Formal Elements Project

Formal elements project - Introduction to Level 3 Art & Design

As our initial starting point to the course we began with the basics of art. The basics of formal elements. Looking into the collective works of Robert Rauschenberg, his way of accidentally on purpose applying various ejections of media to create fulfilling statements of art is what began us into the world of formal elements. 

After researching Rauschenberg, i began to work and experiment with different techniques into Textiles such as screen printing onto fabrics, overlaying prints with colours and pattern. The initial purpose of this was to build up a layer of colour, texture, form, shape and pattern. Exploration of the formal elements. 

Developing further into Textiles, i began to use embroidery and stitch over the top of a print to enhance the design and encourage detail. 

Again I explored with various techniques and mixing them together to enhance designs and to show development. I began with a basic block colour of a screen print, then used watercolour, hand stitch with threads and embroidery to progress my sample. My influence to mix these techniques was by Robert Rauschenberg. As his creative works included mixing medias together to reflect formal elements. I believe that I could have created this sample in a stronger way by maybe being more considerate with colour schemes or the way I applied my medias.

Graphics I began to explore with thumbnail designs and compositions with typography and designs. Looking at various fonts and patterns to show a distinguished connection between the imagery and typography used, I selected compositions that would demonstrate the letter to the symbol. For example, the letter 'a' inside of an apple. More of a visual story, which I then used coloured pencil to use as my media.

I do like these compositions, I believe their a strong reflection of formal elements and Graphics alone. However there's always room for improvement so I would maybe explore with different medias other than just graphics, in the way that Rauschenberg has.

Looking further into formal elements, here i began to demonstrate with overlaying different medias, influenced from Rauschenberg, and different styles of font.

Fine art is definitely the key discipline that I could really reflect in the style of my artist. Considering Rauschenberg is a fine artist, I explored his techniques into full fine art medias, such as watercolour and fineliner. I then tried to show aspects of formal elements like building up a layer of pattern, shape, form, texture and colour. These could be a lot stronger if I had introduced bolder medias and maybe collaged backgrounds.

This is where I tried to play around with materials and imagery in textiles. I photocopied some of my embroidery, prints and stitching along with found materials such as calico and muslim. Where I then sewed together under the sewing machine with thick single threads, connecting them together to show development into Textiles. 

I like this particular snap of a screen print I did. It's a strong example of textiles and a bold print of pattern. I could of then developed this by stitching into it via either hand or machine stitch, or printed different sections of the pattern in different colours.