A new start

A very encouraging response from the instructor about my decision to look at the sketchbooks as an art form, rather than as a springboard to anything else. Today I decided to start working on improving my actual sketching, as well as my use of water colour paint.  The result was pathetic, and I'm not going to show you a picture.  But I did do some work with my exploration of printing as a technique for the sketch books.  I have cut out 5 "Lino" blocks, and made proof prints of them into the sketchbooks.  I also tried two different methods of mono-printing into the books, with mixed success.

The first picture is of a more familiar type of mono-printing, one that I've often used in my fiber work.  I spread paint on a small palette, and then made marks on it with various objects.  This palette was then picked up and placed paint-side down on the sketchbook page.  I'm very pleased with this, and can see using it in some form.  The other side is a different method of mono-printing, one, I'm not familiar with and one that didn't work worth a darn.  I've since done three more prints using this technique, and finally got a better, but not great result.

This second spread is a proof printing of one of the "lino" blocks, that of a decorative fish, on a prepared page..  I tried printing three times before re-loading the printing block.

The last picture is of the proof prints of several more new printing blocks.  As well, at the upper right, I made a print from two of items I had used to prepare the palette for the first picture above. I am pleased with everything on these pages.

More self reflection

I received a communication from the instructor of the sketchbook course, in response to a couple of pictures I posted in the Gallery section of the website.  She pointed out that, maybe I needed to ask myself why I was making the sketchbooks.  Did I see it as a way to influence and develop my work? Was it a form of journaling?  Or did I see them as an art form, in their own right?  Wow!  That cuts right to the heart of the matter, doesn't it?

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days now.  I have admired her sketchbooks for several years, probably because I do see them as a form of art in their own right.  But she has also commented on how something in her sketch books had informed an art piece, and I think my years long obsession with sketchbooks has perhaps been a search for inspiration, as the creative process has always been the most difficult part of my art process.  But--what if I could look at sketchbooks as an art form?  One concept that I have heard before about the sketchbooks is that each artist can use their own sketchbooks in any way that has meaning for the artist himself.  Mine ( and there have been a few over the years) have served as a record of my process, including original concept, any pertinent stitched samples, examples of fabric selection, and a final photo.  Why not continue with that, while treating myself to a parallel process of creating the sketchbook as art?  Maybe, once in a Blue Moon, part of that process that might influence my art--or it might not.  It would still take a time commitment,and still involve skill development, that I have wanted to avoid at my age.

I can do anything I want. and anything that might have meaning for me.

"Slugging along"

I used that phrase and then wondered if anyone other than my family would know what I mean.  Well, I see the job that is ahead of me and I'm progressing, albeit slowly, and with less enthusiasm than it maybe deserves.  I'm talking about my sketchbook course, of course.  Module three is all about different methods of creating prints, most of which I've done, in the past, and several that I've even taught. The exception is a method of mono-prints that I've seen, but never actually tried, although I've been using mono-printed fabric, the result of a different method, for years in my purses that sell well in gift shops. So I've created samples of these  print-making techniques (except the mono-prints), and even tried to add text to the samples.  All well and good.  But I'm not pleased with them, because they don't have the depth and pleasing design of the many samples the instructors have provided.  Then I have to remind myself that I'm here to learn, except I also have to ask if what new learning I've received is worth the ultimate cost of the workshop and the supplies that have proven necessary.  On the other hand, I have had a purpose and a goal during the over 3 months of social lock down I've just come through (--with more ahead).  The work has kept me busy, and I've been working with colour and craft, which always fills my heart with joy.  Still, has the result been worth the labour.  Not in my opinion.

How does what I've learned influence my future work?  I've learned that I need to improve my skill in using water colours.  I can see some future practice with creating paper collages. I can see a need to increase my skill with drawing. But--I also have to ask if increasing skill with more techniques is the answer, or if maybe the skill I lack is a basic ability to design.  Oh, I've read books on the principles of design, and studied colour theory.  I can analyze a design in a fibre piece, and articulate the principles used, and maybe how and why.

I will complete this module, and play with the exercises, but also spend some time determining whether I really want to put out the money for the last module.  Will doing so, really improve the quality of work in my sketchbooks?

Hot work and the wind blows

Yesterday was spent in the yard, battling both a hot sun that dried paint so fast I had trouble using it, and a vicious wind that blew so strongly that I had trouble spreading both fabric and the newspaper I used to protect the table.  First I tried making a sun print that I hope to use as the focal point of a new piece. Secondly, I tried making some leaf prints, that I had hoped to use as focal points in some new work.  "Hoped" is really the right word, as the main leaf print piece I had wanted, just didn't turn out, and I'm going to have to re-think that whole project.  But a second piece has possibilities.  I also got a couple of good negative prints that may have possibilities.

This is the main sun print.  I used ferns from the neighbour's yard.   We tried all week to catch him in the yard, but weren't successful. So I assumed that the invitation he gave me last year was still good.

Here is a close up of the  ferns.  I left them as they came,  as I wasn't able to pin them down because the table hadn't been padded enough.  The paint is mainly grey but with a bit of purple, blue and green as well.

Having used several colours I had to give some thought to how I was going to put the piece together. I want the ferns to be the focal point, but I also want to try to make the rest of the piece somewhat interesting. So I made small pieces of each of the colours used, and plan to try a bit of low level piecing.  I certainly did't want other piecing to take away from the ferns, so greyed each colour down. I was also a bit concerned about the lack of value, so created a second pure grey piece, but much lighter. As I said, the actual design hasn't been planned beyond this point.  We'll just have to see where it goes.

Then came the leaf prints.
Here is the second piece of hand dyed fabric to which I added leaf prints.  Again value plagued me, so I decided to aim at having the finished piece being long and narrow.  The objective is to free motion quilt the leaf print and background and then add beads--lots of beads.  Here is a leaf print on the lower right.

And a close up of the two prints that were added.  They are leaves from the small Maple bush in my front yard.

The next venture was negative prints.  With the very first leaf print,  I got a wonderful negative on the first try, but it was on a paper towel, As soon as I realized what I had, I started using fabric for the negative part of leaf printing. The second one below isn't very good and may be just added to the "orphan block" pile.  At the same time, the best use for the other two has yet to be determined.

But, I also did some leaf printing in my sketch books and the results there were wonderful.  I can only show you two of them, as the other two were done with white paint on the white page.  Now that they have dried, I'll be putting a water colour wash over them and they should emerge.  I tried this with some stamping I was doing and I'm thrilled at the lacy border that emerged on one of the pages.

Love this lacy border!

So that takes care of yesterday.  I'm not really sure where today is headed, but the day's half over, so I better figure it out in a hurry.

I'm taking a bit of a break from the intense sketchbook work, so 
the last three days I've spent some time keeping  busy making book marks for the Gift shop in Selkirk, which will be re-opening at the end of the month. The decision had been made to completely remove what is there and replace it with new stock.  Some book marks had been put aside to this, but I realized that they look exactly the same as the ones I would be taking out, so I had to start anew.  There is also a perceived need to reduce my sale price. In my many purges, much of my junk box had gone, so there wasn't much to work with, and the paint got away from me, so some of the colours are too similar.

These are the ones that have actually been finished.  I say that while thinking that, even though I want to reduce production costs, in the back of my mind, I would be happier if I was able to stitch around the edge of each of them.

These are in progress, but may just need their tassels.

These all have a way to go.  There are 7 more being dried in the book, below.

Some of them have caused a lot of difficulty when I tried to punch the hole for the tassel, and I had to get  David's help.  This has given me pause to think that a different way to reduce production costs, might be by using a whole different method of creating the basic form I use.  But, there is also a tiny thought forming that maybe it's time to stop making them, as they aren't generally profitable.  However, I'm not purchasing any new supplies for them, so, as long as I'm using supplies  have on hand, I can ignore the issue.