Final 3

From the vast array of photos I selected the three that best portrayed

different ideas I wanted to get across.

 

I like this first image as it shows the simplicity of the kite shape and design,

yet highlights it's fluidity and grace that is only possible to see when in the air.

 

The second image represents the 'explore' element of the brief. As we walked along Oxford road, we were offered a free ride on this bicycle taxi. This photo of the guy on the bike holding my kite surrounded by the urban environment and architecture sums up what we saw whilst exploring the campus, and is the only image of the three that displays the front of the kite.

This third image is my favourite as I love the juxtaposition of the various apparently random objects - the tree growing next to the destruction of the crane and demolition, aptly bringing together my concept of rebirth next to the kite. I also like the hands at the bottom of the image, appearing from nowhere. 

Kite photos in Manchester

Having been given the task of taking 'exciting and interesting' images of our kites around
 Manchester, we set off down Oxford road. I took lots of photos in the park (see below),
but they didn't feel interesting enough for me.

 

Capturing the kite in silhouette created a much more exciting image and I really liked how it
shows off the shape of the rain drop tails, although it was difficult to combine this photography
style with clear imagery of the kite design.

 

 

 

 

 

The finished kite

Here is the finished kite,
combining a variety of techniques and methods to represent
my chosen 'rebirth' theme.

I chose bright, primary colours to help the design to stand out when it is flown. In the style of a traditional kite tail with bows, I recycled vintage dress fabric and plastic to create raindrops falling out of the clouds, to bring the weather theme together.

I kept the back of the kite very simple to balance out the busy nature of the front.

Making the kite

As I wanted my kite to be practical, I chose rip-stop nylon as my base fabric as it is showerproof and easy to work with. I also wanted to involve a recycling element (hence the plastic), which ties in well to the rebirth theme I chose. To make the kite shape, I made my own newspaper pattern to work from, based on the kites I tested in my research.

I decided that machine stitch and hand embroidery would be best for the details in the design with carrier bags to add small accents of colour to the face. To give texture to the hair and clouds, I took my own photographs and used iron-on transfers to add them to fabric.

To create the iconography style sun rays, I ironed plastic bags in different layers before sewing them onto the kite, giving them a new lease of life.

Research for kite

Once I had decided on the shape of my kite, I set off researching ideas for my design. The benefit of a parafoil kite is there is no frame, simply seams, so that leaves a large panel for working on. I struggled to find interesting printed kites, as most were either plain or used a design based around shape (for instance, a bird shaped kite). This led me towards designing a picture for my kite, as I didn't want to simply replicate what is already out there.

Researching into the history of kites, I found that they were frequently
flown on religious holidays, and often meant to represent rebirth.

So I chose 'rebirth' as a theme to look at, focusing on iconography and 'Madonna and child' type images. I based my drawings above on a photograph of a model in an 'Oh Comely' magazine issue, as I wanted flowing hair to draw from.

Summer project

Over the summer we have been asked to make a kite, 

so the first thing I set about doing was deciding what shape to make it 

- which involved flying some kites on the beach on a windy day.

Of all the kites I flew, this parafoil shape (above) 

seemed to work the best, 

so I decided to base my kite on this design.

I also experimented with tying a carrier bag to some string, 

and it flew surprisingly well, so this made me consider 

using this material within the kite.