Cardboard Weaving.

I’ve not had a great week in terms of my serious lack of enthusiasm to do anything art related; this is one of the main reasons I miss having a studio space to go to at university, someone suggested I take over some space and that is what I did. I made a plan one day to prime a canvas, do a blog post and try to have a draw in a sketchbook. Guess how badly I failed…

The cat decided she wanted to be involved and took over my space - ended up with fur everywhere! I managed to put calico on a few stretchers and prime them. The internet has been playing up so catching up on my long overdue blog posts has been a tad hit and miss. This one is the first of many I need to do and nothing happened in my sketchbook.

I thought it was about time I shared a small weaving I did while I was still away at university. I got inspiration from the lovely Ruth at ‘Blue Eggs and Tea’ after she tweeted a picture of a weaving, she made it with some cardboard from a shoebox. I am now a big fan of her blog, which you should all definitely check out!

After buying some yarn, I made my own and I was quite surprised at how calming it is. As this was my first one, I wasn’t really sure if I was doing it right, but making it up as you go along is always part of the fun, right? I must admit, it was slightly addictive (although, I haven’t made one since), but thanks to her blog post I have plans to go bigger and possibly make it into my art. I just need my motivation back!

Specialised Trade.

Whilst on my travels a couple of weeks ago, I similarly learnt that specialising in a trade could be a good idea to go alongside owning a space (a plan of mine for the future – which might not come about). Framing could be a good choice, because at what point will no one what something framed? Exactly! I doubt that will happen.

Must also remember to make what you do obvious to passers-by, e.g. big windows or clear signs, and again, placement is key.

 

Knees III & IV.

Say hello to my back knees... Wait a minute, that sounds like a skin problem. Ok, erm... Yeah... These are the paintings I did after the more natural coloured knee paintings. I wanted to use the various colourful colours that I knew I could make. Again, I used a palette knife and it, along with the paint, has become my friend. It's so much fun! Even the clearing up is enjoyable haha! I haven't attempted painting oil paints with a brush yet and I'm not sure I want to. I like being able to be carefree with where the paint goes (unless it's on me). I expect I shall carry on with oil painting, in one way or another, I just might possibly find another 'theme' to work...

Knees I & II.

My first paintings of knees. Not too shabby, huh? I started off by putting a faint outline to get the basic shape and then I filled it. I painted them simultaneously with a palette knife; putting the paint on both pieces where I wanted it, before moving on to another colour. It was very exciting, I haven't used a knife since high school and it felt good. I'm not sure what I was expecting the result to be, but of course I feel as though I can do better and with practice that'll happen. I worked from a photo of my knees, although my painting could be seen as the front or back of them (which I don't mind).

Today, I have started on adding a background colour. I shall add those pictures to this post when it's finished and I'll let you know.

I have also painted some back knees, which will be in the next post.