Personal Evaluation

Looking back at when we first got the brief and started the course I didn’t think my skills would get as far as they have done. I am confident in what I have achieved and overcome throughout this first term.

When I was partnered with George I was nervous on what I was going to be able to achieve due to the shortness of his hair. However, I am really glad I was partnered up with him as we have worked tremendously well and I feel my skills on working on a male have enhanced greatly as I had never had the chance to work on a man before.

The difficulties I found I have overcome are the basic sectioning of the hair, making sure the the 'rats' have been put in the right place and getting the whole look even, I did seem to struggle with this at the beginning, but found that after practice and confidence in myself building that I have achieved this; through my work I have shown the skills that we have been taught. 

It was hard at the begging also when partnered with George, as I feel that he wasn't confident enough and got a bit stuck in his head but, however, its nothing that couldn't be sorted, we always communicated so if there was a problem we would try and sort it out then and there so we understood each others doubts and fears. I feel this has also helped in the long run as the end result for both of us have I think been great.

It has been brilliant learning new techniques working on different hair types and getting the traditional looks we have researched and creating something new from our imagination; just through the means of research and testing them out in the class.

If I could do anything again with my design it would have been to try and stick to my original idea of using a larger ship instead of using two small ships as an accessory; I have no other changes I would make to the actual hair design as I feel very confident on how it looked and how it kept the traditional feel of Elizabethan beauty. 

Overall, I am happy with the look that I had created and how George portrayed this in my hair and vice-versa; we overcame our fears and struggles and managed to create two beautiful new looks for the New Elizabethan era.

My Design

Georges Design

Final assessment me as Artist George as Designer

Timed Assessment

As it was time to change roles, for me to be the artist and take on Georges design it was quite nerve raking to be under so much pressure to get he design on point as he wanted. I then new how he felt when doing my hair.

When George showed me his design I was quite taken aback, due to the amount of things he wanted done and as he had such short hair I didn’t think I could do it. However, George went a brought hair extensions to add the the piece so I could have something to work with.

As we had test runs to go though his design to found what we could and couldn’t do, I feel that helped me hugely when I had to do his hair.

The main difficulties where trying to get the hair extensions in the right place and to make sure there was enough of his natural hair to cover the clips. It was also difficult to add the hair extension at the back of his head as there was a lot of gel to stick his normal hair down but also intertwine it with the hair extension. Was a bit of a nightmare for me.

However, as we did a test run the night before I found it boosted my confidence in his hair design. We laid out all the things I found difficult and then worked on them until we got it all right. He gave me clear instructions about the process which in the end result, I hope shows this.

Two Final images

Final Assessment George as Artist me as Designer

The Assessment

George was my partner in crime in this assessment; As the artist, George took on my concept well and stuck to my process sheet I had created in the assessment. He took all that was taught in class to my design very well and the outcome was better than expected.

As the pressure of time was getting to him he did panic when putting the bun in place, however it still came out very well.

  

The difficulties in doing my hair design was trying to get the 'rats' in the right place and trying to make sure there was enough room for my hair accessory, the ships. I feel that after we had practiced this in class and after class he became more confident in my design and it enhanced his skills too.

We found that from doing test runs we could tweak the design to make sure the ships could be seen but make sure the headband was covered too, and that it intertwined with my natural hair.

The only faults that I found in the assessment where that the positioning of the 'rats' where a bit too high than I actually intended them to be; George did fix this in the assessment by placing the ships a tad higher on my head.

Overall, I feel that as George and myself where a good team, we helped each other out on how to get the right structure and apply the right process that we have been taught. The outcome was fantastic and I feel very proud of George on getting my design how I wanted it, and myself on creating a contemporary Elizabethan look.

 

The Final two Images

These are the two images that I have chosen for my final submission as they show the front and back of the head, to show my design in all its glory! 

St Georges Flag Influence

The famous legend of Saint George is of him slaying a dragon. When looking into this further the dragon was commonly used to represent the devil. 

There are many versions of story of St George slaying the dragon, but most agree on the following:

1. A town was terrorised by a dragon.
2. A young princess was offered to the dragon
3. When George heard about this he rode into the village
4. George slayed the dragon and rescued the princess

The Legend of St. George and the Dragon 

 Story taken from webpage -

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stgeorge2.html

"St. George travelled for many months by land and sea until he came to Libya. Here he met a poor hermit who told him that everyone in that land was in great distress, for a dragon had long ravaged the country.

'Every day,' said the old man, 'he demands the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden and now all the young girls have been killed. The king's daughter alone remains, and unless we can find a knight who can slay the dragon she will be sacrificed tomorrow. The king of Egypt will give his daughter in marriage to the champion who overcomes this terrible monster.'

When St. George heard this story, he was determined to try and save the princess, so he rested that night in the hermit's hut, and at daybreak set out to the valley where the dragon lived. When he drew near he saw a little procession of women, headed by a beautiful girl dressed in pure Arabian silk. The princess Sabra was being led by her attendants to the place of death. The knight spurred his horse and overtook the ladies. He comforted them with brave words and persuaded the princess to return to the palace. Then he entered the valley.

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stgeorge2.html

As soon as the dragon saw him it rushed from its cave, roaring with a sound louder than thunder. Its head was immense and its tail fifty feet long. But St. George was not afraid. He struck the monster with his spear, hoping he would wound it.

The dragon's scales were so hard that the spear broke into a thousand pieces. and St. George fell from his horse. Fortunately he rolled under an enchanted orange tree against which poison could not prevail, so that the venomous dragon was unable to hurt him. Within a few minutes he had recovered his strength and was able to fight again.

He smote the beast with his sword, but the dragon poured poison on him and his armour split in two. Once more he refreshed himself from the orange tree and then, with his sword in his hand, he rushed at the dragon and pierced it under the wing where there were no scales, so that it fell dead at his feet."http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/stgeorge2.html

St. Georges Cross The History

About St George: 

• He was believed to have been born in Cappadocia a part of turkey, born into a Christian family in around the third century. 
• He was in the roman army, in the history books it states that the Emperor ordered the persecution of Christian, he refused and was tortured and executed in Palestine. 
• He was then later recognised as a Christian martyr. 
• The Legend of St George, in armour slaying a dragon and rescuing a fair maiden was in fact a medieval invention. 

Why is it that St George is associated with England:

• He was first talked about by St Adamnan in the seventh century, this information came from Abbot of iona who herd about St George from a French bishop clued Arcuif. 
• "His reputation began when he was returning crusaders said the saint had made a miraculous appearance and let them into battle at the siege of Antioch in 1098." -  http://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/58220/st-georges-day-why-england-wont-celebrate-its-patron-saint#ixzz3Jzceqow1
• They also passed down this legend of St George's dragon slaying to royal court.
• "When King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in around 1348, he placed it under St George's patronage, and at about the same time English soldiers were required to wear "a signe of Saint George" on their uniforms." - http://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/58220/st-georges-day-why-england-wont-celebrate-its-patron-saint#ixzz3Jzceqow1
• St George was also put in Shakespeare's version of King Henry V's speech to his troops before the battle of Agincourt: "Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George'."- http://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/58220/st-georges-day-why-england-wont-celebrate-its-patron-saint#ixzz3Jzceqow1

The reason I have been influenced by this story to incorporate it into my work it that it was a big part of our history and our country used to be very proud to fly this flag; most people our days see it as a bit common as it has been so overused at football games etc. 

However, as a proud English woman I wanted to be in the mindset up Elizabeth and show my pride though my work as she did in her portraits.

This can also be seen on my Elizabethan Make-up Blog: http://fms406sommerssnewelizabethans.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=f7641d6f22f10b47

Wiggle plait

The Process

1. Get a section of the hair.
2. Split into three.
3. Do a normal plait.
4. Get to parts of the plait and old the other.
5. And pull the two up together.
6. And pin back.
7. Done!

It gives a great effect to what is basically a normal plait. You don't see many people wearing this around but I feel it gives a great traditional look and would be good if it was in a film on a character!

I do think I will go for a different style though for my final piece as I want something a bit more extravagant!

Final Headpieces/ Accessories

As I am wanting to have something in the hair for my final piece, you can see below from the images what I had found to work with. 

It started with small pearls and jewels, as when looking at portraits from that time and Queen Elizabeths Portraits they where covered in beautiful jeeps and pearls. I was give some beautiful pins from my partner mother Debbie! 

They are royal looking and beautiful they fit with any design and I was going to actually have the blue gem with gold around it in my final piece but I though with the boats it would just be too much.

As to the boat idea it started from my finding this amazing boat at a flee market in Lewis, West Sussex; Its huge I think I was just too excited about the idea of it being a head piece and actually realised it wouldn't fin on my head and I didn't have enough hair to cover it! but I will have to use it in another project as My stepdad made it so it would fit on someone head… if they had enough hair!

The cap stuck to the bottom was made out of a plastic toy army hat! made me laugh! 

As I was getting worried about the size of the first ship I found I went on the hunt for a smaller version; Luckily there is a store in West Quay shopping centre in Southampton called Nauticella, that should small boats I would just need to but it on something to hold them to the head.

 I thought that I will try and create a small scene in the hair with the smaller boats. I didn't want them to be the natural colour so got some white spay and sprayed them white and attached them to a headband I had with glue, then I just got some hair given to me by Helen and rapped it around the band so it would hide the colour and match my his so it was easier to blend in.

As my idea as seemed from the Armarda Portrait, ?i wanted to include the St. Georges flag. So I painted this on the side of the ships and on one of the sails. 

The feathers where to create a wave effect and the influence came from the portraits colours in the painting Elizabeth had behind her. They are such rich colours, and I thing they will work perfectly with the white ships. 

As to the 'rats' I made these out of tights-socks and wadding from Fabric Land, I find this much better than using tissue as you can mould it better to the shape you require. I then got brown hair nets and rapped them round so it hinds the flesh colour more and it also help for the grip of the        booby pins that need to go in it to pin it to the hair.

To complete my full look I have made a ruffle out of curtain tape as it does give the authentic effect of the Elizabethan era! Plus I just love the ruffle!

Final Sketch & Test Run of My design and Georges Design

The Creation of my hair design for partner.

For my final sketch I have created a new elizabethan look but taking the traditional heart shape they wore; to created symbolism in a different way to how they presented their own I have made a head piece of boats. This is a new take on the Spanish Armarda portrait to show the strength of England in her hair! 

The process

1. Start with sectioning a middle parting.
2. Section the front of the hair line into four sections left and right.
3. Curl these sections.
4. Crimp 8 in section from the middle of the head to the ear on left and right side of head so just this section is crimped.
5. Pin the rest of the hair at the back of the head back.
6. To create the anchor for the rat, plait from the middle of the head to the ear and pin in place on left and right side.
7. Back comb the back section of the crimped section.
8. Rap the back combed hair around the rat.
9. Then take the normal crimped hair and rap this to round the rat and pin in place.
10. Get the ship head band and put in place behind the heart shape.
11. Pull the hair over the head band.
12. Put the back of the hair in a pong tail.
13. Then put into a bun by sectioning it into 4 sections and back combing the inside of the hair and turning around your finger and pinning in place.
14. Once the hair has been done add the feathers into the bun so it pops through in-between the boats.
15. Then pin the curls at the front in place to create a wave effect and hairspray all in place.

List of products and materials used

Hair heating tools

• Small curling tongs.
• Crimping tongs.
• Straighteners.

Accessories

• Bobby pins.
• Open ended pins.
• Pearls.
• 'Rats' – tights & wadding/ tissue.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiVqTSbHR4_JfXZX7S4VUaHzIu0KxYcnodlr7T3Y8QOsz0ETcYJ8uhHFf5nGO5UG-HCZXJsP8eQfEZMlqAivTPmNdKp9GofdmGWlqH2sk8Nno8hDY_QUxqZ0RYOGMRI3OhymgSZu2mQU/s1600/3.9.13.jpg

http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m1tRVhZIZjqFUupfQe-CfIQ.jpg

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/system/product_images/images/000/129/150/original_pearl_hair_pins.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O5EO9maUDFb3dP0Anv35Gr7tuiMK0V9OCdW4FaQrciLJFOCgdmurWlCtG1yOvvz8mH8QCskaP7OIDyRN94HlxD8IJbB9ytrSxRGo82xOPEmioEvKDnbbDpEmbTRQqm2OcBweN1AVuvA/s1600/master-class-0511-6-de.jpg

http://hellogiggles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/15/bobby-pins.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71MyvuO8BoL._SL1500_.jpg

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mq-TAYzefAdqzXrO4VZl1Ow.jpg

http://d1pxffhcwa1qe0.cloudfront.net/resources/product/product_34984/generic-913A83182867/generated/the-crimper-titanium-expanded.jpg

Test Run of my Design

We have been able to more than one test run but these images show the best one. George has got so much better in grasping my design and the process on how to achieve it. As i have labelled out everything he needs to do it has made it a lot easier for him to follow.

I feel ver confident before the assessment as George has done a fantastic job!

Bring on the assessment!!

Test Run of George's Design 

With Georges design i find it has been a bit of a nightmare but I have followed his instructions and it has got better each time. The image you see below is the final test run and I feel it went very well.

Still doesn't change how nervous I am about the whole thing but I am trying to stay confident for Georges sake!


With spray on orange hearts:

Without spay on orange hearts:

My Designs & Sketches

When bring to create the final look I wanted to keep some of the traditional techniques that they uses like frizzing. Like you can see in my first sketch I was looking at frizzing all of the hair putting it in a middle parting and having  two ponytails but pinning the hair over them so it looked like a 'rat' was in there but its really all the hair. Also with the accessories have pearls pinned all over and one on the head.

The other look in the bottom left hand corner was to have very exaggerated hair really tall and crimped. With minimal accerories, feathers and a gem.

The last one in the right bottom corner I think will be my final design in to have a traditional heart shape at the front alternate curls pinned in and boats at the back of the head as I really like the portrait of the Spanish Armada!

I feel that each look is really strong but the one that has a balance of traditional and new is the last idea.

The One Portrait that influences me for Final Design

QUEEN ELIZETH I (1533-1603)

The Armada Portrait, c.1588.  Attributed to George Gower (c.1546-1596)

c1588, unknown artist

http://www.marileecody.com/eliz1-images.html 

For my final hair design I have been heavily influenced by this portrait, this is due to the whole story behind it and the symbolism that it contains.

This portrait is my all time favourites, I always find it hard to believe that the artist it not know, as this in such a iconic, symbolic and historic work of art.

Symbolism is everything in the image:
Pearls - symbolises her purity which decorates the head and gown. 

Imperial crown - symbolises her regin and power on the thrown and that she is the mistress of the land and sea.

Globe -  her fingers have been strategically placed upon the Americas.

Background paintings - This clearly shows the defeat of the Spanish Armada, in 1588, This shows her power as the Spanish Armada where one of the biggest navel fleets at the time and it was really a slap in the face to them and it was a big embarrassment to the Spanish! I find that absolutely brilliant!

Pearl necklace - This was given to her by Robert Dudley, it was his last gift to her, I think this represents that her heart is forever guarded.

http://fms406sommerssnewelizabethans.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2014-11-10T04:29:00-08:00&max-results=7

 I am going to try and recreate the Spanish Armada panting that is in the background of the portrait, in the hair. I want to do this by getting a boat or two small boats and attaching them into the hair; I also love the use of colour within the right hand painting the blues show the dramatic sea in the battle, I will use coloured feathers to create the sea. With the remaining hair I will keep the traditional heart shape and bun at the back.

Instead of the symmetric curls running along the front of her head I will have them representing waves and be at different levels.

Contemporary Headpieces

When looking at contemporary headpieces  you can see they have the Elizabethan feel, these images I have secreted below are my favourites and I feel that will influence my final design.

I really love the Ship headpieces and was thinking of doing a new take on Queen Elizabeths 'Spanish Armada' Portrait.

I also love the use of pearls, pining them in around the hair piece gives it that classic Elizabethan feel.

I think I will using a combination of pearls and ships and feathers in my final design.

Links for image:
Instagram- ophelia_overdose
dannymavieelias
bubblegothprincess
ihajar
nellyrecchia
Patmcgrathreal
Pintrest.com x9

Traditional Headpieces

Pearls where very 'in' at the time, only for the people who could afford it mind you!

http://0.static.wix.com/media/64ea7c_7b3bf9d97921b3b6d7c819f9e49e654d.jpg_1024

The Queen did love to accessorise and wore lots of pearls in her hair dos!

http://www2.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/images/QueenEliz

Feathers where also worn for status and to be pleasing to the eye. It gave a definition to the hair look and added hight. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJmFjGetIJGBEOMDe_h-bEPOOQPsRetdnKFM1LjWBjuHGlziJCOrA0gNmwpGE944uqWYrTfGcnCAinlwNMKlKFNc85jCKhnInqv_VETaUyDNLRXlRWPfEyevDPqYQFOjcFA1gQCWyXBoe/s1600/137394_1225897772972_full.jpg

http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkmoz1KjBa1qizjaso1_400.jpg

Jewels in the hair represented wealth and power, Elizabeth I wore many head to toe!

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=1251751

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/08/59/33/085933236232de0d96387ee0a94c572f.jpg

Hats and Elizabethan forms of hats where worn as a fashion symbol along with matching garments. 

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/6d/e8/16/6de8169e084db3d7e2797c5fea83962c.jpg
https://www.etsy.com/listing/83465075/renaissance-boleyn-court-tudor-dress

Elizabeth wore many crowns embellished with pearls and gems this was to show her wealth and power  and fashion.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d4/4b/00/d44b005da3ce7ebd4caac45bab0b7e3f.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jackthecat/279842050/

Ribbons would have been worn for decretive purposes and it just fit in with the fashion.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ba/68/4a/ba684ac7ceed9366c11d2379df714183.jpg

http://babesinhairland.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2772L.jpg