Friday 8 November 2013

ART EVERY DAY IN NOVEMBER

Here's my collection of 7 pieces of art, one each day during the past week for November Art Every Day Month.  I'm posting at the end of each week to make life a little easier for myself.  Nothing special, just the practice pieces, experiments and generally the results of fiddling around.

SATURDAY


My arty plans for Saturday were completely squashed when it turned out to be a day of several different callers - no complaints about that, but this silly ATC was all I managed to complete in the whole day.

SUNDAY


Experimental day today.  I've been wanting to continue experimenting with these A4 sheets of craft foam for printing for a while, since I can't do 'proper' printing in the flat.


I created these two figures, each from a full sheet, by just picking up a pair of scissors and a sheet of foam and starting to cut, with no idea as to what I was going to cut and no pre-drawing.  If you've never 'drawn' with a pair of scissors you should try it because it's surprising what happens and how pleased you will be, as long as you don't have high expectations of the result.

Once the man had been cut out I decided he needed a dancing partner.  I started from the left foot (being left-handed) and found as I approached the top of the sheet there was too little room for her head.  Never mind, who cares, I like her even if she has got a flat head.

I stuck them to an A3 sheet of cartridge paper with diluted PVA glue, covered them with cling film and stuck a heavy book on top.  When they were dry enough I coated each figure with the PVA glue, and they will need another coat before I can experiment further - perhaps next week.  Creating this easy piece so far left plenty of time for drawing and painting during the day.

MONDAY


Insects are fascinating to draw and learn about (as long as they are not spiders).  Thankfully we are not invaded by Bloody Nosed Beetles, so this sketchbook drawing is copied from a book - "The Illustrated Book of Insects" by John Burton, Peerage Books.

TUESDAY


Yet another long clinic visit with Dev.  I used the time to sketch people in the waiting room using the Brushes App on my I-Phone.  Helps to pass the time.  At home I made a digital montage of these four and added a frame.  Once again, this was the total sum of my creative efforts today.

WEDNESDAY

         

Another experiment.  I was looking for something in a cupboard and found a piece of fabric as I searched.  It's a piece I saved when I gave away most of my quilting fabric stash when we made the move to our last flat.  I felt inspired to try doodling with Pitt Pen on the fabric, using the pattern on the grey section as the starting point for the doodle.  Very enjoyable, and it led me on to colour my design with sparkly gel pens.  A dreadful stormy dark day, which means that the photo is very poor, too dark on the top half, and I apologise for the quality.  I added a narrow frame on Photoshop.

                             

Couldn't resist trying a couple of colour changes, but the purple/green and blue/brown were the best I could manage.  Nothing like a bit of doodling to pass studio time enjoyably.  I'm not sure yet what I'll do with the doodled piece, but it will certainly be used in another project.

THURSDAY


I've been doing short course involving a piece a week for six weeks.  This is the final piece, an exercise using pastels to create a sgrafitto image of two cats in front of a window.  I hated every moment of doing it because I dislike using pastels and getting my hands dirty.  In addition, all the dust it created meant it triggered my asthma and I coughed all the way through it.

I was probably distracted by this because I forgot to leave a line of black indicating the window sill, and I chickened out of trying to leave lines for any window bars.  So it's one big pane of glass in the window.  I drew the cat shape and cut out a stencil to make it easier to work around the cats with the sgrafitto, which I did with a knife because I didn't have any better tool.  I added the black frame around the arch digitally.  Not a success, but at least I made myself do it and I learnt something.  But any future sgrafitto work will be done with a different medium.

FRIDAY


Like many artists, I nearly always start an arty day with a quick loosening-up exercise.  There's almost always a sheet of A3 paper on the big easel, and this was today's early morning, very quick doodle, drawn with a thick black pen.  Bunty was disappointed that I hadn't given her a coloured dress, so I added the colour on Photoshop.  Champagne anybody?

Linking with November Art Every Day Month, Paint Party Friday, and Manon's Paper Saturdays.

28 comments:

  1. Wow--what an amazing collection--they're all so different from each other. I especially liked your dancing people cut out of foam. I agree about that process of drawing with scissors for some very interesting results, and I look forward to seeing what they're going to end up looking like (thanks for explaining what you're doing with them..... I also really like your face sketches, and that fabulous cool doodle on fabric.

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  2. Wonderful variety...but Bunty stole my heart...she is adorable as is the pattern in purple and green. Love the cut out dancers too....good job!! Impressive!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. Wow, you have been really busy. Love the walking fish, and the sgrafitto cats, but my fave today is that rubber foam pair - wonderful! I have some home made rubber stamps using foam, but I die-cut the figures. Yours are so charming! Valerie

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  4. Love to see your art all together like this! My absolute favorite are the foam dancers. Wow, I lovelovelove them! That you managed to do that without any pre-drawing is amazing. Such a good tip, drawing with a pair of scissors! Thanks! I'll have to try this ... ;-)

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  5. I REALLY like the cut out dancing figures! They look fantastic. If they're cut out of foam, they could be used for some funky print making. Super drawings all week!

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  6. It's really fun to see the variety of work you did during this week. Even when we're busy, there are ways to squeeze in time -- something I forget too often! I'm amazed at the figures you cut freehand!!

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  7. What a fabulous post. I do like your fishes and the fishy philosophy and Bunty - woo woo what a girl! - and your fabulous dancing partners, both the man and flat-headed lady who looks great. And I like all the rest too.

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  8. Love all the fun and experimenting and playing! So creative!

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  9. what an array of fun projects here! I have never tried drawing with scissors. Your bunny girl-ooh la la is right-I love her!!

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  10. Great variety of work, the bunny girl is my favourite. Happy ppf!

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  11. my mouth is hanging open, all agog over those cut out figures. you make it sound so easy. that is not at all how my hands and brain work together. I can't wait to see what you do with them.

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  12. You have been so productive! I think the experimental Wednesday is my favorite! So complex and creative! Happy PPF!

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  13. Love seeing all your experiments and different techniques Jez. Your blog is an endless source of inspiration!

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  14. so much creativity, all in one week! i totally love that freehanded cut people, so cool! would make great stencils! and the beetle is one of my favorites, too!

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  15. a successful week all around to my mind...lots of different types of art work and lovely results! happy PPF!

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  16. Some very interesting techniques Jez. I especially love your cats . The design would make a lovely applique Teapot Cosy. Take care now. Marion x

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  17. I love the different projects you have been working on from that funny card on the top, the foam cuts! :D and the doodling to the portrait sketches, painting of the beetle…hahaha you get it!?
    Happy PPF
    Ilona

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  18. I loved the romp in your creative week with so many diverse pieces. I thought the craft foam cut outs were quite fun and am impressed that you can cut out without a sketch. Makes me want to try it. Nice work.

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  19. Jez, your craft paper cutouts are fantastic! Makes me wanna give it a try. I've never tried "drawing" with simple scissors, but i'm curious now. Love the beetle, and the Wednesday experiment too. You've been busy! xox

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  20. ps: the fish with legs cracked me up. :-)

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  21. Wow Jez...you're quite the artist. Your drawings are marvelous, but I was most impressed by your free form cutting of foam! I don't think I could draw those two figures as well as you cut them free hand!! Well done, my friend!!

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  22. I have seen this Challenge around but I can't commit to it because I already have so much on. All your pieces are wonderful Jez. :)
    Hugs ManonX

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  23. You have done some fabulous work this week! i especially love your pattern inspired piece in all its forms. You are doing so well in this challenge as I know it is a big commitment to come up with new and interesting ideas each day.

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  24. You've been busy! Your whimsical walking fish made me smile, but the piece that really fascinated me was your beetle. Blessings, my friend!

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