Pages 48 and 49
I identified shapes from my sketchbook over a period of days, with the sketchbook both upright and upside down. It is surprising how your eye sees different things at different times and from different aspects.
I especially like the key-like shape on the top left of page 48 (taken from the work on buttresses on page 11) and the tree trunk-esque shapes on the right of page 49 (taken from the dissection of the stained glass window on page 25). However, for the purposes of the following exercises, I followed Siân's advice in the course book and chose an irregular shape with a curved indentation. The shape was actually derived from the negative space behind the heads on page 27.
Page 50
The left hand side of the page shows my shape in 3 sizes, whilst on the right is the first of the required exercises with diagonal lines drawn over the shape.
Page 51
These pages show the next two exercises. As the shapes on the right were a bit too similar to the background, I added some extra lines to make them stand out a bit more.
Page 52
On left, new shape created by tracing shape made by 4 shapes on previous page.
On right, shape partially obscured by overlapping rectangular blocks. I like the strength of the colours here (Inktense blocks with water) and the touch of complementary blue.
Page 53
Cut out shapes as per exercises 6 and 7. The page had already been decorated with stamps onto a painted background. I especially like the sample on the left.
Page 55
I love these pages, especially the one on the right. The ochre/terracotta/black/olive green colour scheme is very pleasing. The letter used for exercise 8 was a K, albeit a rather wobbly one. I then remembered something I had done previously where spray paint was misted through a plastic letter stencil. The layered effect makes for an interesting page.
Page 56
Exercise 9 on the left, wax crayon writing over negative shapes, brushed with Koh-i-noor. Exercise 10 on the right, negative shapes worked into with wax crayon, the brushed over with Koh-i-noor.
Page 57
Exercise 11 on left. Eye drawn into part of original shape with wax crayon, lines extended, again brushed over with Koh-i-noor. On right, own exercise, positive and negative shapes partly obscured by torn strips.
Page 58
I found the instructions for exercises 12/13/14 a bit confusing but the one on the left is in the required style - paper folded, shape drawn over fold, paper opened out, lines extended. Wax crayon brushed over with Koh-i-noor. I love the hot colours in this, feels Mexican for some reason.
Page 59
Own exercise with shapes cut from two pieces of paper at the same time then replaced in the other piece.
Page 60
Again own exercises. One on left is reverse appliqué/Mola style. One on right is just shapes arranged randomly on coloured background.
Page 61
Exercise 15 on the right, 16 on the left. The first time I have sewn into a sketchbook! Quite difficult to control the free machining as the weight of the sketchbook, kept pulling the book away. I especially like the random shapes superimposed over the linear and solid shapes in exercise 15.
All in all an interesting chapter which illustrates how far you can go with a single shape. Also a reminder that, for me at least, creativity comes with actually doing, not just thinking! As soon as I start doing one thing, my mind is flooded with other ideas for lots of other things which were a million miles away when I was just looking at the blank paper. Time perhaps to go and actually start making my FOQ entry and not just thinking about it!
