Project Five
Creatures
December 2021 These textile sculptures inspired by John Murphy each have a story and personality. The techniques used are from Murphy’s book: “Stupid Sock Creatures”. The lovable creatures created are reminiscent of my creative youth and my brother, who enjoyed making sock creatures in our childhood. I aspired to create my own little sock creatures using socks and their personalities. Each creature has a backstory and aspirations. Some were even made with the intent of being given to someone. |
Inspiration
I was heavily inspired by John Murphy and his creations in Stupid Sock Creatures. The book contains instructions for making eight different sock creatures. Along with patterns for the the creatures there are description of each little monster. Throughout the book there is visual examples of how to cut and sew each part. The start of the book contains instructions for creating legs, arms, necks, ears, mouths, tongues and other details. |
All of the creatures shown have detailed explanations and clarification of their patterns. These were what inspired the patterns for my own creatures. Many of Murphy’s creations have lips and odd eyes to add to their personality. The imperfections of each adds to the character of each creature, which I find endearing. |
Planning
As a child I was very creative, and also was my brother. He found great interest in making fabric animals, he then found the Stupid Sock Creatures book. His interest in the strange plush creatures soon my interest as well. From Murphy’s book I used to techniques and visuals for inspiration and I did not replicate any of his creatures. I started with pinpointing what elements I like about Murphy’s work. I concluded that I enjoy the really odd configured ones with multiple limbs or different face shapes, as well as the derpy looking ones. Along with scratching what elements of Murphy’s sock creatures I like, I also sketched my own plans for my creature. The connection between the general elements of Murphy’s works is clear in my sketches. On the planning pages for my creatures I labeled what parts of what kinds of socks would be used for them. Additionally, the creatures possible alterations are detailed along with cloth designs for a possible project. Detailed is their names, interests, dislikes, hobbies, who they will be going to, and personalities—just like Murphy details in his book. |
Experimentation
This was the first time I formed my own characters, I was unsure on how to make their personalities come through in their designs. I achieved this with odd shapes along with eye choice and placement. For one of my jokester character I used two different sized eyes spaced far apart to show its silly personality. Before I have made very basic, and poorly crafted, sock creatures in the past, I brushed up on my hand sewing techniques. I learned/re-learned the running stitch, back stitch, ladder stitch, whip stitch, and blanket stitch. I used all of these stitches to create my five creatures. I mostly utilized the running and ladder stitch. I also experimented with creating forms not shown by my inspiration. |
Process
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I first started with Dio (bottom right) and collected his two socks and one glove. I cut for even slits, two on his front and two on his back. I then used the second sock to cut the toe is half for the four legs. I used a running stitch to connect the body to the legs. I used the ladder stitch to form his mouth. I then used the running stitch to attach the glove on his head. I then made Tabitha, Affton, Maj, and Shoomy with all of the same techniques for the legs. I used one sock for the body and the legs. I cut the socks down the middle about two to two and a half inches, inside outed them and sewed the legs with the running stitch.
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Then for these four creature I also did the same techniques for the arms. I used the toes of other socks, cut them down the middle, flipped them, and used the running stitch to close them. To connect the arms to the bodies I used the ladder stitch so the seems would not be seen. For Tabitha I used one sock per ear on her, attaching with the ladder stitch. Then for Maj I rotated a heel of a sock for its face. For Affton two gloves were used to make its face, which I connected together with the running stitch. Then with Shoomy I had to problem-solve with its mushroom top head. Using the toe and band of a sock I used tapering of the bands to create a dome shape for the head.
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Reflection
Critique
ACT Responses
1) Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration? 3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration? 4) What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research? 5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research? |
Bibliography
https://fivepointsgraphics.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/artist-spotlight-john-murphy-stupid-creatures/
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