Sketches and a gift

Sketching took a bit of a back seat as the Christmas period was very busy but I did manage to get a few sketches done. I'm trying to add other things to the images along with the sketches, like small scraps of fabric in combinations that might work if I decide to use the sketches as a base for a piece of textile work.

The photograph was taken on the 8th of September as we were driving back from Ythanbank in Aberdeenshire. I always love to see the large round bales on the hills and in the fields and looking back at my sketches, I am surprised that I focused instead on the textures of the trees.

We've recently welcomed a new niece into the family, a little girl born on the 22nd of December who I decided to make something for instead of a store bought card. After several sketches of storks with nappy wrapped babies, I settled on balloons instead. I'm not sure that the colours have been reproduced very well in the photos but it's a watercolour image on heavy watercolour A4 sized paper. I used a mix of water soluble pencils and watercolours. I felt that the pencils gave me a little more control over the depth and range of colours used.

I'm really happy with the finished painting, I'll be adding a label with the baby's details on as I would hate to make a monumental mistake directly onto the image.

I have really enjoyed the last few days working on this, although it has been frustrating at times. I feel a bit of my artistic mojo creeping back.

Looking for Shapes & Drawing

Whilst I was reviewing some of my sketch and photo resources for the next stage - 'Developing Design Ideas' - I realised that I actually have very little in the way of sketches. I had been trying to make more of a conscious effort to draw but I know I set my own standards too high. I either want it to be a perfect representation of what I'm trying to draw or it's not good enough to show anyone or use. Again, I've been making a conscious effort to change that aspect of my approach as well.

Recently we went to the Embellished exhibition at Provost Skene's House in Aberdeen and I took quite a few photos of objects that were not in the exhibition itself, including one of a horses skull. I'm not sure why this particular object interested me and if I'm honest I don't think I even intended to ever use it, however when I was trying to decide what to sketch next, this was the one I chose.

Then I chose a section of the image using the viewing frame.

Oil Pastels

Watercolours

Watercolour close-up

I definitely feel more confident about my sketching now whether I think it's good enough or not. I am very much looking forward to developing my design ideas as prints or sewn projects.

Project 4 Stage 2 - Looking for shapes and drawing

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Project 4 Stage 2 - Looking for Shapes and Drawing

Exercise 1

"Take the image you most enjoyed working with from your viewing frame. Make 3 quick drawings, to set down different aspects of the marked off area"

Project 4 Stage 2 - Looking for shapes and drawing

A section of honeycomb

Bouganvillia and Papaya leaves 

Coloured dust blown from hand in festival.

Oil Pastels

Watercolours

Thing fragments of cut card