Large scale map #3

I think this is the sample that Sonia and I will use to create a stop-motion film of footsteps on to the map:

Large scale map #2

I have carried on my idea of creating large hangings of fabric with maps hand-drawn on to them, using placement and colour carefully. To possibly use in the final piece. In this sample I used blue fine-liner to colour in the map, in way that could show population of people.. Or germs... Spread slowly:

Kathy Prendergast

Another artist who uses maps in their work, is Kathy Prendergast.

These maps below, on first glance without knowing any background details about them are similar to my work.

After a little more background research, I found Prendergast's 'Lost Maps' work (below), which looks like an ordinary map of the United States, however on closer inspection, it reveals that all the names of places have been removed from the map except for those that begin and end with the word lost (e.g., Lost Creek, Lost Island, and Lost Canyon):

Although I am happy with the work I am doing with my maps, and am including concepts behind them, work such as Prendergast's makes me want to work with maps again and try out more ideas. 

Working on to a mannequin

Following my work with prints via photocopying and hand-drawings, I thought it would be good to see how the pieces looked on a mannequin, as improvised garments, or parts of garments, to possibly use in our final piece. 

I enjoyed doing this task, it's good to see how this piece looks a a dress, gathered, pleated and draped. As a group we have often talked about perhaps using draping fabrics as background, or parts of a garment, so I did a piece to portray a sleeve draping down:

I am happy with this piece even more so now, and look forward to carrying out more, similar samples.

Progression of large-scale map

After creating my large-scale hand-drawn map, I decided to add colour with embroidery to show the idea of a journey through the map. Perhaps the speeding of germs through Manchester. I used the colour red because it links in with the other people in my group's working too, as we have decided red and blue are our main colours.

I am really happy with this sample, and will use a mannequin to model it as different parts of a garment. I also hope to make more large-scale samples like this, maybe with different patterns and other uses of colour. 

Guillermo Kuitca

I have decided to look at other artists who use maps in their work.

Guillermo Kuitca uses maps as metaphors for human relationships, as you an see in the examples of his work I have shown below. He always uses political, psychological and social reference in his work, no matter how abstract.

Photoshop prints

Over the bank holiday weekend I used photoshop to make patterns from the maps I have drawn, and already used by photocopying. I thought I was a good idea as it is easier and faster (technically) to experiment with colour and pattern, including repeat pattern and placement.

I can't decide if I like these prints. I think some would look better on very thin material, perhaps for use for a scarf design. However, I prefer my photocopied and hand-drawn designs, I feel they are more organic, and the motifs are stronger on them.