The seagull has eyes. He is pleased , at last eyes to see with.
I am not sure and wish my eyes would tell me what is not quite right. He is a Herring gull so needs red round his eyes.
I have been looking at the sand ripple photos I took, some time ago.
Had a really enjoyable play with a purpose day.
Brown paper, Pastels, Paint and a White oil bar.
Made some monotype prints until I was happy with a design. Printed onto fabric and then stitched using dyed wool thread and a rayon thread to give a little reflection.
Have put this in place behind the little boxes.
Debris is finished. I have decided to mount the 3 "COASTLINE" pieces on clear acrylic. Waiting to have it cut to size.
Started another postcard.
A busy but enjoyable week. Lots of bits and pieces finished.
Almost at the end of this body of work.
Plan for next week
1 Look at those eyes again
2 Finish postcard
3 Mount Seaweed, Shells, Debris.
BYE BYE
Sorry some words have appeared in the wrong place.
Have spent ages trying to right this and have given up in despair. Had begun to believe my computing skills were improving but not so.
See you next week, going for a cuppa and a choc, biscuit
At last he is finished, except for his eyes.
A bit of an anti climax really.
He sits there looking quite ordinary.
No indication of the difficulties I have experienced trying to make him. Trying to find a seagull, taking photos and all the delaying tactics I used. I knew he would be difficult to make and give me lots of problems to solve. He did.
Wished at one point I could carve with wood as thought that might be an easier option. It would have presented its own series of problems, I suspect.
I am pleased with the way he sits in his place and have promised him I will fix his eyes.
What do you think?
Next decision is what background will I give him.
One of my photos?
One of my drawings?
It is always about the correct decision.
The seagull has brought the cabinet together.
From the discovery that the cabinet had been made in the wrong size, till here we are almost finished. I would like to find a shell stencil or stamp. Normally I
make my own but have not been happy with the results so far.
A few more postcards to be stitched.
"Coastline" needs to be ready to be juried on the 10th December as I am hoping he will be in an exhibition in January.
3rd piece of work in the "Coastline" series is started
I planned to make the 3 pieces the same size but this one had other ideas and is slightly longer,
Still to be stitched but should be finished for the deadline 10th December.
Plan for next week
1 Finish bits and bobs for Cabinet
2 Finish Debris
3 Think about presentation for Seaweed, Seaglass
and Debris
Big Big sighs of relief. The Seagull is made
BYE BYE.
The seagull thought he would have his wings on today. He was hoping and so was I.
Unexpected visitors, which was lovely, but wings will have to wait until tomorrow. Poor, poor seagull.
The strips of fabric with hand and machine stitching added. I use this technique often and I thought it would work for the seagulls wings.
Sitting cosy by the fire on a very wet and miserable evening. I used a mag, which happened to be within reach, for my pattern. How lazy is that.
The seagull is so patient, putting up with being wrapped in bits of a mag. instead of his wings. Its a wonder he hasn`t used that beak to seek revenge on me.
The wings look a bit crude but hoping by tomorrow they will be more refined. and so does the seagull.
I really don`t think he will sit for any more indignities
so has to have his wings tomorrow.
Plan 1, 2, 3.
Finish bird.
BYE BYE
The seagull is being wrapped in white felt. This will smooth all the lumps and bumps out of him-- he is a he.
I wish wrapping in felt whatever colour would smooth my lumps and bumps.
He looks a bit odd but I am hoping it will all come together in the end.
I didn`t want to make a stuffed fabric bird, I didn`t want him looking a bit Walt Disneyish, nor did I want a perfect replica of a seagull. I couldn`t make that anyway.
Hope the vision inside my head works.
If you have followed my blog from the begin you will know I like texture and this is a method I have used before to construct a textured fabric.
Strips of hand dyed materials a selection of threads and my embellisher.
This will become the wings. Trust me but keep your fingers and toes crossed that this all works.
Look in next week to see the bird, at last , coming together and about time everyone is saying.
I can hear you.
BYE BYE
Beautiful day here. Have been out walking, all day, along the beach and on the sand dunes.
Home too late to take photos to post.
Settling in with the fire on and a cuppa.
New source wall.
Will post about seagull tomorrow.
BYE. BYE
Very enjoyable weekend. Good tutor. Talented group of women + 1 man.
Creative and fun buzz over the weekend.
I like working on my own and often find it hard to really get much from workshops except enjoyable company and listening to people talking shop.
This weekend was very intense, people really concentrating on their work.
2 rooms 1 for wet work, 1 for dry work. So lots of bright space.
Our " collections" were made into 1 meter hanging lengths. No one else had brought rubbish. No surprise there but interesting collections.
We picked 2 words (unseen) from a bag. Mine were Tie and Patch. Our lengths were put together using our words and one other item. Pins, paperclips, tie, etc.
Can you work out the words chosen to put the 1 meter pieces together.
Not great photos as no time to set shot up. they were pinned up, we had a quick look, taken down and placed beside A3 sheets of paper. This was the pattern for the first day, quick tasks.
We drew on large sheets of paper , using our left hand, you have probably all done this at some time but have you then turned the paper round 4 times to arrive back where you started. We had 1 minute to observe our constructions, then eyes closed, trying to draw from memory. 1 minute each time then paper turned 1 turn.
5 A5 drawings from the A3 drawings, enlarging a specific area and one torn from paper.
These were used as a guide for printing.
Time for a break - Tea and a much needed chocolate biscuit. It was only the first part of day 1. Could I keep up the pace.
The weekend continued to task our minds in this way. Lots of printing, using a variety of methods and ending the weekend with an envelope book.
Home with a tired brain but stimulated and excited about continuing to look at tying as a way of securing work. Looking at it becoming an important design element not just a method to attach.
A very full weekend, lots of drawing ideas, printing methods and exchange of ideas.
Will take some time to review all the work done over the weekend. Tired but happy.
Now back to the Seagull.
BYE BYE.
Art material for the weekend workshop
Trust I can get this lot packed into my case.
Rubbish from the beach
Images of collection ( rubbish )
5 colours (art material ) from ones images
Collection of papers A3 A4
Plain material A3 A4
Cutting mat and knife
Etc. Etc.
My collection. Goodness knows what the class will make of it.
Packed and ready for the journey. Just need to check the map for quickest route.
Art material in large case.
Have finished the 2nd piece of work in the "Coastline" series. Seashells
Plan to leave the 3rd one until Seagull is finished.
Time to get on the road.
Look in again to see what the weekend produces.
BYE BYE.
