Responses to theoretical position of work/Morgan

Responses to postcards

Morgans responses to my postcards

Joseph Cornell

Some of my earlier postcards put me in mind of Joseph Cornell someone whom I have researched in the past and is relevant again now . His work is about collecting and collaging , overlays, cutouts , hand drawn designs , inscriptions , origami , objects images from a variety of sources mainly the second hand shops of New York in the 1920s through to the 1960s . Poingnant compositions creating a touchstone for exploring the unknown . p233"Navigating the Imagination" book by Lynda Roscoe Hartington with a kalaidascope of images of his work .

The darker side of life

I don't know if it is the time of year , the dark nights and the end of the year coming giving one time to reflect or the part of the Pema Chodron book I have come to, or discussions about shadows with Lizzie probably a combination of all of that that created this one .I find it fascinating that according to Buddhist study the very things we work hard to push away are the things we need to embrace . Whilst in Manchester recently Jon and I had a very short trip to the Trafford Centre , Manchesters Temple of consumerism which was full of stuff most of which is probably extraneous to most peoples lives and people rushing around buying it ! Its scary how much stuff we produce buy and then throw away only to buy more stuff. Having just packed up a removal van full of stuff and I am not a hoarder by any means I wonder how in the years I have been on this planet I have managed to accumulate so much . How much of this is retail therapy to stop us looking at our darker sides the uncomfortable painful bits . My work so far has tended to be very bland and prettty perhaps it will start to change through these discoveries and musings .

Postcard 8

I dont seem to have saved the writing for this one . The composition was created as a collage of images . The background from photographs of the tree canopies alonside a close up of an Elizabethan embroidered pillowslip using blackwork and detailed infill stitches . The swans are images from drawings from my sketchbook that I tried to cut out in photoshop moved and ended up with a white border. The swans are stiil there by the bridge near my new home in Mawgan preening and squabbling . I wonder if they are wintering there? They are adult mute swans and there must be at least a dozen of them . They are very powerful birds and one of the largest birds still capable of flight .

I havent included them in my fabric designs yet but have been looking back at bird drawing collected over the last couple of years in sketch book and working on them in photoshop with a view to a design .

Birds are a recurring theme for me symbolising freedom . I used to have peacocks coming into my garden when I lived in Silverdale now that was amazing looking out of your window first thing in the morning to seee a peacock in full display and the call is haunting . Now I have swans !I love to draw them preening as they get into the most amazing shapes .

"While the peacock is a symbol of material manifestation, the swan stands for the ethereal. It represents the presence of divine inspiration in our world. ..."

See the website below for fascinating information about swans in mythology and literature .

www.khandro.net/animal_bird_swan.htm /

Mathew Collings Channel 4 ,9/12/12

William Morris Wallpaper

Did anyone catch the Mathew Collings programme on saturday night "This is civilisation" ?
I believe it is part of a series and is worth a look .
On saturday he was talking about architecture reflecting the state of the nation / society and put forard a radical argument of Ruskin's that the Renaissance had no shared vision of nature . He saw Gothic architecture as being constructed by craftsmen who were spiritually fulfilled , enjoying their work and being able to express something of themselves into the work wheras in the architecture of the Renaissence the craftsmen were following someone elses plan . The example he chose was of St Marks Square in Venice with the two opposing buildings reflecting this .
He stated that the "fall" in Britain was the Industrial Revolution where people became factory slaves . Ruskin's views had a tremendous impact on artists and society and things we take for granted now like green belts and free schooling were established from the views expressed by Ruskin .Also that his views influenced people like Ghandi , Chairman Mao and the early British Labour Party .
William Morris took on his beliefs and created interior decoration that serves the soul and worked directly from nature to create his designs .
Interesting quotes
"Art connects us to something profound ."
"We are blinded by habit and familiarity ."
"Art challenges the superficial . "
Ruskin said that how a thing is made will affect how you think and feel perhaps this explains modern times and explains the current trend for the representation of nature in design and many artists and designers drawing upon nature for inspiration . It certainly makes me look at architecture in a very different way .
This certainly has a message for all of us as designers . I found it fascinating as it confirms my own beliefs and relates directly to my own work .

Laser Cutting

The moose image came from a Christmas decoration I bought for a friend . I used the image overlayed onto a background of my printed fabric for this years Christmas card.


My first attempt at laser cutting , moose photgraphed in the design centre window . He is actually only 8 cms high !

Using images created in Illustrator we created files that can then be used on the laser cutter. Being near to Christmas ans as a fun first excercise we created Christmas tree decorations cut out of wood or in my case perspex .I am fascinated by the idea of cutting into fabric and paper as wellas creating screens (ie room dividers ) The negative space left behind is just as interesting as the cut out !

Flocking and foiling

Flocking on cotton organdie

Flocking is a method of applying a raised design onto fabric by printing a special glue and then heat pressing a flocked paper onto the preglued fabric .Two of the least successful samples of flocking . I would like to find a way of flocking onto a fine fabric without the supporting paper you need to heat press sticking to the back of the fabric . This does not happen with heavier fabric as the glue does not penetrate through. This technique is reminiscent of devore .


Flocking on viscose satin .



Tree image foiled onto cotton .

Samples using the tree screen using the technique of "foiling"to apply a metallic image to fabric by printing a special glue on to the fabric and then heat pressing a foil on to this .
As with the laser cuts the negative image left on the foil is as interesting as the image on the fabric . I feel I would use it sparingly say just one leaf on a pre printed design to give that sense of luxury .


The foil paper after use.

"Wallpaper" by Lachlan Bradley selected designers

Hannah Werning 's work "Animal flowers " ( animal sillouettes and floral shapes ) interests me for the content , colour and design but also the concept of creating them in poster size but also as a potential repeat so that you can either have a framed piece or you can paper an a wall or an entire room . This image shows a detail of one of her designs . I think the idea of using multples in this way an interesting one to explore . As well as using a screen to make a repeat or creating a repeat using photoshop or tree paint you could sell individual pieces of textile or laser cut ply that will then fit together as a potential repeat .




Christopher Pearson has designed an environment sensitive wallpaper based on a William Morris design "Willow Boughs "( 1887 ) to create a paper that will change pattern according to room teperature and UV exposure . A clever contemporary take on a classic design. The integration of contemporary technology with classic design .

Image created from close up photograph of woodland "Hawthorn "and then used for a template for a screen for fabric printing initially . The idea is to layer the image with other similar images which could then be used not just in textiles but laser cut into metal or plywood . to create a more complex design to be used in a variety of contexts.

"Outdoor Wallpaper " Susan Bradley

"Bringing an element of of homeliness " into an outdoor domestic space Susan Bradley recreates a classic wallpaper design in a variety of materials including steel , aluminium , acrylic , mirror finish plywood which can be used as a support for plants , purely decorative or an installation .

In terms of my own work I could imagine my designs being recreated using different materials to create outdoor screen dividers or wall pieces .(see initial image of "Hawthorn " ")

"Wallpaper " by Lachlan Bradley

Max Akkerman and Lotje Soodeland in the foreword to this book state that
“The era of whitewashed minimalism is very much a thing of the past”
They remark that things have come full circle for the origins of wallpaper in the Qin Dynasty of China from 221 BC - 206 BC where landscape style hand painted rice peper was the order of the day , a main feature rather than a backdrop is very much evident in contemporary wall paper designs .
“Maximalism “ rather than minimalism incorporating the merging of graphic design , interior design , art and architecture making labels redundant is perhaps and ideal rather than a reality but there is definitelty a move to crossovers in all these fields.
In The introduction Lachlan Blackley , design writer and editor reiterates that “art and design have merged” (p7) and that the wall is very much regardeed as a canvas with a revival of ornament but that the term “Wallcovering” is more appropriate as an “inclusive “ term for vinyl adhesives, stickers , (decals), 3D, animated, interactive , often designed on the computer is the order of the day for todays contemporary Wallpaper.
There is also a combination of techniques combined within a design that may include handcrafting , printing , technology and photography.
The inspiration may be retro sources including nature and the product itself may be solar powered ,or u.v.sensitive , pehaps noise reactive or imbedded with electroluminescent materials .
The book includes facts and interviews from 51 varied and talanted makers including full colour illustrations and as well as statements about their backgrounds interesting and informative interviews about their inspirations , influences , aspirations and other pertinent questions .
I have selected these as pertinent to my own making .

Selected comments from makers
Job Smeets of Studio Job
“ Design is a universal language spoken with shapes instead of words .”
Lisa Stickley Q” How dp you see wallpaper evolving ?”
A” Towards more conversational / interactive prints , miss the walls and use the ceiling and doors.”
Timorous Beasties – early work described as “William Morris on acid “
Paul Simmons and Alistair Macaulay
Q Artists/ designers / people you admire the most
A Dutch design, Josef Frank, William Morris, Paul Klee, Leonardo Da Vinci, Picasso, Ridley Scott, Tom Kirk, Chuck Michael, Italian motor cycles, Quasimoto etc etc
Rob Ryan Q what do you aim to create with your work?”
A “Some form of positive inspiration for the viewer.”

This book is a definite inspiration for me for the potential of developing my own textile wall hangings / coverings and to see the wealth of talent and ideas brought together .

Postcard 7