Revised Collection Process

On the first stretch of the walk I processed all the plants at each stage by first colour sampling with Adobe Kuler and then identifying and drawing them. The problem with this was that I was simply naming my colour samples 'plant1' increasing numerically within each location. I was also colour sampling plants that I might not go on to draw and analyse. Because I soon found that doing so with all the plants that I had documented was far too ambitious. It was far more feasible to choose three or four of the most interesting plants and analyse them in greater depth. I have found that the analysis of said plants springs naturally from my observations and personal views about a plants structure, colour and general impression. Writing this down has really helped crystallise my thoughts. So, by trial and error I have found the best method is to colour sample and identify at the beginning, while selecting the plants that I want to go on and draw. This way it doesn't take up to two weeks to process all the information that is collected in one walk. 

The image above shows the material from just one six mile walk. As you can see, it is a lot of material. Because I previously underestimated the amount of work I was giving myself I have decided to cut down to three walks. Totalling about twenty miles as a complete stretch. The three consecutive walks I have chosen have an interesting and varying botany that acts as a great cross section of the norfolk coast line.

Adobe Kuler

Aftermy first stretch of the walk I found that a lot of the rings I was noticing was colour based, so I needed a way to document the colours in a way that was fast and effective. I have decided to use Adobe Kuler.

It works through the camera of my phone and you can select the colours you want from a scene to make a colour scheme. I can then use this colour scheme in my designs by importing them into illustrator and photoshop.

I am going to use this not only to collect the colours of the landscapes but of the individual plants as well.

Methods of Collection

Once I had decided on coastal plants I got out a number of maps of the Norfolk coast and decided on limiting my sample area to a length of beach starting at Hunstanton that could be split in to a number of six mile walks.

It also occurred to me that the maps themselves are beautiful designs and could be used in my final presentation of my research as well as my collection.

For the first stretch we would be walking from Hunstanton and Thornham. Because it would be odd to just collect samples and images at random I decided to mark each mile in the route and stop at each to take photos of the locations and the dominant flora of the area. 

I ensured that the walk mostly made use of the coast path as an outline but also tried to hit both the beach and the cliff tops to get the variety of the plants.

Organisation and Collection of Research

Once I had decided on botany as a subject matter I needed to focus down on a small area within Botany to be my subject. I produced the flowing mind map you can see below. I started by looking at what exactly I anted to learn, which was about what makes plants different and the many methods of identification. I looked at first all the different aspects of plant I could look into in the first mind map and how this could limit my research in the second.

Because the idea of location seemed a productive area brought up by the first mind map, I started a second mind map to come up with a way that I could limit my research through location. By looking at what changes in location mean for plant and which tend to flourish in certain areas, I came up with the idea of looking at coastal plants specifically. I think that in norfolk particularly the varied geological and weather conditions mean that I have an amazing cross section of this kind of botany very near by.

The Subject of My Research

I have always had an interest in Botany but have never had the chance to really learn about it in any detail. Plant forms in general are a huge resource for design inspiration, not only in their structure but in their uses and what they represent in many different cultures because of the properties they have. I think they are fascinating. I am also aware that when looking back at my work from the last year, my use of colour was extremely limited. Seeing as colour forms such a large part of plants and their shape and identification I want to try and use this project to make myself really examine colour and how to use it. I also want to learn about identifying plants and the different environments they grow in.