I have been doodling and trying to work neatly since I moved up to Edinburgh. I am very messy naturally and my hand eye co- ordination was dreadful until I did my graphic design course.
During the 30 day journal project organised by Lisa Sonora I have been pushing boundaries with my techniques. I have enjoyed finger painting with acrlyics but I would like to devise a technique that uses the doodling and ‘kidnappers ‘ text that I love too.
I had a go today , building up layers sanding and using all three techniques. However I forgot to do stages photos and I wasn’t sure I could replicate it. This is about 5 layers. And is Day 20 – “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”― A. A. Milne
I started again , I wanted to do something about living in Edinburgh – I struggle emotionally being here and I wanted to explore some of that
I have started doing a crossword everyday to keep connected with Jon and Deb ( we share answering clues ) I cut up articles and pictures from newspapers and added blue patterned bits that came off the first design when I sanded and ripped the pages. My doodle reminds me of the big wheel that goes up in Princes Gardens during the Fringe and Christmas Market. I glued and gessoed a print of my doodle to seal it.
I added a thin layer of turquoise acrylic and another layer of gesso. I wanted to make sure the doodles were well protected.
I wanted to build up the layers slowly , I finger painted 4 different blue based paints onto the edges of the image and wiped of some of it with a damp cloth.
I started added text using words that I associate with Edinburgh like rain, Fringe, home etc.
This is normally where I would leave a spread. I want to add depth and more interest with shape and tone so I layerd more paint around the edges. This has the effect of levelling the design elements
I felt that I had added too much paint so I used another technique – removing paint with a damp cloth through a stencil – this works because of the layers of gesso protecting the images.
The work was very flat and Matt so I painted a layer of self levelling gel – this means that’s he surface is prepared for me to draw over the top. I let it dry over night so that all the layers dried out.
I sanded the surface lightly and then drew out a shilouette of the Edinburgh Castle. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it a dark colour or not – it looms over Princes St quite grey and gloomy but I fancied teal …
I wanted the castle to stand out a bit more so I added a thin veil of white to the background as if it was sky .
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