Breathe (2)..

After returning back from Easter we had our second 'Breathe' meeting for this unit of my SDP. By this time all the designs for the production had been finished and finalised so we were allocated our designs and teams we'd be working in.

Here are some examples of the designs/ groups...

I will be working on bits and pieces for all there of these groups. For the 'Jesters' I will be working along side 3 other students to make hats, collars, skirts, breeches and sleeves. There is a lot of work for these costumes so we began discussing various ways we can produce the custom elements for the base costumes quickly, effectively and efficiently. We thought that elements such as the collars could be done during workshop run sessions for the 'Breathe Club' being held after studio practise time on Wednesday evenings. Myself and one other student decided we'd work together to come up with a workshop plan as a solution. More complicated aspects would be tackled during our Thursday studio sessions...

The other 2 students I'm working with for the 'Hunters were absent during this session so we didn't get a  chance to have a discussion for how to tackle the design work. However I did come up with a few ideas which I spoke with my supervisors to. They were ideas on certain materials we might use, textile processes etc. The main elements of these designs are the cloaks and the headdresses. They want a more structured, layered appearance so lots of problem solving will be needed for these costumes. As well as working as part of a team in this unit for hand in we will have needed to have constructed our own individual element of a costume(s). I got the choice of which 'Hunter' character to focus on as well as helping with team pieces/ workshops. For this design I will focus on construction the cloak..

I was also going to focus making on a pair of breeches for a 'Jester' costume however another student in the third year wanted to help so she will now be doing this. I was then asked if I'd help make a skirt for one of the 'Rebels'. I really like the design for this so I wasn't unhappy about the swap. For this design there was talks of using lots of recycled plastics as well as other types of materials. This is something quite different and quirky from what I'm used to working with so I'm quite excited to take on the challenge.... 

Now having the designs and seeing what we've got to work with I'm a lot more motivated and enthusiastic towards the project. It's something very different from what I've worked on previously in other units and from the costume store side of SDP. Instead its very creative and inventive. I think it'll develop my creativity as a costume maker further, challenging me in ways to construct garments and using materials I'd never thought. Already it's helping me to work as a team player and as a leader when thinking of possible workshops to run in the 'Breathe Club'....