I'm still doing my daily drawing in A6 sketchbooks and am beginning to use it to 'capture' ideas for EDAM "Meanwhile …" project such as fold out maps using photocopies with drawings on the back ( above ) and stitching on acetate using my sewing machine ( below) , in this case testing out the effect of the different stitches. I may well use a similar technique for next CQ Journal Quilt as for the next 4 we're encouraged to use materials other than cotton .
And while I had my sewing machine out, I sewed copies of photos onto graph paper ( above) and painted papers with maps on the back ( below) to make into accordion books.
Unlike last week when we had photos of different artists approaches etc, this week , with a different tutor Annie Attridge we were just doing our own work. We have a 'WhatsApp' group and before the class started there were messages pouring in with apologies for absence from various members of the group. Those of us that had turned up were discussing our feelings of panic and inadequacy ( like pre exam nerves when you think you haven't done enough) but Lucinda reassured us that was what it was like for artists, it's normal ! With only half the group , we had plenty of room to spread out ( I had 2 tables and a large section of wall) and we talked more among ourselves about what we were doing and there was time for each of us to have a useful tutorial with Annie.
I made the most of the wall space and opportunity to make a mess and thinking of the large scale drawing session with Tony did 3 simultaneous A1 charcoal drawings.
On each sheet of paper I drew a quick sketch from a tiny photo of the view from the train, rubbed it down and did a second of a different view over the top and then a third . I then drew the interior of the train carriage , the edge of the window or the seat . After talking with Annie, she suggested using a much darker line in ink and more use of eraser to introduce a lighter tone , to define the difference between interior and exterior.
Definately something to explore further even if none of them are finished works in themselves there are elements I like , eg the use of eraser to introduce idea of reflections in glass or the speed of lines of wires rushing by, the contrast between static interior and motion of exterior . And those curves are becoming a bit of a signature for me !
I also had the space to put up the work I produced last week which I discussed with Annie. We agreed the quick collage with charcoal drawing over the top ( below) definately has potential so I'll be doing more of those next week ( minus the timetable, that element didn't work so well)
On a different scale , we discussed the accordion book structures I'd made with my stitched papers ( above) ( and also the idea of using the Moleskine planner) but she thought they were bit obvious, what she really liked was the simplicity of the ink drawings I'd been doing based on drawings from maps.
So I've brought these home, cut them into thinner strips and pleated them , ready to take on the train to write in , draw on, stitch into. There's obviously something about the strip format that I can't let go of at the moment , from 'Wind Me In the Sea" to my 'Grasmere Cloths' ( below) so I'm going with the flow !
