I found these images of typical maori tattoos on the following website: http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoo_museum/history.html

I have found this site particularly useful! Its gives a detailed insight into tattooing history of many different tribes....

Below i have started to experiment by drawing tribal pattern onto magazines...

Tribal tattoos....

A few images i found whilst researching the history of tribal tattoos...

In particular i find the tatoos and markings of the Maori tribe fascinating...

I really like the simplicity of the tattoo in the image above of a Maori Noble Woman. It has made me consider how markings and pattern can be used in an understated way but still create impact.

Experimentation with mudmask /aqua colour mixture on the face and hair...

Mud masks..

Using mud masks on the face i found was much more effective than using flour and water as it dried on the skin creating a really interesting cracked and patchy texture. I scratched into the surface using a stick and also stuck the webbed fabric onto the mud mask whilst wet to create a new and exciting texture which reminds me of scales..

Once the mud mack had dried fully i painted over it using Supra colour....

and added white line...

 By Layering the materials and painting over the dried mud i was able to create a really textural surface on the face, applying the paint and mud in a quick way enabled the scratched marks to show through...

 I Found these fabrics in Fabric land, they all reminded me of tribal dress and pattern... i particularly was attracted to the orange stripe design for its warm tones and rich colours, it almost reminds me of a sunset!

 I chose this fabric as i thought it would create a really interesting pattern if layered on the face or hair with other materials...the patterning of it reminded me of a cracked and dry ground...

These images of The Suri Tribe of South West Ethiopia i found on Pinterest/Flickr. The use of colour and line really drew me in, i love the contrast between the bright orange and the rich skin tone of the boy in the image above.

This image is one of my favourite so far! This Tribal boy has applied mud to hydrate and toughen the skin. Altho not used for aesthetic purposes i find the textural quality of the surface really fascinating and i love how you can still see the skin around the eyes. It reminds me of the image i took of the cracked dry ground whilst in Monument Valley! 

The idea of using spots or dots is really simple but very striking, they have been applied here in a haphazard and inaccurate way which is very effective. Below i have begun to experiment with black and white and have painted the face black using Aqua color and applied dots and pattern over the top using white. 

I definitely want to incorporate dots into my designs but i need to experiment with different  materials and apply the aqua colour thickly to create a completely black surface which will result in a more striking look...

Here i have started to experiment with texture and mark making by scratching into sand paper, below i used a mixture of flour, water and ground coffee granuals to create a paste. I found it to be a bir too wet and the marks did not show up as i had hoped!

I attempted to make a thicker paste that would set on the face, this time using icing sugar and cocoa powder which is alot more effective. I applied it quickly and thickly using my fingers and again  i used a cocktail stick to scratch into the surface which created really interesting texture and line.

Here i started to experiment with texture and mark making by scratching into sand paper to create patterns....

Below i used a mixture of flour, water and ground coffee granules to create a paste, however i found the mixture a little too wet and so the marks were not as clear as i'd hoped

I used the paste on my face to create lines and texture using a cockail stick..

A few tribes that initially catch my eye...

Wodabe Tribe - I really like The simple use of one bold colour - The yellow creates a beautiful contrast to the natural skin tones- i love how in some areas of the face the colour bleeds into the skin and is more subtle. I find i am naturally drawn towards the eyes...

               


Brazilian Indian tribe....

Again the use of one colour on the face is very striking, the way in which it is applied gives it a mask like effect on the face. Its also made me think about the hair and how it is just as important to the look as the makeup..



Kikuyu tribe.....

Painting the face first creates a new dynamic to the makeup....the lines become alot bolder and contrast the pattern painted over the top. Layering of colour and changing the colour of the skin before applying design is something i would like to experiment with.

Sense of place...

Setting a scene for my looks is really important as it will help me to encapsulate a sense of place for my designs...these are just a few of the images from my monument valley trip that have inspired me to think about the use colour, texture and materials..

The pigments of colour in the landscape and the vivid orange and earthy tones of the rock made this location astounding and for me the patterns of the and textures earth, sand and rock are visually really exciting. The connection between nature/ natural material and tribes is really important as they use nature to source the materials for thier costumes and body paint.

TEXTURE!!!

These symbolic etchings were created by the tribe thousands of years ago - i want to continue to look into different etchings and markings made by different tribes and how they use symbolism and pattern.

Navajo..

A few pics of my experience.....

Although the Navajos didn't wear makeup i wanted to include these pics of the costumes they made as general inspiration for my choice of materials-i found the mix of textures and loud colours particularly exciting and loved the use of fringing and feathers , particularly in the head  dress! 

Starting point

It is natural for me when thinking about the Tribal theme to think back to my own experiences and places i have been/seen. My first point of reference is my visit to Monument Valley last year and watching the Navajo tribes dance and perform in front of us. The thing that struck me the most was the colour and vibrancy of their costumes, how they came alive when they danced. Not only were their costumes impressive but surrounding they lived in - the most beautiful bright orange sea of rocks and textures. Creating a sense of place and setting will help me develop my ideas - i want to look into colours and textures of the environment, and maybe in some way try to incorporate this into my designs! 

The project brief:Wild Kingdom

So the theme Wild kingdom conjures up an array of exciting and vibrant images! The possibility to experiment is endless - its all about colour, texture and expression and i cant wait to get stuck in! There are so many references that can be tied in to the tribal theme. I'm excited to discover how i am going to  incorporate the idea of transformation - looking forward to pushing the boundaries and thinking outside the box :)