PROJECT STATEMENT
Growing up in a country renowned for its rich heritage of textiles and diverse art forms has profoundly shaped my passion for textile arts. For my MA final project, I draw on these influences to create a floral-inspired collection that highlights the artistry of block printing, integrating it as a foundational technique. This collection combines block printing with watercolor and pen illustrations, blending traditional methods with a contemporary approach to mixed media design.
The concept centers around creating a floral-inspired collection using mixed media techniques, including block printing, watercolor, and pen illustration. To explore various applications, these prints will be applied across different mediums, such as silk charmeuse, linen, denim and jacquard weaving.
For this project, I have chosen dahlias as my primary form of artistic expression. Dahlias offer a diverse range of forms, from geometric, symmetrical structures to more asymmetrical, flowing shapes. This variety allows me to create a collection that balances both structured and organic elements, reflecting the harmony between geometric precision and fluidity.
PROCESS
I chose dahlias as the central motif for their diverse forms, ranging from geometric buds to flowing blooms, symbolizing growth, transformation, and resilience. To represent the dahlia's lifecycle, I created motifs capturing each stage, from budding to full bloom.
Linocut block printing was the primary technique for emphasizing bold, structural elements. After sketching designs on linoleum blocks, I carved the negative space, leaving raised areas for ink. This required precision, as every cut shaped the final print. Ink was evenly applied with a brayer and pressed onto fabrics like silk charmeuse, linen, and denim, with each print showing slight, organic variations due to ink application and pressure.
To enhance these prints, I added watercolor washes and pen illustrations. Watercolors introduced subtle gradients, while pen details emphasized the intricate flow of each stage.
This layered approach blends traditional block printing with watercolor and pen illustration, capturing the dahlia's beauty and lifecycle while balancing precision with organic expression. The result is a floral-inspired collection that embodies the tactile richness of textile design.
