Ruskin Hall: Samples for first illustration and tapesty

These samples came from a series of sketches and illustration, with a technique using silk screen printing, flocking paper, foil and wax. It was important for me to get the materials right as I wanted a professional finish to the illustration. I considered several, approaches of how to display these. Research into tapestries was one thought, as they had a long history of recording events like biblical stories, myths, allegories and contemporary scenes of peasants working, nobles hunting or Battles. Medieval weavers used working sketches which they freely adapted with imagination and sometimes humour, the illustration would then be weaved into a tapestry. It was interesting to read that in the 13th and 14th centuries the Church used tapestries in illustrating Bible stories as a means of communication, as this is where my work would progress into. European weavers have produced these textiles for centuries, including medieval, renaissance and Arts and Crafts periods. Because the most popular medieval images were the heavy woven textiles which provide practical use, providing insulation for castle walls, covering openings etc. My first experimentations introduced me to a heavy type of canvas fabric to give my piece some substance. But as the the designs changed and progressed my samples of fabric changed too.