Sunday, 19 April 2015
Monday, 13 April 2015
Alexa loves... Toiles
Here's my first toile of my A Midsummer Nights Dream dress.
It's just a basic draft of the shape so far as you can see, but I can not wait to make it come to life using fabrics and textures.
More on this coming your way very soon!
Alexa loves... Fairies
Look what I found when I went on a walk last weekend in Scarborough, a fairy den. There was even a little box for you to post your letters to the fairies. Too cute.
This has given me lots of ideas for my A Midsummer Nights Dream project.
Friday, 10 April 2015
Alexa loves... A Midsummer Nights Dre
A quick apology! Unfortunately my posts haven't been uploading so I have thought I've been writing them and they haven't been posted. That's why you haven't heard from me in a while. Sorry for that but now hopefully you will be able to hear all about my new project as I have fixed the problem.
Alexa loves... Theatres
Where should my performance of a Midsummer Nights dream be held?
When looking at theatre two in particular stood out. I wanted my performance to be held outside, like the one I went to see. The Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and Regents Park Open Air Theatre both have this feature and a wonderful performance space but in the end I decided to go with The Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre as I could find out more information about that place.
It is a purpose built theatre set up in Grosvenor park each summer. The audience sit on all sides of the stage in 'the round'. In 2011 the theatre switched from a traditional stage to a Shakesperean Thrust Stage. It seats 420. It was founded but local arts producer Chester Performs which is company which which is both charity funded and a company limited by gurantee.
Alexa loves... Theatre
I've always loved theatre, performing and watching different plays. So it was great to look into the different theatre groups that had performed A Midsummer Nights Dream.
I went to see this performance a few years ago by a company called Far Out Theatre. The performance was outside which was perfect on such a lovely day and the show took place just as the sun was setting. Magical!
They used a blue theme for their costumes which inspired some of my designs as I think the colour is calm and beautiful. It was also set in the seventies which you can tell I love from my last project.
This version of the play started David Walliams and the staircase inspired me to create this Greek style arm piece.
This version was a completely different neon coloured exciting piece which I took this beautiful dress shape from.
This piece was a rather unusual version which used an old empty swimming pool as a stage and the audience sat around it. I think this is super creative!
Alexa loves... Flowers
While I've been out and about I've been looking at different flowers and taking photographs along the way to help create my nature inspired designs.
This tree trunk inspired me to try and re-create the texture. 
I tried to leaves using a sewing machine inspired by this plant.
Which lead to me designing this dress.
I even attempted to press some flowers.
They looked great at first and helped me to create these designs.
But unfortunately they didn't last very long.
Alexa loves... Flower symbolism
Did you know flowers all have different meanings?
I picked out a few flowers for each character which I thought best suited them.
I've thought about using the flowers in many different ways. In prints or to create texture.
I have even used them in my illustrations as hair. Inspired by this beautiful illustration I found on Pinterest.
Alexa loves... Athens
The original A Midsummer Nights Dream play begins in Athens. I thought this would be a good research point for me to look into when designing for Hermia and Helena as they are both from Athens.
I started off by looking at the shapes of dresses.
They were usually draped and simply shaped so as you can see I sketched one of my own but shortened it to give it a modern twist.
I also looked at ancient anthens vases. The shapes of them gave me ideas for the shapes of dresses.
The patterns on them were inspired by Ancient anthens patterns which could be used to decorate things like vases.
The beautiful long columbs inspired me to create a dress for Helena tall statuesque figure with a mix of patterns and drapery.
Here I have modernised the ancient Athens style designing a culotte jumpsuit as it would still look like a dress but it would be a bit more practical for the actor so they don't have to worry about the dress coming up.
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