A few weeks ago I delivered work to a gallery and wanted to change directions or perhaps I was ready for some fun experimentation - nothing serious with no particular agenda in mind. But...I had several ideas whirling around, all calling out for attention - pick me, pick me!
While I thought experimenting would be fun, I didn't want to spend weeks on all the ideas in my head - you know…the Bright Shiny Oject Syndrome!
I wrote down a couple sentences describing each of 5 ideas - (hand to brain exercise here) one was some gel printing, another collage but then made myself choose just one idea - creating circles on rice paper with a variety of media, cutting them into quarters and then reassembling them into a grid format….nothing terribly revolutionary but with a quilting background, I'm used to cutting and reassembling stuff! Plus, I just wanted to explore something different.
I gathered my supplies - graphite, Inktense blocks, acrylic inks, markers and brushes. I cut rice paper into 7” squares and put them into a stack. The marking process took several days - wetting the paper, adding marks with different tools, letting them dry, then adding more marks and trying different different media….finally adding white ink on top and a bit of silver paint....all working through to complete the circles.
I made several dozen and my next step was to choose the ones I liked the best…some were too faint, some ran out to the edges and a couple were just blah…
I cut the chosen ones into quarters and then explored a grid format, moving them around until I was satisfied and then gluing them down with matte medium, putting a light plastic sheet on top and then some weight - a couple of hefty art books!
I left them for a couple days, I hung the piece up to dry a bit further and started analyzing:
What worked:
- The circle layout was good and there was an interesting variety in texture and value
- A couple of studio visitors loved them….
- I am still entranced by circles
- I like the movement across the surface
What didn’t work:
- The paper picked up some marks and it looks messy close up
- Edges of some of the squares didn’t line up well - but these are technical issues
More thoughts:
- I enjoyed the process and working on an idea for a short period of time got it out of my head and into reality - like a sketchbook or journaling
- I would do this again, perhaps playing with colour and value differently
- I would probably try a square format - it suits the design better (?)
- I might try it again with collage or other papers…
So, the short idea exercise worked for what I needed it to - and I can move back to my other work that needs more attention. Short side trips are like a mini-vacation…moving the brain and hand into some unknown territory. That is absolutely critical to our growth and development in our art practise.
My other ideas on that will be waiting for when I am ready...in fact, I've added a couple more to the list!
Here is some notes about circles I had written a long time ago:
The circle is considered a symbol of unity and infinity, without beginning or end, perfect. This unending shape without a beginning and end, has been used by cultures throughout time. We see the circle as the sun, the moon and other stellar orbs, as wheels, sundials, clock faces, as domes, vaults, spiral stairs, circular paths and what not.
How will you approach the ideas milling around in your mind?
Did you ever do this in fabric in one of Nancy Crow’s class?
No, I didnt but when I was quiklting more I saw a lot of similar styles…
I love this idea, Susan! I have been a circle fiend for maybe two decades, focusing on mandalas for a good chunk of that. I may steal this mini-project as I’m getting more into using collage and various media. Did you use the four quarters from one circle when reassembling? or did you mix and match?
Margaret, the 1/4’s were mixed up and then I laid them out and played with arrangements before glueing them down.