brittle stars

after experimenting with digital pattern-making through my ammonite illustrations, I decided to explore other abstract forms to create a recurring pattern. The brittle stars were ideal due to their uncanny shape - the tendrils looking 'made up' or simply placed however I want, yet simultaneously following the biology and natural shaping seen in the fossils, e.g. each star having five points. I was able to delve deeper into digital print making - making sure to format this design in a way that I could easily move individual stars around and change colours if needed to. Subsequently I utilised 2 different formations and 3 colour schemes with my brittle star illustrations. I aimed for a variety, both highly saturated colour and pastels, compared to darker, earthy tones (basing each scheme off of my previous colour ways). I also considered the repetition of the pattens - when physically pasted onto a larger scale how does the print align? I tried to emulate this in the placement of my printed copies, to varying success. Due to the abstracted mature of these forms, as well as digitally I also explored their unique forms through sculpture, building up tendrils with tinfoil and masking tape. I aimed to create an array of stars that could link together - almost like chainmail - to become a 'textile', though the piece would remain largely sculptural. I also experimented with adding colour to the sculpture, taking influence from my pastel palette, utilising hues of pale green on some of the creatures.