This module is entitled 'Creative Conservation' and will take me through the study of colours within sea and sky whilst exploring different drawing techniques to produce exciting mixes of colour and texture which will be translated into machine embroidery on interesting fabrics, including the use of water soluble fabrics to create wonderful lacey effects.I'll be working towards a final piece looking at the theme of conservation.
I started by researching water and sky scapes putting together some of my own photographs. I looked for interesting colour combinations and textural effects including water surfaces e.g. ripples, icy effects, waves, reflections, frothy bubbles and cloud formations. I live in Brighton and so have included some of my photographs showing the demise of the West Pier which was a most beautiful structure now collapsing into the sea.
I also researched paintings by artists and textile artists who have featured sky and water effects as sources of their inspiration.
I have uploaded my sketchbook pages below showing images of my work plus the accompanying notes.
Introduction - Photographic research and images
This gorgeous painterly sunrise comes by courtesy of my fellow Distant Stitcher Julia Green.
Thank you!
And another from Google Search
And my own beautiful seaside sunset in Brighton
Chapter 1 - Drawing methods
This chapter involves the use of colour and textures seen in my reference images to investigate drawing techniques to show texture and small scale patterns. I've used a selection of drawing implements including coloured pencils, oil and chalk pastels, wax crayons, oil paint sticks, Neocolour Aquarelle, Inktense sticks and crayons, felt tip pens.
Experiments with Sgrafitto
Sgrafitto is the application of two layers of colour and the top layer scratched away to reveal the colour underneath.
Experiments with Frottage
Frottage is the use of textured and patterned surfaces to create rubbings. I used a selection of surfaces from around the house which were very effective but also made some of my own by sticking card shapes to a bottom layer of paper
I used some of the grid samples from Module 3 for rubbing but also made some of my own as below:
Resist methods
I used a selection of drawing implements which are water resistant to make marks and then applied a wash of coloured inks to reveal beautiful patterns.
I didn't feel happy with the results of the sgrafitto, frottage or resist methods. I realised that although some of the colours I used were appropriate to my research images some weren't.
I decided to revisit these techniques.
Colour chart to concentrate my mind
Sgrafitto re-visited
Frottage re-visited
Resist revisited - I used the Frottage technique when applying the oil crayons to produce some interesting textural effects.
I was especially pleased with this one - oil pastels and coloured inks resist.
This feels so much better and makes more sense! Very pleased with these.
Discharge techniques
I applied bleach to various ink products using a range of implements, bleach will remove colour when applied to dried inks. Lovely results!
I always find this technique fascinating but I really loved the combination of Quink and other inks when they reacted to the bleach with some surprising colour effects.
Transparent surfaces
The application /sponging of emulsion or acrylic paint to a shiny or transparent surface such as tracing paper or cellophane was new to me and absolutely fascinating as the surface didn't absorb the paint leaving beautiful textures. Sandwiches of cellophane were then filled with acrylic paint, grated wax crayon, thread and fabric snippets and seed beads; then a cool iron was applied to slightly shrivel the cellophane and merge / melt the contents. [Care taken to protect my iron with baking parchment]. Absolutely wonderful and serendipitous!
I especially loved this as the weather was particularly icy when I did this one!
Icy puddle produced with a cellophane sandwich!
Acrylic paint sponged and dragged over the edge of a card stencil to give the effect of rolling waves.
At the bottom of the page I have tried using a piece of corrugated card to produce stormy seas.
Inspired by sample 1.14. Strong shapes produced with the edge of a credit card on cellophane and painted sponged and dragged from the edge of the credit card and sandwiched to dramatic effect.
I wanted to try and capture a rippled effect [sample 1.4 and had a go with some spiral stencil shapes. I had fun adding some Roses sweet papers to the sandwich!
Inspired by sample 1.1 Wave shapes produced with card stencil shapes, very pleased with this.
The lower image is a sample with random colours but I used too much paint so I decided to cut it in wavy lines to see what happened!
Inspired by sample 1.11. Sponged paint on cellophane with bubbles /froth depicted by the end of tiny plastic tubing
As I was sticking this in my sketchbook the sun shone across the page creating beautiful reflections
Inspired by sample 1.9 More stormy seas!
Below - application of crayons,pastels and paint to bubble wrap as a low relief.
Spongy packaging produced some more low relief effects
I really enjoyed this chapter despite my difficulty loosening up to draw and having to revisit some techniques - so glad I did as the results were very pleasing.
