Folding strip book

Having stumbled across the incredible work of printmaker/paper sculptor Tatania Potts, I couldn't resist trying out this structure.

Foldingstrip.mov

For my trial run I cut a strip (400 mm x 80 mm) from an A3 sheet of computer paper.  My lino block (50 mm square) was printed diagonally, resulting in five closely spaced images.  A scrap of paste paper was glued to each end to serve as a cover.  

Then, a first for me, trying to video the opening one-handed!

Clematis progress

Following on from my post on 18th January, I enlarged and printed out my clematis pencil sketches on the computer, cut them up and re-arranged them to fit my final format.  I then used a light box to  to trace my design onto the painted background, using watercolour pencil.

My initial idea was to paint the flowers a deep red and the leaves a blue/green, in keeping with the background colours.  I was using fluid acrylics with glazing medium, gradually darkening the layers as I wasn't sure how it was going to work out.

This definitely wasn't going to plan, so I decided to paint the flowers with white acrylic.  The leaves were also rather dark against the background, these were adjusted with layers of paler greens and yellows. Watercolour pencil was used to add detail to the flower petals.

Clematis - 4.5" x 13"
Acrylic and mixed media

Avoidance tactics

One of my "go-to" tasks when I don't want to do anything too serious!

An experimental piece on watercolour paper from way back - random washes of watercolour, gesso background print (which is not really visible, but provides a nice texture), then a wash of gold acrylic ink.  The mauve daisy is a collaged lino print on tissue; the foreground daisy, using the same lino cut, is a paper cast.  Add some stems, cut to size, perfect for a birthday card!

Card size 4" x 6"

Facial doodles

Some pencil doodles - all from imagination.

Graphite on A5 sketchpad

Clematis - work in progress

January has not been very productive in the art room, but I have started to plan a painting.  A spare section of one of my painted background papers has been modified with further colour washes and I am hoping to use it for another floral subject.

The paper is tall and narrow (about 4.5" x 13") so I thought a climbing plant would be perfect.  I have sketched some clematis flowers using my own photos and previous drawings; the next step is to arrange them to fit the format of my paper and decide how to make the flowers stand out from the busy background.

Detail of the background paper
Inks, gesso stamped pattern, gold acrylic spatter

Pencil studies

Urban Sketchers Swindon

Saturday, 5th January - Our first meeting of 2019 with only a few of us turning up at the Brunel Shopping Centre.  Myself and a friend opted for a hot drink and a seat in the cafe in centre of the ground floor, with a view of a toy shop window.  I did more chatting than sketching and chose this simple soft toy study.  Then, after giving up on trying to capture the constant flow of shoppers, we made an effort to sketch each other.

The Snowman - pen, Inktense pencils and white gel pen

Maija - pencil

Another pocket book

The A3 sheet of printed paper I made a couple of days ago has already found a use.  I sponged the reverse side with pearlescent and blue acrylic ink and made just one section of the folded pocket book structure. A matching paper flower was added to the front, birthday greetings printed onto card for the inside pockets and a tiny lavender envelope for the back pocket.

Finished size 4" x 5"