Where are you studying and what is the course title?
I am studying Textile Design at Norwich University of the Arts, and specialising in knitted textiles.
Name of your lecturers – course tutors:
Kate Farley – Course Leader
Caroline George – Senior Lecturer
Odette Steele – Senior Lecturer
Please give a brief description of the colour project:
My project is called To Return and it takes inspiration from the colours, textures, and patterns of the British landscape, to design knitted woollen outdoor-wear for hiking.
1. How did you feel about winning recognition from the Colour in Design Awards – what does it mean to you?
Winning recognition from the Colour In Design Awards is incredibly special for me. I have been so inspired by the awards and the power of colour throughout my degree so to have this recognised is a dream come true. I have dedicated a lot of time to the development of my colour related skills, such as building colour palettes, and colour mixing, so to see the benefit of this hard work is so rewarding. It has given me confidence in my ability and identity as a designer and has encouraged me to continue engaging with colour in my work.
2. How important is colour in your work and how do you choose and narrow down colours?
Colour is central to my work and how I communicate visually. Through colour I can represent my inspiration and take this through to the intended context of my designs. Therefore, I like to begin by establishing the colour palette as this gives each project its own identity. To choose colours I gather my primary sources, in this case drawings and photographs from my hikes, and observe them closely. I prefer to take colours from drawings, not directly from photographs, so I make lots and lots of drawings. Through this iteration, I notice the colours I repeatedly use to interpret the inspiration. I then mix these in gouache paint and interrogate the palette further until I understand the function and proportion of each colour. My palettes usually contain 8-12 colours overall to allow me to create a number of smaller colour stories.
3. What is your main source of inspiration?
I find endless inspiration in nature as there are such diverse colours, textures, shapes, and patterns to be inspired by. I love hiking because it helps me feel connected to the landscapes that I love and in turn fuels my creative work. When I spend time in nature I observe so many beautiful colour combinations, some subtle and some bold. I love to see bright, almost fluorescent, sunset skies over deep earthy greenery, and this has greatly influenced the colours I have used in this project.
4. What makes you happiest/most fulfilled in your creative process?
The most fulfilling part of my creative process is transferring colour from inspiration to drawings and from drawings to material. As a knit designer, I think of and work with colour through yarn, so colour and fibre are inherently connected for me. The type of yarn can also influence the interpretation of the colour. For example in this project I have used soft, muted colours in fluffy, delicate mohair-silk, and neon yellow in reflective elastic cord. I love to discover these connections between colour and material and then take them forward into my knitted designs where I interpret them through stitch.
5. Creative high point so far?
Working on my Final Major Project has been my biggest creative high point so far. Connecting all of my loves: colour, wool, knitting, nature, and hiking into one project has been challenging, but incredibly motivating and rewarding. Drawing on the learning and practice of the last three years has equipped me to solve these creative problems and create textiles I could not have imagined at the start of my degree. Reflecting on this progress and being able to see the result of all my hard work makes me very proud.
6. Creative low point so far?
After studying Fine Art at college I knew that I wanted to pursue a creative subject at university, but struggled to pinpoint what exactly I wanted to study as I have always enjoyed so many processes. For years I wanted to be an illustrator, so I went straight from college to study illustration. I learnt so much on the course, but I struggled to like any of the work I was making and decided to leave after the first term. At the time this was a huge blow and left me feeling very directionless to the point where I stopped creating entirely. However, as I rediscovered my creativity I also discovered textiles - I started knitting and I haven’t stopped since. Textiles helped me to connect positively with my work in a way I never had before and drawing became part of my process, not my end result. I realise now that I have a deeper understanding of colour and colour-mixing because of the time I spent studying art and illustration. I am so grateful that I took the time to follow my winding path because all of it has made me the designer I am today.
7. Where do you want to be in 3 years’ time?
In three years’ time I would love to be working as a knit swatch or knitwear designer and have gained some good experience in the industry. I would really like to be designing knitwear with physical and emotional longevity as I believe the connection between garment and wearer is key to the sustainable future of clothing. I intend to be working with natural materials, and advocating for wool in my designs as I am so passionate about the fibre. I hope to be living somewhere where I can connect with nature and continue to find inspiration in the landscapes I am surrounded by.
8. Please tell us about a special person in your studies/life who has really made a difference to you on your creative journey so far.
I am grateful to so many people who have helped me on my creative journey, but the person who first introduced me to textiles is my Mum. She taught me to knit, crochet, and sew and therefore helped me find the thing I love. My Nanna taught her these skills, and so crocheted blankets and hand-knitted jumpers were everywhere growing up, even if I didn’t realise it at the time. My Nanna taught me to make something well and to make it last, instilling in me my passion for mending and designing meaningful, heirloom knitwear. Knowing that the skills I use every day have been passed down to me through generations is incredibly meaningful - knitting connects me to them. I love sharing knitting with my Mum, discussing ideas, fixing each other’s mistakes, and choosing the colours for our next projects. I will always be grateful that she shared her skills with me.
9. What is your favourite colour?
It is so difficult to choose a favourite colour because the more colours I work with the more I love. Often it isn’t just the colours themselves, but the colour combinations and the way that two colours interact that I fall in love with. But since I have to choose, I think my favourite colour would probably be green: either a yellowy chartreuse green, or a deep mossy green. Coincidentally, I love these two colours together too!
Contact details
Email: grace.lawrence34@gmail.com
Instagram: @gracelawrencetextiles
Image credits
Photographer: Denisa Ilie & Grace Lawrence
Model: Fran Malone