Wednesday 20 August 2008

'Do what you enjoy doing most'

That is what a very dear friend advised when I told her I was 'struggling' arty crafty wise.

So that is exactly what I did.

Amongst my collection of old images I chose this photographer - and mounted him on some backing paper. I then proceeded to use my pastels to highlight and shade not only him but also the backing paper - so it looks totally different to the original paper. I just looked at it and saw 'different' things in it - so I shaded and highlighted again - so there are now honeycomb areas, I sketched in the stylised tree which started off as a single swirl - and ditto other areas. It is now just an abstract in the background - but maybe you can see other things. I can.
What I do see is the ugly bold border so tomorrow I am going to soften that with white pastel - so that it fades into the background - it is far too dominant
If you had seen the fuzzy photo - and all the background and roads etc you would never recognise this little portion I cut out and used.

Same backing paper as before.


The poster behind the boy I have really highlighted with white pastels and contrasted with black. Ditto the lad himself who now has defined knickerbockers, legs, and socks - until I looked at him very very closely I thought 'he' was a little girl. By chalking his face and hair too he now is very much a lad.

I like to think that behind him it is akin to 'typing' graffiti - and a skyline - but there you go - that's me and my pastels and imagination for you!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow that second arch is ruddy brilliant missus - very graphic,,which is a very modern look at the moment in adverts etc.Look what happens when you just go with the flow and not worrying if youre doing the 'in' thing - doing what you love always shines through!

Anonymous said...

Is it - thanks Paula - you are a great support to me.

Linda B said...

these pieces are some of the best I have seen you do, they are brilliant. I love the dark edge to the pieces as to me it looks like a window and made me envision standing in an old attic, peering through secret windows that had been boarded up and forgotten.

Anonymous said...

Wow - thank you Linda. I will have to do something along these lines with a stamp of yours on a background I am awaiting deliver of a TH archival ink pad - so watch this space LOL

Anonymous said...

Both excellent, I love how you've shaded and highlighted the different areas - you've really picked out lots of elements.

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