The Cherry Orchard

My next design project was for the play, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. The classic play was very challenging from a designer new to the costume world. I really enjoyed researching the period thouroughly and learnt loads about how the small details in the scene such as time, season and characters personalities effect the final design of the costumes. I designed for the first act, with a change of costume for all the characters that needed it. My final designs were in acrylic paint on brown paper. The images below are groups which I have photoshoped together to show character groupings and change in costumes in the scene.

Dunyasha and Lopakhin.

Firs, Madame Ranevsky, Varya, Simeonov-Pischik, Anya and Gayev in travelling clothes.

Anya, Madame Ranevsky and Varya in daytime clothes.

Firs, Gayev, Simeonov-Pischik, Lopakhin, Anya, Madame Ranevsky, Dunyasha and Varya in daytime clothes.



James and the Giant Peach

The next project I was given to tackle was themed around James and the Giant Peach. We were given five weeks to design the costumes for each of the characters from the Roald Dahl book then in the following five weeks make one of our designs. I decided to make the costume for The Old Green Grasshopper. My design concept was to create a nostalgic set of costumes which looked human yet part of the insect world. When I read the book I felt the insects felt like Jame's long lost family rather than bugs. Here is my final creation of a tailcoat for the Grasshopper. I wired the tail part so it could be sculpted and manipulated to the way the actor wanted it. After I made the garment I disstressed it to give it the old, lived in look.

The tailcoat was designed and made by me, the other garments in the shoot were sourced by me from a charity shop and COW vintage shop, nottingham.

1800's Dress

As soon as I started uni we were straight into our first project, creating a 1800's style dress. It was our first project and for me having five weeks to finish it in seemed like such a short amount of time! I remember it all being such a whirwind, new place, new people and what seemed like a lot of work ontop of it all! I learnt so much on the first project from learning how to pattern draft, cut and how things are done in the world of costume!

A-Level Art

 Art should be free, fun and should show your passion and that was what the whole of my A-level projects were like! The title I chose to explore was 'fantastic costume' and here are a few of my favourite bits I produced. I won't say much because art is what you make of it!

Final piece tutu influenced by Performance Design, Rob Ryan and A Midsummers Nights Dream.

A-Level Costumes

So A-Level textiles was where I gained freedom to make what ever I wanted. I knew my passion for textiles had been there for a long time but the two years I had in sixthform developed my love even further. I gained a great basis of technical knowledge and learnt there is a way to make any design!! 

I designed this costume for the White Witch for a play adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It was made from a light blue dutchess satin. The skirt is a full length circle skirt attached to a lined, boned bodice. The top of the bodice has three points like icicles.I also created an icicle cape to complete the costume. From the circular cape I attached 3-D shaped icicles made from a variety of different fabrics.

 

This is the second costume I made! I designed this flamenco dress for a flamenco dance troop. I made the dress out of polyester satin, with a fitted, long body. I created two layers of polka dot ruffles, gathered and attached on a a-symmetrical finish. My favourite part of this costume is the large neck ruffle. All the layers were lined with a contrasting red. 

A Little Hello

So this is my first post, I'm not great with words and expressing what I am thinking, but pretty good at talking so assumed this wouldn't be too hard for me! I decided to create a blog because I want a place I can put all my bits and bobs. I love creating things so thats what I do. I don't know what i'll be in the future or where I will be, but for now I will just enjoy the show.