Final Screen Print Samples

This is how my final collection of screen print samples turned out. 

I enjoyed print- it was interesting to experience the contrast between the digitalised process of CAD and the  busy, messy, hands-on nature of screen printing. I realised they are both similar in how layers are relied on- in digi print, its 'layers' of photoshopped motifs, and for screen print it's layers of stencils and colour. 

I was really pleased with my digital prints (you can look back at them here http://hannahhappymaking.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/my-digital-print-designs.html !), and I feel like my final screen prints are also successful in conveying the sense of fun, energy and excitement of my 'Box Clever' research. I decided to apply sections of foil over the top of some of my prints to link to the shiny nature of lots of my objects, and I'm pleased with how this helped to give them their own identity. If I could repeat the process again, I would have loved to have had more time to experiment with the layering of my stencils, as I ran out of time to even use everything I had cut, let alone explore the full potential of each design. The time pressure resulted in some ink spillages and slightly messier areas that might not have happened otherwise, but it was a good challenge to work with the process and learn to adapt and shape my ideas in response.  

I know for sure that colour and pattern is my thing! Now I just have 1 final technical block: stitch. Then I'll have to decide which area will be my final specialism. I always thought I had a leaning to print...but we'll see!

Screen Print Process 2

As I've found in all the technical blocks so far, work is not over when the technical process is done. After printing my silk, it had to be steamed (thank you Margret, the lovely technician who sorted this bit out for us!), washed and ironed. Then, as I had decided to print onto a large piece of silk, instead of smaller sample sized pieces, I had to decide how to cut up my work.... why is it that making the first cut into a bit of fabric always a tad on the nerve-wracking side?!

I already knew roughly where I wanted to cut my silk from my design sketches and the ideas I'd envisioned while printing. However, before simply snipping away, I decided to do a bit of draping on a mannequin to test out my prints in relation to the human form, for further ideas of how the patterns could be effectively used and divided up. 

I then made a card template I wanted the final fabric samples to be, and did some final experimenting, laying the template over parts of the silk to check for other ways to resolve my designs that I hadn't considered yet, that might also potentially work. 

It was quite fun continuing to experiment with my work in this way. I'll try and keep up this attitude with future projects ahead- always thinking- how could I change this? what would happen if I do that? or add this? or put that here? or turn this upside-down?! 
Seeing as my Box Clever work all derives from the idea of 'playing around', taking a playful approach to my prints also just seemed rather apt anyway!

After cutting up my silk, I then finished the edges and made fabric headers. Having to really consider the presentation of our work for each of the technical block assessments has been really helpful, as the extra effort makes the final samples look much more finished, professional and communicates the feel of your work in a much cleaner, clearer way. Pictures of the finished samples will be posted soon!