Textiles - Screen Printing

Screen Printing
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink into the mesh openings for transfer by capillary action during the squeegee stroke. Basically, it is the process of using a stencil to apply ink onto another material.
Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by the fill blade or squeegee and onto the printing surface during the squeegee stroke. It is also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing. A number of screens can be used to produce a multicoloured image.

Screen printing is a form of stenciling that first appeared in a recognizable form in China during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD).  It was then adapted by other Asian countries like Japan, and was furthered by creating newer methods.
Screen printing was largely introduced to Western Europe from Asia sometime in the late 18th century, but did not gain large acceptance or use in Europe until silk mesh was more available for trade from the east and a profitable outlet for the medium discovered.

Textiles - Artists

John Mollo

John Mollo has been interested in European and American military uniforms since a very young age and wrote several books on the subject. This led him to costume design, first being an advisor for the movie Charge of the Light Brigade in 1966 and later a costume designer, his first film being George Lucas' Star Wars in 1977. Mollo has also been a military advisor on the films Zulu Dawn, Barry Lyndon and Nicholas and Alexandria.

He uses Military influences to create Sci-Fi clothing, such as Darth Vaders outfit and the Stormtrooper armor.

Darth Vaders helmet in particular was inspired by WWII Nazi helmets and Gas Masks, with a Samuri feel to it to match the characters use of a sword.





 

 
Lindy Hemming

Lindy Hemming is a Welsh costume designer, who won the Academy Award for Costume Design for Topsy-Turvy (1999). After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she designed costumes for productions at West End theatres, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, and has also created costumes for the James Bond films from GoldenEye (1995) to Casino Royale (2006).

Other films she has worked on include The Krays, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, as well as Christopher Nolan's Batman films Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.

On The Dark Knight Rises, she was the main costume designer for Bane, and had to create a look which gave off a feeling of animalistic traits, ragged clothing created from scrap and still look like a bulky brute.
The coat, mask and armor he wears went through multiple design changes.


At the Costume Designers Guild Awards 2008, she won Best Costume Design in a Fantasy Film for The Dark Knight.



Trisha Biggar

Trisha Biggar was the lead costume designer on the Star Wars prequels, and created almost every outfit across the three films.
She used various materials from all around the world to create elegant yet alien looking clothing for the various characters in the film.
On one documentary, she was describing some of Padmé Amidala’s clothing, and one she mentioned was one dress being made from a material which changes colour depending on what lighting is currently being used.
It was dubbed the ‘Peacock Dress’, due to its similarity with the colour changing Peacock birds feathers.

Contextual Studies Introduction

I have picked Concept art as the style I am doing for my Contextual studies.
I have always enjoyed viewing concept art and the development phase characters, objects or even environments go through in the development phase and seeing what inspires such things.
I am also interested myself in designing various objects and characters, it’s just a sense of creativity that I find stronger than most other art styles.
I’ll be taking a look into concept art from movies, TV shows and video games, in order to gain a wide variety of different styles and outcomes.
I’ll also take a look at where Concept Art began, or take a look at some of the really old Concept art from the 1920’s.

Skins #2 - Outfit Design

This is an outfit I designed based on the Blue Spiny Lizard.
I'll be making samples for it and maybe a segment of the garment if Options don't start after the week off.

Computer Games Project - Character Inspirations

My main inspirations for the character of Bombface Jerry stem from several existing video game characters and some real life inspirations.

.Sonic the Hedgehog (Inspired part of his look and personality, specifically his spikes on his head.)
.Rayman (Clothing and personality inspiration.)
.Crash Bandicoot (Inspired his origins of being an experiment and his grin.)
.Dynamite Headdy (Inspired Jerry’s ability to detach his head.)

The bomb as a head idea stemmed from what I planned to call my video game company if I ever started one. (TNT Studios)
The name of ‘Jerry’…I honestly have no idea how I thought of it.
I just thought ‘Bombface Jerry’ had a nice ring to it.

Jerry’s story progression is inspired by the classical hero cliché, where the hero starts out weak and far from his full potential, but as he does his quest, his true nature and power is revealed through tough times, encouraging allies, physical torment and a sense of nobility about reaching his ultimate goal.






Red stemmed from several inspirations, not as many video game character inspirations, but still a few.

.Luigi (Although the opposite sex, Red also stays at the sideline while her hero takes the glory, but at times, she has to rise to the challenge and help Jerry out of bother personally, just like how Luigi has to help Mario at times when Mario is out of his own league.)
.Red Riding Hood (If this inspiration isn’t obvious, you should feel ashamed of yourself.)

Red is very much inspired by one of my real life friends, who is a person who loves punk-related media and takes no shit from anyone.
While not a carbon copy of my friend, Red portrays a lot of similar qualities.
Reds backstory of being bullied is also based on my own, which involves being shunned and hated for something you love, but overcoming the hate and being a stronger person for it, but while I’m somewhat on the middle of the confidence scale, Red is overly confident.
Her first name stems from Red Riding Hood, and Ryder, while sounding like ‘Riding’, is actually inspired by a character from Batman called Jack Ryder.
Her real first name, Scarlett, is another word for ‘Red’.

NOTE: This design is an older design.

Captain Lockjaw had a heap of inspiration, and is probably my most developed character so far.

.Admiral Razorbeard from Rayman (This inspiration actually clicked on through my sub-conscious while drawing the first design of Lockjaw, I didn’t notice until I has finished.)
.Dr Robotnik from Sonic (This one is hidden in Lockjaws design until later on in the game when you discover Lockjaw is a talented mechanic who can build immense machines to use for his disposal.
A little of Dr Robotnik’s hate for purity and good is also slightly inspired for Lockjaws personality.)
.Bowser from Mario (Bowser inspired Lockjaws fire breathing ability, although Bowsers fire is natural.)
.Long John Silver from Treasure Planet (A little of his personality, speaking mannerisms and look rubbed off on lockjaw.)

Lockjaw was largely based on the voice I imagined to play him, Jim Cummings.
From the Moustache looking teeth to his mannerisms while speaking and moving, a lot of it was based on Jim Cummings and the characters he’s played in the past.
His name actually stems from an episode of Spongebob, but again, this actually lurked in my sub-conscious.
The character in Spongebob was called Lockjaw Jones, and for a while, this was the name for Captain Lockjaw until I saw the episode of Spongebob again and changed it.
Lockjaw itself is actually a type of disease in the jaw that stiffens the jaw muscles and causes them to lock at times. (Nasty.)
Lockjaws design is also inspired by Pirate-like features, especially having a large hat, a red colour scheme and a pegleg.
His pegleg was inspired by heavy-duty factory equipment, with a highly compressed pneumatic piston.
A missing hand being replaced with something is also a trait amongst Pirates, especially Captain Hook.
Lockjaw is probably one of the biggest plot points in the game, but I’ll keep that under wraps for when I actually get this game made. 

Symbiosis Project - Life and Death #1

Life and Death is arguably the strongest Symbiotic relationship there is.
Its also one of the most complex, as the philosophy of Life and Death changes from person to person.
For example, Christians believe Life is working your way towards good and gaining your admittance to Heaven, and when death finally comes, they believe themselves to go to the place of eternal peace.
Buddhists believe that Death is merely the start of a new life, as reincarnation is a staple of their beliefs.

For this project, I've chosen Life and Death, but instead of looking at it in a realistic way, I've chosen to look at it if it was two entities, but maybe with a hint of mythology, religion and cultural celebrations.
Life can be depicted as a mother, since no life would be possible unless the mother was present to bear the child, and Death is depicted as a Grim Reaper like figure, but incorporating elements from events such as Day of the Dead and having articles of an executioners outfit and tools on him.

So far, I've done basic sketches of ideas and layouts.
One I've had is Life, depicted as The Mother standing at one side of the composition.
Death stands on the other side, depicted as the Grim Reaper.
Leaves are swirling around both entities and forming into a spiral in the center.
The leaves from Life's side are fresh, healthy looking Leaves, whereas Death's leaves are decayed and rotten.
The background behind both entites is warped to represent the entity that stands before it.
Life's background is a lush field, with trees, insects, animals and all that jazz.
Deaths' background is a continuation of that field, but with dead grass, dead trees, and Gravestones scattered throughout.
The leaves that were being blow into the center, form an image of the earth, with Life's leaves forming the land, and Death's leaves forming the sea. (Despite most life came from the sea to begin with via evolution. >_>)

This is only an idea so far, but I'm incredibly interested in entities, religious and cultural depictions of events and mythology, so if this idea sticks, it could be a very strong piece in the end, but I will experiment with the idea a bit.

Computer Game Concepts Project 2#

With looking into character development out of the way, I've turned to looking into the Covers of games, and how they impact greatly on how the game will sell.
Your game may be the best thing ever created, but no-one will buy it unless you give it a attractive, interesting cover that catches the consumers eye from afar.

Skins 2

I've looked into more animal skins in depth, specifically lizards, and I found one species called the Blue Spiny Lizard.

Native to Mexico, they have beautiful blue scales that stick out like Crystal, and the color of it is incredibly vibrant.
The pattern and form of the scales could be used to make an interesting garment or pattern.

Pictures (C) Andiwolfe of Flickr

Skins #1

 For my skins project, I've looked into reptilian skin, like lizards and snakes, and I also had a look at Octopus skin and Cactus Skin too.

Computer Game Concepts Project 1#

For the video game concept project, I've started to take a look at various video game concept art, mostly Sonic the hedgehog and Crash Bandicoot.
Both characters went through immense change before settling on a final idea.