3 Years and Beyond

Celebrating 3 years: It’s now three years since I began focussing on art and making. After injuring my knee I decided to follow my heart and felt a need to let out the colour and creative potential that I instinctively knew was within me.

Switching to a less commercial line of work has not been easy and has taken courage and conviction, but as I continue to explore and my work evolves I’m keen to see what I’ll be creating next.

The highlights of the past three years have been two Art and Design year long course Distinctions, a solo art exhibition, and being commissioned by customers to create bespoke artworks and gifts.

Collage of my favourite 9 from the past 3 years…

 

Latest work: My latest creation is an embroidered work for a dear friend, inspired by an image. I felt real flow in this work and felt guided in creating it by some artistic wisdom that joined me while I hand and machine appliquéd and stitched.

Image of Pippin and image of the work.

The picture that the textile portrait is based on. 

The colourful textile portrait on repurposed cross stitch fabric that I have dyed created using appliqué including felt I have made with iridescent fabric that was formerly a curtain in my Sheffield studio, machine embroidery, free motion embroidery and hand stitching.

This work grew out of the paintings and embroideries of dogs over the past few years.

Workshop Development: Exciting news is that I’m developing a heat press workshop. This will given people the opportunities to develop a design and print it onto fabric in just 2 hours. Watch this space for news and dates. if you’re not signed up to receive Inspire  news then you can do so by typing your email address into the box above.

My favourite pieces created in fabrics dyes using the Heat Press

Work in progress: Miniature plants need a miniature place to grow so I’ve been building a greenhouse in Fab lolly sticks with a Magnum stick for decoration. I’ve also tried a more rustic ones from twigs pruned from my Japanese Acer. Need to eat a fab lolly or two more to be able to complete the roof structure. I’m considering whether to plant miniature climbing plants with the rustic greenhouse to encourage them to grown up and within it.

Greenhouse picture 1 &2 

Ceramics: I’m exploring ceramics, its not an area I’ve studied before so I’m learning hand building techniques. More on that when the pieces have been fired.

Sneak peek at two of my biscuit fired pieces

Commission Time: Christmas is coming and its traditionally a time for commissioned artworks for loved ones, providing a bespoke gift made for them. My deadline this year for commission requests, to be ready in time for Christmas is 31st October. Please email me and I’ll help determine all that’s needed to begin the creation of your unique artwork.

Thanks for the support in the past three years and here’s to the future. To creativity, and beyond!

Highlight creations of the past three years.

My Life In Paper

The Inspire Bear

Cheese Plant in Satin

October is #Inktober: I’m taking the #Inktober challenge again this year. My intention is to try to illustrate the prompt words simply and clearly. You can see my ink creations in my Instagram ‘stories’.

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Textile Print Design at Chelsea

Had a great week at UAL Chelsea College of Arts, working in the Textile Print and Dyeing Room. Here’s my favourite work – screen prints (including foil) and silkscreen painting.

This two colour screen print was created using cut paper.

Experimenting with foil

Silkscreen print, from hand painted design. My earlier screen potent can be seen where they had marked the cloth.

Design inspired by element of passion flowers, as part of ongoing study of this plant species. I love how this came out and like the tendrils.

A productive few days work.

My final and favourite piece was using cut paper and three colours.

I’ll be developing these pieces and creating with them so pop your email address in the box at the top of the page to see how they develop.

If you’re interested in this work here are other related textile work I’ve been busy with…

Fabric Cheese Plant

Bird and Flower Cushion

Designer Dog Coat

Thanks to Lara Mantell for all her help at Chelsea.

Bird and Flowers Cushion Design

I was asked to make a colourful cushion featuring a bird and flowers with this drawing from a lovely customer:

I thought about whether I might seek such a fabric design, but I didn’t have the desire to go hunting for a fabric, so I designed my own.

Having found painted designs that the dye colours can mush together I decided to try a collage technique, as developed in some of my favourite work, my paper cut pictures.

I firstly prepared papers by  carefully painting them with transfer dyes then cut and assembled pieces to build a design. I liked the composition on a cute practice design (above), but felt that the colours lacked texture and depth. So I tried wax relief frottage techniques learned at UAL Chelsea and also hand-painted my favourite flowers inspired by our own garden and a visit to the wonderful tulip gardens of Keukenhof and the Botanical Garden in Leiden earlier this year. I challenged myself to limit colours to the wine red, golden yellow and turquoise Colourcraft Transfer Dyes.

I cut shapes and enjoyed assembling these to form the design for the main panel of the cushion.

See the design process in this one minute video…

Earlier posts that relate to this:

Paper-cut Pictures

Inspired Bags

Blackpool Icons Cushion

Life in Paper

I’m creating new things all the time, which I post on my Facebook Page and Instagram. Hope to see you there.

Instagram Highlights

April was a bright and creative month, here are the highlights from my Instagram feed. Enjoy!

Better late than never!

First up was a cupcake themed cushion that I made for a close relation.

Lush pink, grey and teal design. It was a huge pattern repeat so I made a booster cushion with different parts of the design front and back. As I know I’ll be asked the question, the fabric was from Direct Knit and Sew in Sheffield.

Ta da! Here’s the finished cushion. It really was a work of love as it was for someone I love and I love the outcome. The pink ribbon edging the cushion really makes the colours pop.

I started work on a second hand sewn dog portrait. This time featuring Sam, who has been in many of my papercut paperart collage artworks and was the protagonist I’m my illustrated storybook.

I made pretty bunting for my sewing space. Dyeing the fabric using sublimation inks and then stitching into and embellishing the panels. The satin ribbon feels gorgeous.

I used trational machine stitch, love the clear acrylic foot – it’s an essential tool for me, and also used free machine embroidery.

The little boat and clouds are from fabric that I dyed at a workshop last summer at Stitched Up And Fleeced textile studio in Sheffield.

I tried something a little different with my Paperart on one of my favourite icons for a happy day, Ice-cream.

I repainted my Maison du Monde Smile sign to make it more me, white emulsion the flicked my favourite paint colours.

This large canvas happened out of a study for another piece. As it was drying we decided we quite liked it so this is how it is completed, for now. 😊

The above canvas artwork was created using a drag method I had been playing with.

The final make of the month was a peg bag using bright screen printed fabric, printed by a fellow student.

Here are stories that relate to these artworks. Enjoy seeing the backstories.

Sam’s storybook

Cute Dog – portrait

Paperart Pictures

Thanks for being here. Better late than never on this post. Hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Love, and peace to you, Kim xx

Inspiration On Your Wrist – Design Concept

Wearable tech could improve positivity – make a huge difference to a person’s mindset, rippling throughout their life and relationships for fulfilling outcomes.

I developed a smart watch concept that will monitor pulse, body temperature and motion in order to prompt timely delivery of motivating images and inspiring messages.

For example; elevated heart rate, without physical movement, could be an indicator of anxiety – in this instance the device would alert the wearer, through tone, music track, vibration and/or screen lighting up, to inspiring content, tailored for them through preferences selected in an app.

Sketchbook illustration of the concept.

The smart watch design prototype

The watch console would slip into a stretchy elastic strap that can be changed and easily replaced. Comfort, own choice of design, washable, changeable and inexpensive.

 

The strap idea came from my custom designed and printed hair and wrist bands.

There could be the option for the wearer to print their own strap design at home – making their product unique.

 

The idea is developing and I wonder whether this could be an app in itself. Will explore that idea.

Posts related to this are:

Exhibition – Sheffield 13th – 15th June.

Inspired Bags

The Inspire Bear

Well that’s all for now, thanks for being here 🙂 you can see more at my Facebook page and Instagram feed.

Ladies’ Loungewear Design Concepts

As part of my design project I explored options for placing my design on looking bye and sleepwear items.

I mocked up in Pixelmator app how the designs might look on a sweatshirt cotton or satin fabric.

The design itself was created using dry point printing in single colours, then layering the three colours digitally. 

My dry point printed and digital design

I love how ththe design looks on this off the shoulder sweatshirt. Comfy and uplifting.

The design would look and feel great for a satin gown/ cover up

My design on a slipper

A lovely design for an eye mask – so the wearer can rest and recharge.

I realised that scaling of a design is important – would love this two set in the design on a light catching satin fabric

I love the design as the colours really resonate with me because of their sunny day associations. I used the design to make covered buttons and a beauty/ tablet bag. 

My online study with Pattern Camp and Make Art That Sells really complemented the practical learning on my UAL Foundation Studies course, which this work was part of. 

Click here for related links and articles:

Inspired bags

Bag Shop Now Open

Inspire by Kim dress

Hand Painted Scarf

I made a scarf by hand painting chiffon using batik and silk painting techniques. 

I love how the wax flows, enabling lovely curly freehand lines. The design includes the sea, the sun, moon, a flowering tree and stars. 

Here’s the process in pictures as in lateral sections, drawing the design with hot wax and a tjanting. 

Helping the wax set with a cool hairdryer, then painting the fabric. 

The hot wax smell reminds me of hours spent waxing skis. 

When the design was completed and had dried I began to iron out the wax between sheets of paper…

The heat also activated the dyes and could see their “true colours shining through” – to quote Cyndi Lauper.

The scarf could be lovely on the beach or sunbed.

I set up a studio photo shoot with model Lucy wearing the scarf. 

I exhibited the scarf in my product range exhibition at The Workstation in Sheffield in June 2017.

Top tips:

• Create a tester section to trial the techniques and products.
• Take care with hot wax.
• Hold at least four thickness folded cartridge paper under the tjanting when moving between the hot wax pot and the fabric. 
• Use batik stratcher bars.
• Square and hem the fabric before painting.
• Cool hairdryer to help the wax set and to dry the 
• Try using salt, after the wax has dried, to add texture and additional interest to the design. 

Here are related articles:

Exhibition June 2017

Silk Painting Art Challenge

Instagram round up featuring batik wax printing

News – New Shop 

 

Media Coverage

I’m delighted that the Sheffield Star newspaper have covered my exhibition on page 12 of today’s paper.

Here’s the press release issued about the project:

Designed to Inspire – Art Exhibition 

Kimberley Kay, working as ‘Inspire by Kim’, has developed a range of ‘Everyday Inspiration’ products – exhibited at The Workstation Gallery in Sheffield this week. 

Kim explained, “I create to inspire and uplift people, with bright designs and delightful fabrics that add colour to everyday routines.” 

“At Sheffield College I’ve explored creative ways to communicate, studied textile techniques and developed pattern designs. I honed manufacturing skills to make a delightful product range of bags, clothing and accessories. The products come together in a catalogue to engage retailers and customers. 

“I share my work in progress through my website, Facebook page and Instagram feed, which provides feedback for the development of my products. The digital world means its possible to reach out to people globally, if people can feel a little happier from seeing my work that’s a wonderful thing.” 

“My goal is to have a successful art business of commissioned work, illustration, products, and inspiring, creative workshops for local people. I’m determined so it’s a matter of keeping going forwards, step by step.” 

Kim has been studying with Design & Visual Arts Department at the Hillsborough Campus of Sheffield College. The end of year exhibition covers Art & Design, Games Design, Graphic Design and Photography and takes place at The Workstation, until 8pm on Thursday 15th June. 

Kim’s cheesegrater Sheffield souvenir idea received acclaim from Sheffield Design Week in November 2016. 

***Ends***

Bye for now, thanks for being here. 

Kim x

Instagram Highlights

Here are latest highlights from my Instagram feed. I like Instagram as I can send my work across the planet and people near and far can see it, maybe in far flung places that I can only imagine. From my life to theirs in an instant. Shared interests found. 

It’s been a busy time with my Foundation Studies final exhibition. My products exhibited for the first time after months of hard, but enjoyable, work at The Workstation in Sheffield City Centre. 

Sam – ebook page – Copyright Kim

Sam – ebook page – Copyright Kim

I remembered my intricate paintings of the white dog Sam, completed a year ago, on his journey as he hoped to fly. I shared a previously private video of the ebook. You can watch this, 55 seconds movie, here. 

Work In Progress – A rare sunny no breeze day meant I was able to work outside on my next intricate paper cut picture. This imagined scene is inspired by the Brighton’s seafront, with a tearoom, vintage style dress and ladies wear shop, and next a beach goods shop. This is the latest in my series of paper-cut pictures. 

For a family birthday for an avid French Alps skier I turned a microfibre glasses cloth into zipper bag on my wonderful Bernina sewing machine. 

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I hand painted, printed and sewed a shower cap as my final exhibition product. Wipeable lining from my friend’s Sheffield haberdashery emporium Direct. Loved the pink satin binding – a beautiful find from Berwick Street, London. 

I made a video of my recent work to promote my exhibition. 

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​And finally my dress design fabulously modelled by Lucy. 

That’s a snapshot for now – more at my Instagram and Facebook Page. 

Whatever you’re doing enjoy and bye until next time.

Kim x

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Sending New Year wishes for a bright future. Cultivate your joy in 2017. 

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2017 and the strength to see through the hard times towards good ahead. Wishing you joy, love and fun times.

I have a surprisingly good feeling about 2017. I’m just days from revealing my latest commissioned artwork and am looking forward to speaking and exhibiting at an Empowered Woman event in early March. 

Please watch this space for more news on these. 

#peace #love #inspiration #joy #2017 #newstart #newyear #newdawn #newday #happiness #light #colour #fun #inspirebykim #sheffieldartists ##makeartthatsells #patterncamp #inspiration #kim

Enjoy the rollercoaster of success in 2017.

Posts to enjoy next

Empowered Woman Event Artwork

2016 in Artworks

The Dog That Wanted To Fly – Illustrated Children’s Book