Design for dinner service



These photographs of Japanese trees were taken this spring when I had the good fortune to go to Kyoto, Japan. I love trees especially the ones with twisting branches. Close to my house there are oak trees with contorting limbs. I enjoy watching the changes over the seasons.

These photos were used as an inspiration when I was commissioned by my uni to produce some dinner set designs based on the uni logo, a connected bud and leaf. The project is now in its final stages. The brief requested an oriental feel to the design, which is when I thought of using these photographs.

I wanted the final design to convey what it felt like to be at uni, running against the wind, holding on to course structure and especially fellow students, working to grow from bud to leaf and eventually let go and flow your own path.

Soup plate with guide.

I really enjoyed doing this project, working with people who were clear about their expectation, open to suggestions and respectful of creativity. It felt good to be an artist (or at least an art student). Especially since I didn't manage to steal enough time away from family to endulge much in creative work apart from cooking!

1 comment:

Marjojo said...

Beautiful! Love the sense of gentle movement, the curves in branches and leaves (the latter are a bit like smiling mouths at first glance). The way the design stays in the white circle and then branches out into the blue centre is lovely. A great sense of calm and contentment pervades, of staying in the moment, but also of something eternal/universal.
Thanks for your perceptive comments about my work! Will look up the wyrd sisters, have already dug out my Macbeth...