Paolozzi Exhibition Inspires Sketchbook Explorations

 

In anticipation of the screen printing workshop I attended on Saturday I worked on some ideas and designs for the screen-print design in my sketchbook.

I was inspired by a recent visit to the Eduardo Paolozzi exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery two weekends ago. It was full of amazing art, prints, collages and sculptures.

Paolozzi Tapestry

Paolozzi Screen Prints

Paolozzi printed dress, 1970's with Wedgewood Plates 

Paolozzi Screen Prints, 1960's

1953 Cocktail Dress in Paolozzi designed fabric

Screen Printed Designs 1950 - 52

1950's Screen Printed Fabric

I love Paolozzi's use of abstract shapes, blocked colours and contrasting lines. Using these ideas as a starting point for my designs I developed a range of ideas in my sketchbook.

Collage and scrap-booking in my sketchbook

Mixed media design using acrylic, marker pens and washi tape

Detail of scrap-book collage

Mixed media piece with watercolours and marker pens

I ended up choosing something completely different from the images above for my screen-print design, but I had a lot of fun creating these art works.

Which is your favourite design?

More Matisse inspired collages

I bought some fab Japanese Washi tapes from the Tate Modern shop in insanely bright colours that spurred on the next collection of Matisse inspired collages during the Tate workshop on Monday.

I have been abstracting and simplifying the peacock feather motif then moved away from that entirely towards a more linear direction in a fresh new palette of red, yellows, green and black. I used quite a number of the 'left-over' sections of paper to create this new collection of collages; which is something that Matisse did himself to create a wider range of negative images and motifs.

I had made the decision that I would make an item of clothing using my Matisse sketchbook work as inspiration for some applique / embroidery decoration. Last month I volunteered to pattern test the Dolores Pocket Skirt by Beth from Ready Ruthie. I am going to share the full write up next week because I need to send Beth my comments and findings by the 20th July, so you will only be able to see some sneaky peaks at the work-in-progress and the collage that partly inspired the design is top left of the photo montage below.

The added bonus to this current skirt is that its made entirely from stash fabrics including all the coloured appliqued sections too!