Micheal Raedecker 'Mirage'

On our day trip to Liverpool, I visited the Walker Gallery where I came across this piece by Amsterdam born Michael Raedecker - 'Mirage 1999'. I was instantly attracted to the use of texture and mixed media that turned the almost bleak and haunted landscape painting into something interesting and exciting. The combination of the flat painted surface with the tactile use of embroidery made me want to look more closely at the piece as it was unexpected from a distance that areas you'd expect to just be painted, were in fact embroided. In terms of scale and colour the piece was of a large scale with murky earthy tones that all blended well together. Viewing this piece definitely confirmed the fact I enjoy and admire the use of mixed media as it adds more depth and texture to work and hopefully I will be experimenting in this way myself soon. 

Snaps From Liverpool Trip

Kite photographs in Manchester

Finalized Kite

Here is my finished kite, I've had so much fun creating it and it's been nice to get creative over the summer holidays! I'm really pleased with how my theme has translated how I imagined it to in the final design of the kite; with the use of warm exotic colours and textures it's the perfect 'Indian Summer' kite.

Kite: Bits & Bobs

So I've finally got round to buying some bits & bobs to make my kite with and also started to make the frame for it. Here are some photo's of my purchases and the frame to show my progress so far!! The theme is 'Indian Summer' so lots of embellishment and colour!!

 For the frame I bought thin wooden sticks (68p each) from B&Q and secured them together with lots of string to create the diamond kite shape. I still need to add another stick across the frame to ensure it's sturdy.

 This is the fabric i'm going to be using all over for the kite. I bought it at a remnant shop in Harrogate where I live (£5 for a meter). I was instantly attracted to the beautiful hot pink and quirky batik pattern...if only I had the resources to batik fabric myself at home, as I've done it before at college and it creates some really interesting effects!

 In my inspiration images I looked at a lot of colourful pom poms so finding this in the remnant shop was perfect! I chose the orange as it complimented the hot pink fabric and tied in with the Indian Summer theme really well. I think i'll be using it to trim around all edges of the kite. Hopefully they'll bob around in the wind when it's flying as well !

 I couldn't resist buying this assorted pack of embroidery thread at 'The Works' in Harrogate, for only £1.99 there's such a good range of colours. Embroiding into my kite is something i'd like to do.

 Hot pink ribbon for the kite string.  

           And finally I bought some gorgeous little bronze tassels (90p each) and assorted jewels (10p each)