from words.
Adelaide Art 