CHANGE IN SUBJECT MATTER

After much thought and deliberation I have realized that my challenge of 'buildings' is not going to work.  There are not many buildings (around my home town) that do not have much going on in front of them ....... trees, people, cars, traffic lights to name a few. Added is the frustration of not being able to get a good enough picture because of space restraints, angles etc.

 

  

                                       

 

These two pics are perfect examples of focal subject matters that I can create into a 2D format.

 

 

A good sign post !

 

 

.......a good statue ......

 

 so back to my pictures and trips around town to hunt out more subject matter.

 

 

 

      
 

FINAL EFFECT

I have done a few more 'things' to the piece and I think this is it for this one. 

I have used a very fine black pen and worked some of the lines around the 'painted' areas and then I used white paint to put a wash over the sign post to knock back the colour.   I also added the small stand alone post on the left ...... one error ...... I removed the chain.  I now have a shadow of an invisible chain.  I need to remember this.

FIRST ATTEMPT

Believe it or not I have managed to squeeze in some time to 'play' around with my challenge and I think I am on the right track.  Here's what I did ......

I chose this picture taken at the Hout Bay waterfront in Cape Town as it is a perfect example of a photograph with a very definite foreground.  I then converted it to a black & white picture ......

and then printed it onto some fairly thick lutradur, thru my inkjet printer.....

 



I really love this effect.  This is all thanks to one of the other blogs I participate in where the info was shared.  I then painted, very pale, the wooden balustrade and stairs in brown and the section below the balustrade and the pillar, front left with the 'teal'.

 

 

Stuck the original picture on board and cut out the sign post, mounted 3D sticky pieces at the back and stuck it onto the painted lutradur.

 

 

I have just trimmed back the lutradur and laid it on the biscuit coloured paper and then on some black paper.

 

 

There is more contrast than I would like.  I have not stitched and am not sure whether I would want to on this one.  An option would be to draw in black lines around the painted areas, however, the lutradur is too coarse so maybe the next trial should be on thinner lutradur. 

 

I need to now get out there and take some good pictures.





BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN I THOUGHT

I have finally got all my 'stuff' out ......

 

 

.............and looking at possible pictures I have realised this is the most crucial, and I mean crucial, part of the exercise.  The pictures will have to be spot on to work, no obstructions such as trees, traffic lights or any other object that is in the foreground. 

 

 

 

 

In this picture I would have wanted just the middle section of the building for the photograph portion to create the 2D effect, but the side pieces of the building are in the foreground plus I have people, potted plants and a section of a fountain in the way.   This one is probably too complicated for me to 'fix' on photoshop but certainly I will have to learn the art of in some of the pics as it is very difficult to avoid any obstructions.

 

 

 

Although this one is not perfect there is minimal 'obstruction' to the main feature, the cable car ,so I will experiment (do not like this word but I have no option here!) with this picture and see how I cope.

 

 

I have realised that what  pictures of local buildings I have are totally wrong and so I need to get out there and start snapping again.

 

 

ROLL ON 2013

2013 is going to be a major challenge, but hey, is that not the whole point. I saw some work by a local artist, Anthea Martin, which was amazing and has pointed me in this direction.  Whether I will succeed, time will tell! I will be travelling along a major learning curve trying out techniques never done before.

The aim is to create 2D pictures.  Paper background, photo cutouts of parts of buildings and the rest of the picture completed by simples stitch lines and watercolour paint.  I have not decided on a size.  Not smaller than A5 and not bigger than A4. I will have to work out what works for me.

I find completing journals very difficult. I am going to use this year as my journal .... but in this space. I will document a lot more of my progress, work and inspiration along with pictures of buildings.  My only deadline is to have a minimum of 12 pages completed by the 31 December 2013.

Here goes to a wonderful journey.........................

Happy New Year to Everyone. 

 May 2013 bring you heaps of creativity, stitching, satisfaction and TIME!

THE TWELVE!

I might still play around with the placings, I may not but now to think of the best way to display without knocking hundreds of holes in the wall.

It has been quite a journey but an enjoyable journey.  I have learnt a lot and will keep learning.  All time favourite technique at the moment is photo transfer and working into it with stitch.  Will definitely be doing more of that.

2013: I have worked out where I am going and I am changing direction and techniques.  Watch this space!

DECEMBER COMPLETED

I cannot believe I am there and done early!  This is it ..... the final piece in the challenge.

I created a template of the zebra using freezer paper and painted.  I then added the mustard paint around the animal and used a thermo fax screen and some hand squiggles (was concerned I would damage the zebra).  Quilting was simple .... stitched around the black lines and added lines in the background.  Simple but quick effective. Very happy.