Google for Freshwater Shrimp and Water Boatmen

http://www.field-studies-council.org/media/524926/freshwater_invertebrates....... found this site.. If link doesn't work then search subject on the FSC Field Studies Council website... brings up theinformation I'm using. Need to learn how to screen shot on laptop!! Sorry!!

Could use this information later on. But for not will look at :



Greater water boatman feed on small animals which have become trapped at the surface of the
pond, they eat them by piercing them with their mouthparts. They swim on their backs, using
their strong hind legs, which have hinged swimming hairs. They breathe from an air bubble which
they collect at the surface and carry it around with them under their wings.

Lesser water boatman are detritivores which feed on algae and dead plant material at the bottom
of the water. They swim using their strong hind legs as oars, which have hinged swimming hairs.
They breathe from an air bubble which they collect at the surface and carry around with them.



Freshwater shrimps like small sea shrimps, they can swim on their sides. These detritivores eat
pieces of dead plants, and breathe using gills at the base of their legs. They eat single-celled plants
(algae) and dead plant material; they live among dead leaves and plants. 

Emails and collecting information on the Pond Life and Algae

WELL this is a really excting start and Im excited to run with it

Got an email back for Lawence Robertson.

 The most abundant phytoplankton in the Haining Loch belong to the blue-green algae group, specifically Oscillatoria species. Other abundant groups are Crytomonas (Cryptophyta) and Dinobryon (Chrysophtya).

Microinvertebrates noted are freshwater shrimp and water boatman. I am not aware of any other survey in detail of the loch or of insects close to the loch. There was a survey of the surroundings done by Sara Eno for The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC). It might be possible to infer from the plants what insects are likely to be present but I think this would be too much work in the time you have.

I think you would find it useful to contact Liz Douglas a local artist who has done a lot of work based on organisms in loch water and may have taken some samples from the loch. Liz@lizdouglas.co.uk.

I hope this helps and wish you joy in making your work.

Lawrence Robertson

Trustee

I Have now emailed Liz Douglas!

Loch and algae information

Donna Marsh

Reply|

To:

Liz@lizdouglas.co.uk;   Fri 13/11/2015 16:31

Hello Liz,  My name is Donna and I'm currently studying a BTEC Art and Design course at Borders College. We are studying and designing an idea detailing if The Haining House was to open a Cafe. After visiting the house and loch I have developed an idea of detailing the pond life and algae that is present in the loch . I did email the The Haining and they give me your name and also informed me of the algae in the loch. Lawernce fromThe Haining did say that you to had looked in to similar things also and I wondered if you could give me any information you feel would be of interest to me......... I intend to design a cushion, bookmark and card that would be for sale in the gift shop.  I like the idea of a watercolour effect on fabric and maybe an embroidered or ink image of an insect or pattern relating to this. Another idea was to use trompe o leil  inside the cafe bringing the columns inside and some of the plant/pond life also..I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks Donna Marsh...... 

just have to wait now

 This is all rather exciting

Is Silk Sustainable?

What a life!! The silkworm is now a way to a mean.......The silkworm doesn't exist in the wild anymore and is farmed for the silk it creates when making its cocoons. Silkworms don't even get the chance to transform into its moth form. Once it has spun the silk in the cocoon the work is done and its basically killed by way of boiling. To keep population numbers some will get the chance to mate. But only for the purpose to produce the silk..

The silkworm

I do like silk and the luxury it brings but I didn't realise the larvicide that is happening to these poor worms.
If the raw silk of a single cocoon is unfolded, it will contain raw silk thread of about 300 to 900 meters in length. The raw silk fibers, which are about 10 micrometers in diameter are very lustrous and fine. To make one pound of silk, about 3000 cocoons are boiled in water. This kills the silkworms and makes the extraction of silk easier.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/silkworms-facts-about-silkworms.html

I'm a little put off using silk painting technique now as all I would see is dead silk cocoons.... I did think about buying silk that had been already made and using that! Maybe buying from ebay or second-hand shops. But I think for now I will look at another material.  I'm not sure why I feel annoyed about this as I do eat chicken and well the life of a silkworm compared to that of a farmed chicken would be pretty nice even if it does end in a hot bath.
 You do have to appreciate the way that the Chinese developed this technique so many years ago.

The life of a designer is starting to effect my view and my morals that I didn't even realise I had! Again more questions starting to play and I do feel a little exhausted by it all. Right or Wrong..
Is Silk sustainable?

 Well yes I guess it is but that all depends on your view of the processes behind it. Like in many cases it comes down to money to!             The  price you pay for fashion!       Can I sell my morals for fashion.... I'll think or this next time I'm eating a chicken leg haha




Source of information came from internet

BBC bitesize used Design and Technology

Also google images

Silk Painting

The Serti Technique

The word serti means to enclose or fence an area on the silk using a resist (gutta/outliner) before filling with dye or paint.

This technique sounds very simple and a fun way to get a watercolour style effect on a fabric. I believe that when you apply paint or dye it is quickly absorbed and spreads out as far as it can go. By drawing lines or patterns using resist you are making a barrier on the silk that the paint cannot cross.



The Salt Technique

Silk painting with salt produces amazing effects on the silk. While it is not completely controllable you can choose the areas on the silk where you want the salt to work its magic. The salt soaks up some of the paint around it and crates mottled light and dark patterns. You can use different sized grains but I find coarse salt makes the most dramatic effects.

Wet on Wet Technique



This technique involves different colours blending seamlessly together. Whilst you have wet paint on your silk add another colour, either on top of the original colour or to the side so they meet. The colours blend and change and compliment each other beautifully. You can add more colours to these and watch as they change shape and become lighter or darker.

I think I would like the wet on wet technique for my works. 

This style is something along the lines I was thinking of.

Another print I love from pin interests........

I like this effect and I'd draw and stitch patterns on it

Ink and wash is something I like

blurry patterns I do like

this cushion has the idea but its too busy for my own liking

Hand dyed silk can be used in a variety of ways such as pictures, bags, jewellery cushions, lampshades, scarves, ties and cards... To keep my ideas simple and not to add to much I do feel a cushion of maybe 4 designs would be best.. also bookmarks as a smaller buy product.

The silk can be embellished, embroidered and quilted.

The bookmark I'd like to be simple and made of the same 4 designs     The Haining logo on the bottom corner !
The pink and green/teal colour of the logo is something I would use in the background or incorporate in the design

Originating from China the ancient art has over 2000 yrs of history behind it. The silk was light weigh and easy to carry and cut. It was luxurious and soft and compared to other materials like wood, stone or bamboo it had a more softly feel and class about it.

These are some of the pictures I took when at The Haining of the plant life.......

I LOVE these sorry souls

  

Evidence for The Haining

Idea for the cushions, bookmarks etc

TIMOROUS BEASTIES

Timorous beasties was established in 1990 by Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons who met in the Glasgow Textile School of Art. The work embodies a unique diversity of pattern, ranging from damask designs to splatters, drips of blotches..

While I only looked at the cushion on sale the collections include wallpaper, fabric, ceramics lampshades and rugs

splatter design example

Art critic John Ruskin related a universal connection between nature, art and society.

I like the idea of taking nature and bringing it inside.....The wee beastie's that make us squirm in real life when we come across them have been warmed and the beauty and softness of the true animal brought into the home.

For my cushion design I like the idea of nature and creating a soft colourful world of The Haning and Woodland area. I would like to use silk painting and embroidery in my design. The loch at The Haning has been overrun with algae and I had seen signs warning no fishing or swimming.... The algae I could enlarge and print and incorporate into a design. The reflective mirror image the loch has on the lake and trees I would also to create when thinking of the silk printing.... Using the softness of silk with the ugliness and harshness of the algae and wildlife around captures my imagination. 

Pondlife and dragonflies maybe.

This is a cushion I seen in matalan at the cost of £10

Timorous Beasties cushion cost near £60 -£120 

The idea of one print in different colours could save on costs of a really stronger image.... bold cushions and colours could be used like the colours and idea that Fauvism had..........

I would like to visit the shop/factory and see the prints and how its all made. Textiles is a new world to me and the ideas are flying through my mind.... Quality vs Quantity! I'd like to see just how different  the high cost of the Timorous Beasties cushion vs Matalan cheaper one!! 

Have emailed The Haining reguarding The Algae and Pondlife....Wonder what comes back

Got an email back for Lawence Robertson.

 The most abundant phytoplankton in the Haining Loch belong to the blue-green algae group, specifically Oscillatoria species. Other abundant groups are Crytomonas (Cryptophyta) and Dinobryon (Chrysophtya).

Microinvertebrates noted are freshwater shrimp and water boatman. I am not aware of any other survey in detail of the loch or of insects close to the loch. There was a survey of the surroundings done by Sara Eno for The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC). It might be possible to infer from the plants what insects are likely to be present but I think this would be too much work in the time you have.

I think you would find it useful to contact Liz Douglas a local artist who has done a lot of work based on organisms in loch water and may have taken some samples from the loch. Liz@lizdouglas.co.uk.

I hope this helps and wish you joy in making your work.

Lawrence Robertson

Trustee

I Have now emailed Liz Douglas!

 This is all rather exciting

see my blog Emails and collecting info for updates on this...

Fauvism

Fauvism

Fauvism was the name applied to a group of artists from around 1905 to 1910. While this movement was short lived it has also played a big part on shaping and influencing the future.. ( something I will look into in more detail later)

The name of the movement came about after a critic seen the work of two artists,  Andre Derain and Henri Matisse in an exhibition in Paris in 1905. The painting exhibited were from a summer spent in the South of France. The boldness and use of colours made the critic describe the work as Wild Beasts.

The colours were bold often straight from the tube. The shapes and forms were simplified and the colours complementary to one another.This Complementary system makes the colours look brighter when next to one another. So the artists wanted the wow impact on the person viewing the image!

Primary and Secondary colours 

I feel this work is exciting and fresh.....This excites me with the bold colours and fresh take on a world filled with life.

Woman in Hat 

The Red Studio

These are some of the works by Henri Matisse. Henri was a big part of the Fauvism movement. Before the movement Henri was influenced by artist like Van Gogh and Ceanne. He also studied work by JMW Turner

I think the work of Turner was very subdued in comparison to the colourful work of Fauvism.....Ceanne's and Van Gogh's work however, I can see more likeness. I'm sure Matisse wasn't needing or wanting to copy but as I to research other artists today I'm sure artists did look at others ways and styles. Many like Braque and Piassco worked together on Cubism.

George Braque was to a member of the Fauves, This was before Cubism however!

OTHER INFLUENCES

Raol Dufy influenced Robert Sanderson

Icarus earrings by Marni

Matisse blue nude by Rupert Sanderson

The Snail Matisse  by Christopher Kane

The sheaf Matisse by Valentino

While Fauvism ended as soon as it began really I do think that the colourful landscapes are very inspiring to the contemporary art of today! Colour is everywhere and artists express this with a naivety maybe taken for granted had it not been for the Fauvism movement..... History is then and we are now...who knows what influences we can have on the next generation......?   Lets hope its just as colourful.

Henri Matisse- My take on the flight of Icarus

The real flight of Icarus

Henri Matisse - The flight of Icarus

 The story goes that a young man named Icarus was obsessed with the idea of flying. Determined to raise to the skies and fulfill his dream he constructed beautiful wings made from wax. Happily he ascended, gliding through skies, going higher and higher. His father warned him again and again not to get too close to the sun, but Icarus discarded all warnings and one day headed straight up towards the bright light of the sun. The heat melted the wax and Icarus plunged to his death.

Here Matisse shows Icarus flailing in the deep blue sky, his body in free fall. It’s a deeply tragic moment of inevitable death, of destruction, of collapse of hopes and ambitions, yet Matisse creates an almost meditational composition. The bursts of the yellow sunlight against the rich blue of the sky are almost hypnotic. His Icarus with a bright red spot in place of a heart is mysterious and calm, free of anxiety or fear. This beautiful, bold colour could be interpreted as Matisse’s way of depicting Icarus’ passion for flying!

SOOOOOOO before I knew all that I had only looked at the image of the flight of Icarus. 

I took my own view of the image and made my own interpretation of it......Looking at the image I thought it was marvelling the strength and power of the male form....Mythical with the stars and strong colours of manly boldness......... To make my own take on the image I first made the colours for my reproduction of it.. blue, purple, yellow, orange and red. I also cut black paper. I made the orange by mixing red and yellow and the purple tones by mixing blue and red. 

To give my own take I wanted to express the excitement I felt from moving away from the mono dull tones of cubism and into this new bold freshness that fauvism brought... I felt captured into a world full of life and this I felt was important to express the passion and love I have for my new learning of art.

.Keeping the qualities of the original I made my main cutout female by exaggerating the form of a women. I wanted to portray the strength that the man had and make it very evident and as striking also for the women in the same way I thought Matisse had. In a modern day, women do have an equal a roll as the man does. Especially in working life.(debatable I know)  I like how the size of my cutout of the woman against the male one is much larger, thus in given the idea of him idolising and intrigued by her female form.... Many artist have drawn the female form and I do feel very strongly that it is to a big part of art history. Since the beginning of time!!

I also wanted to think about how when the Fauvism movement or many movements began not everyone agreed with the content and opinion was alot of the time debated. I feel by making the image of the man and woman graphic like I did represents an interpretation of this also.

Henri Matisse in later years! With his female lady

 Towards the later part of his life, Matisse, almost blind and no longer able to paint using traditional means, resorted to “painting with scissors”.  Even Matisse himself had a woman by his side colouring in the paper and doing most of the hard work for him......... Behind every great man is a even greater woman - feminist slogan who said it however is unknown.