Painted Papers

I chose two different Brusho greens - Leaf Green and Emerald but as I found them to be fairly similar I added Lemon so I could mix more of a lime green.

The reds I used were Scarlet and Brilliant Red.  Again, I found them to be similar so I diluted Scarlet by 100% and also mixed 1 part scarlet and 1 part Brilliant Red.  I'm not sure why this combination has come out much darker than the two individual colours - I think I might have added a little more Brilliant Red powder to strengthen the mix.

I then began painting a selection of papers including newsprint, tissue, cartridge, brown paper etc and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I'm afraid I found it too frustrating to try and record what I was doing as I was having too much fun, but I made sure I painted lots of papers in good quantities so I feel I have plenty to work with. I worked spontaneously with the colours and the papers and I know I would not have painted so many if I had had to keep stopping to write up recipes and methods.

I have cut strips and sandwiched them together to show the range of papers I have created.  Some of the techniques I have used include painting with a sponge brush, sponging, spraying with water, sandwiching wet papers together to transfer colours, and painting a second colour on top of the first colour after it has dried.

I think I have a wide enough range of colours and effects and I am now looking forward to printing on them and cutting them up.

Asymmetrical Cross Shapes

Module 1 - Chapter 2

1 & 2 Details from a Tiffany lamp shade

                                    

3.  Crossed kitchen utensils

As part of her feedback Sian asked me to find or contrive some more asymmetrical cross shapes.  I photographed details from a Tiffany lampshade and laid out some kitchen utensils on the floor but these did not inspire me.

Then I spotted my husband's guitar propped against the wall!

Here were lots of previously 'unnoticed crosses', so I grabbed my camera and photographed sections of the guitar from unusual angles and created a collage of the results.

4.  Guitar collage

I really liked these images so I traced and simplified the individual sections to see what 'crosses' I had discovered.    

5.  Tracings from collage

                   

I have decided to run with the shapes in the bottom, right hand image and after I paint some papers, my next task will be to create a stamp from this design.

Brainstorm - Cross Shapes

Module 1 - Chapter 2

1.  Words/expressions relating to crosses

2. Why crosses and where?

I actually created these pages at the outset of the module but didn't think to photograph them to put on the blog.  As I am now closely analysing my crosses to select the shapes that are most suitable for stamping and printing, I thought it would be appropriate to include them here.  These were my initial thoughts about crosses - words, expressions, why crosses rather than stars and finally sources of cross shapes.

A Weaving in Red and Green

Module 1 - Chapter 2

We have been doing a lot of decorating recently and as a result have accumulated a large quantity of paint colour charts.  Rather than throw them away I decided to cut out strips from the red and green sections and weave them together.  I really like the effect and feel there is scope for further experimentation e.g. greater variety in the width of the strips, incorporating plain and patterned strips, allowing one colour to dominate more, increase the range of shades and tints of each colour, one colour only in each direction.... and so on....................lots of possibilities I think!

A Visual Feast

Module 1 - Chapter 2

I was pottering in my garden today and suddenly noticed the amazing range of red/green leaves on my Hydrangea bush, so I picked some of the prettiest leaves to photograph. I just love the mix of bright raspberry pinks through to the deepest plum tones and the greens which almost look rusty with the addition of red.  What a feast for the eyes!

My Favourite Complementary Colours

Module 1 - Chapter 2

I have chosen to work with red and green as this is my favourite pair of complementary colours. These are the classic Christmas colours - fir trees, ivy, poinsettias and holly bushes heavy with glossy red berries or the blood red roses, carnations and variegated geraniums of summertime.  Tomatoes, peppers, salad leaves, rosy apples, raspberries, strawberries and fiery chillies bring red and green to the table.  Here is a collage to illustrate red and green.  It contains hand painted papers, magazine images, scrapbooking papers, paint swatches and photographs.

Complementary Colours

Module 1 - Chapter 1

Vibration is the visual phenomenon caused by using complementary colours in equal quantities and usually occurs at the point where the colours meet.  It is an unsettling effect where the eye becomes confused and does not know which colour to focus on and because of this the colours can appear to move (vibrate).  It is better therefore to allow one colour to dominate the scheme and use less of its complement.

I painted swatches of yellow/purple, green/red and orange/blue.  The swatches on the top row show the colours edge to edge in equal quantities to demonstrate vibration. In the centre row the lighter colours have been painted in the larger squares, whereas in the bottom row the lighter colours have been painted in the smaller squares.  

I prefer the swatches in the bottom row where the darker colours dominate, possibly because they possess greater visual weight and seem more balanced and pleasing to the eye - well to my eye anyway!

Complementary Colours

Module 1 - Chapter 1

I have painted pairs of complementary colours - yellow/purple, red/green and blue/orange and blended each pair together in the middle. When  complements are mixed together they create dark neutral greys which look more natural and less dirty than greys made by adding black.

Line Drawings

Module 1 - Chapter 1

These are the line drawings I have taken from my ‘crosses’ research.  I have no idea which shapes are going to be the best ones to take forward to the next chapter of the module although I feel I would like to combine a curvy shape and an angular shape as this would provide the best of both worlds.  However, Will that work……………………………don’t know?

1.

1.  I really like the broken window drawing but I’m not sure how I could develop this into a shape/design for printing.  I feel the angular cross/star design in the centre has a lot more mileage but would probably need to be simplified.  The stained glass window could maybe work ………………….not sure.  The curved cross pendant could be interesting as it only symmetrical in one direction - I can see the possibility of lots of patterns radiating out from the centre using this shape.

2.

2.  I love the folded paper cross shape in the centre and I would like to use this.  I also find the curvy cross from the distorted reflections interesting but again – not sure how to develop it.  I think the circular cross at the top would make a good string print but could possibly be a bit samey when repeated.

3.

3.  I love the tangled tree roots but have no idea where to go with it!  The drain cover is also interesting - could look good but I wonder if the unconnected shapes might look bitty in repeat.  I think all the shapes in this page are useable with some adaptation.

The Colour Wheel

Module 1 - Chapter 1


Here is the colour wheel I painted with Reeves Gouache.  I like precision tasks so I enjoyed this very much.  I think I am going to choose green and red for my pair of complementary colours as it is a favourite combination of mine, often seen in nature – think of holly, red roses or a poppy field and it is wonderful how bright red ‘sings’ against a green backdrop.    I really love the drama of complementary colours so I am looking forward to painting some papers at the weekend when I have a bit more time. 

My ‘Crosses’ Research

Module One - Chapter One


Here are my research pages for ‘Crosses’.  I enjoyed looking for these images and ended up with so many I found it impossible to reduce them to just two A4 pages.

1.                                  

1.  I love some of the images on this collage, particularly the window frame around the broken window and the distorted reflections which produce asymmetrical, curvy crosses.  I also find the twisted vine branches really interesting – it’s as if they have been tied in a knot.  The rubbings were taken from a basket weave chair and a drain cover.

2.                                     

2.  This collage contains photographs of an encaustic tiled floor from a little church just outside Grasmere in the Lake District and a beautiful, contemporary stained glass window from a church in Nazareth.  The intricate metal design at top left is my neighbour’s front door mat – I think this would make a lovely quilting pattern.  The other images were found on the Internet.

3.                                    

3.  Another collage including more Internet images, another stained glass window from Nazareth, twisted roots against a wall, a metal structure – part of a bridge I think, a needlepoint cushion, a fractal and another rubbing from a drain cover.  Most of these images are symmetrical apart from the roots, bridge and the stained glass window.  I must admit, I found it much more difficult to find asymmetrical items.

 4.                           

 

4.  This set of images contains a photograph I took at a quilt show years ago, another fractal which I think looks like an exotic sea creature, some traditional tile patterns and a tattoo design.  I have also included some very interesting folded paper crosses which I found on the Internet.  I love their three-dimensional quality and would like to explore this further at some point in the course.

Tomorrow I will post my line drawings and my colour wheel………………………………….too tired tonight!

I’ve Done It – I’ve Set Up My Blog!

It’s taken a bit of time but at last I’ve managed to set up my blog and I will posting some work very soon.  It’s been fun trying out all the different templates, colours and settings but I finally decided on something quite simple so that the blog design doesn’t compete with the work I want to post.  I’ve looked at lots of Distant Stitch blogs recently and I have been so impressed with the stunning work that is being produced – I only hope I can maintain the high standard.

At the moment I am sorting out my research images for ‘crosses’ and painting a colour wheel.  However, I am really looking forward to getting deeper into the first module and feel very excited at the prospect of painting, cutting, sticking and stamping not to mention stitching, bonding and slashing – sheer heaven!

Watch this space........................