Arrivals Continued - Vanessa

After much deliberation on my starting point (the Metrolink Service) I have decided to think about the following for my work:

Repetition: As a service, the Metrolink repeats its journey(s) across the city daily, hourly, even minutely. Repetition is very much apparant in this aspect, along with the fact that my journey is repeated every day. I board and exit the metrolink at the same stops each time I make my journey into University. Although I am not definite on the way that the service is ran; I can imagine that the Metrolink staff/drivers repeat the same shifts over and over, travelling across the city in repeated cycles. The thought of these ever repeating and very structured cycles are the main reason I would like to create repeat patterns in my work. After looking at the mapping of the very central metrolink lines I have discovered that aesthetically I quite like the look of the lines themselves.

Nature: I have personal interest in nature. I was reminded that in nature itself is very much ran by cycles and repetition. Without the very constant cycle of the seasons it would be impossible for the uprise of life that we experience every spring. Our Earth, on it's tilted axis, repeats it's own cycle (it's orbit) around the Sun which in turn creates our seasons. I like the contrast between the natural and industrial cycles and repeats. As I am interested in creating a surface pattern I would like to include my own imagery of flowers, in particular British flora, and if possible something native to Manchester. I have booked an appointment to view the Botany collection at Manchester Museum on Wednesday 21st and I have full hopes on finding such flowers. Eventually I would like to combine my industrial patterns with my natural imagery to create something that repestents the two together in harmony.

Colour Schemes: Thinking about these subjects I would like to use both natural and industrial colour palette. Perhaps I will combine the greys and metallics and harsh colours of Manchester/Metrolink system with the muted and natural tones of flowers. I will work with both as well as creating some drawings/samples using EITHER industrial or natural colourings.

Final Outcomes: Although we are proposing projects for the new building, I work best flat. I would like to produce a surface pattern i.e. wallpaper, wallhanging, projection, flooring etc. etc. I am also interested in looking at some processes that I am unfamiliar with such as etching onto glass and lazer cutting. This project is giving me the opportunity to go beyond what I already know and I am excited to try new things. After the easter holidays I would definitely like to use the print workshop and determined to create a final repeat pattern print.