Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really, really good.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I am feeling really thrilled about because I love teaching this subject.

In particular today, we are looking at textile designs, which I think is gonna be really interesting.

Our lesson is called Textile designs: the influence of sources on investigations.

I wonder if that has piqued your curiosity.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work, Foundation workshops: an introduction to the areas of study.

So this is really something quite foundational what we're looking at today, and I hope you're gonna find it a fun and interesting lesson.

So if you're ready with some focus, energy and enthusiasm, we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can identify and apply influences from sources to create original textile work." We have some keywords in our lesson.

They are: source, context and transforming.

So what do these keywords mean? Source is the starting point or inspiration for design.

Context: the cultural, historical, or social background of a source.

And transforming: the process of changing a source into a new textile design.

These are our three keywords, source, context, and transforming.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Textile design: the influence of sources on investigations, and it has two learning cycles, analysing and documenting textile sources and using textile sources to develop your designs.

Let's begin by analysing and documenting textile sources.

Textiles is the process of expressing ideas through fabrics, fibres, and techniques.

Sources of inspiration play a key role in shaping the direction and context of creative textile work as it develops.

Pause here and share with someone your impression of this textile work we can see on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your impressions.

Where might these images come from? What elements could inspire design? Pause here and share with someone your answers to these two questions.

Thanks for sharing.

These images are all sources.

A source might come from nature, architecture, cultural textiles, memories or images.

Designers study sources to extract shapes, colours, and textures, then transform them into new designs using printing, stitching, or fabric manipulation.

A source is anything that inspires or informs your design work.

It could be a natural object, a cultural artefact, a piece of art, a personal experience, or maybe a photograph.

Pause the video and share with someone.

Which of these three sources are you most inspired by? Thanks for sharing your source of inspiration.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A source is just something to copy.

Pause here and decide.

Is that true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here.

While you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Sources are not meant to be directly copied.

They act as a starting point for creativity.

Designers explore a source's shapes, patterns, colours, or meanings.

They reinterpret them to create original work that reflects their own ideas and context.

Using sources as an artist matters because: they provide the starting point for creative exploration; they ensure designs have depth and authenticity; they help connect your work to broader ideas, traditions, or environments.

And we can see the journey on our screen, from source to artistic creation.

Understanding context deepens design thinking.

Context is the background of a source, including: culture, history, meaning.

And we can see a source image of some coral there.

Pause here and share with someone.

If this was your source, how do you think this might inspire you? What kind of textile artwork do you think you might create? Thanks for sharing.

Understanding context helps designers understand the story behind what inspires them.

It ensures respectful use of cultural references, gives designs depth and a stronger connection to their inspiration.

And we can see a design inspired by coral there.

I wonder if this is similar or different to what you had in mind.

Sofia and Jun are discussing how the context of the source deepens design thinking.

Here's Jun: "Cultural context adds meaning through traditions and symbols, helping designs tell a story." And Sofia: "Historical context shows how styles and techniques evolved, inspiring new interpretations.

Material context reveals origins and making processes, encouraging creative use of textures and methods." You can see how the context of a source can really deepen design thinking.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following statements about the context of sources is not correct? A: Understanding the cultural and historical context of a source makes designs more meaningful.

B: The material context of a source can inspire new techniques and textures in design.

C: Context of sources is not important because sources are only used for copying patterns.

D: Considering context helps designers reinterpret sources in creative ways.

Pause here while you decide.

Which of these statements about the context of sources is not correct.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, context of sources is not important because sources are only used for copying patterns is not correct.

Artists inspired by various sources include: Mari Katayama: Her textile-based installations, photographs, and crafted objects reflect her lived experience as an amputee.

Amy Claire Mills is a disabled and neurodivergent artist who works with textiles to explore identity, access and disability rights.

Drawing from personal experience, she uses fabric, embroidery, and slogans to challenge ableism and promote inclusion.

Grace Wales Bonner: A fashion designer whose work draws on sources from African diasporic culture, history and identity, blending textiles with cultural storytelling.

So we can see there are a number of artists working with textiles and being inspired by various sources.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to select a source image to inspire a textile design.

You should observe and sketch your source.

Consider: What stands out? What's the context? Which elements inspire you? Colour, motif, texture, et cetera.

So pause here while you have a go at this task of selecting a source image to inspire a textile design.

Enjoy your task and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you go on with that task of selecting a source image to inspire a textile design? Here's Jun: "I chose a flower as my source.

I sketched it, focusing on outlines mostly.

I'm inspired by the use of layering and can use that as a starting point for my design." Great selection.

And there are many possibilities.

You may have.

actually chosen two sources! Here's Jun again: "I actually chose two sources, a contemporary wallpaper repeat pattern, and a photograph of a peony flower from a magazine.

I'm particularly drawn to the layering and shapes of the flowers.

A plant to use these motifs to create an applique piece for fashion." I love the sound of that.

And why not choose two sources, if it's too hard to choose just one? And now we're onto our next learning cycle: Using textile sources to develop your designs.

Artists transform sources into original designs.

So here we have our source and there's our design.

When creating your final textile outcome, consider how your source influences the design.

Here Jun: "I will consider how my source influences the design by developing a floral applique motif.

Inspired by my research, this design will be used in fashion and sewn onto a white shirt." I can just see that.

It's gonna look great.

And Sofia: "I'll develop a repeat pattern for print using my source to inspire the motif.

I might use the printed fabric to make a bag." Love that idea.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is a false belief about using a source in your final textile outcome? A: The source only matters in the initial research stage, not in the final design.

B: The source can influence the colours, patterns, and textures you choose.

C: Reinterpreting the source helps make the final design unique.

Or D: the source provides inspiration throughout the design process.

So pause here while you select which of these is a false belief about using the source in your final textile outcome.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, the source only matters in the initial research stage, not in the final design is a false belief.

Artists inspired by various sources include: Anthony Stevens uses hand stitching and recycled fabrics to explore themes like trauma, identity, and mental health.

Drawing from personal experiences and influenced by Nichiren Buddhism, he encourages conversation around emotional wellbeing.

Eddie Peake uses textiles, performance and mixed-media, often referencing urban culture and personal memories of sources in his work.

Rachid Koraichi uses calligraphy, symbols, and Sufi spiritual sources to create textiles and mixed-media pieces with deep cultural meaning.

You might experiment with textile techniques and elements taken from your source.

You might explore: different fabrics, stitches and textures, altering the scale and arrangement of elements.

The aim is to develop a textile piece that is personal and original.

Transforming your source into a textile outcome may look like this.

Look at your sketch for inspiration.

Select your fabrics, cut and pin them onto a piece of cotton.

Gather your embroidery, threads and needle.

You might respond to your source by creating an applique sample.

You don't have to copy the source.

This artist is changing colours as they stitch to create contrast and visual interest.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Using the original colours and shapes is the only way to stay true to the source.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well, if you said false, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

This is incorrect because transforming a source means adapting it.

Changing colours, shapes, and materials allows you to reinterpret the source creatively, while still being inspired by it.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to transform your source into a textile outcome.

So first of all, look at your source or the sketch you drew of your source.

Select the fabric you would like to use for your outcome.

Cut your fabric into the required shapes for the textile outcome and pin them to the background fabric.

Select your thread colours and thread your needle.

Start stitching your textile design using your selected stitch.

So pause here while you have a go at this task, transforming your source into a textile outcome.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of transforming your source into a textile outcome? There are many possibilities, but you may have created something wonderful like this.

Here's Jun: "Spending time exploring and selecting my source allowed me to transform it into a unique applique piece, which I will complete at a later date." Pause here and share with someone your impressions of Jun's applique piece.

If you were to offer him some feedback, what would you say? Thanks for sharing your feedback on Jun's piece.

And now I'd like you to do the same thing with each other.

Share your textile outcome with someone and offer your feedback to each other, some wise, kind, reflective feedback Pause here while you do this.

And now I'd like you to share your textile outcome with someone else and see if they can have a go at working out what your source might have been for your textile outcome.

Pause here while you do this.

Thanks for having a go at that.

I wonder if you were each able to tell what the source was for your textile outcome.

Well done for having a go at this task.

In our lesson, Textile design: the influence of sources on investigations, we've covered the following.

Artists often begin their work with a source, using it as the starting point for their ideas.

A source can be anything that sparks creativity, such as a natural object, cultural textile, building, or personal memory.

By studying the cultural, historical, or social context of a source, artists gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

This allows them to create designs that are both respectful and meaningful.

Through experimentation, artists transform their sources, reinterpreting shapes, patterns, colours and textures to develop original textile pieces that connect inspirational sources to the final design.

Well done, everyone for taking part in this lesson and going on this journey, beginning at the source with a source, and then taking ourselves through study of the source to creating an original design.

I thought you did a terrific job in this lesson, and I hope you're pleased with your outcomes and the potential that you have to perhaps develop them even further.

I encourage you to keep your eyes out for sources.

They are all around us.

We can find inspiration every day, and who knows what exciting textile project or outcome it could lead to? I've really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope you've enjoyed this lesson too.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.