PERFECTLY IMPERFECT-I may not be the best at what I do, but Nobody has MORE fun trying than I do! :)



Monday, October 12, 2009

Sheet of 40 Inchies Progression...



This is the sheet as I shared it a couple of weeks ago in the Everyday Matters, Creative Every Day, and Theme Thursday challenges. Several of you expressed interest and wanted me to post progress pictures. Here is what I have so far...

Step 1-1" squares drawn off on watercolor paper in Moleskine WC book. I dampened the squares out of sequence and added dabs of watercolor, letting the colors merge together and dry.
If you look closely, the dried paint in some of the squares already suggests a subject. They just need refining.

If you dampen joining squares at the same time they will run together and colors you may not want will get into the squares. By the way, you can do these in any media on any surface.

I am doing each square as a seperate little painting, but you could also color the whole page to harmonize, then add your designs. I tend to make things complicated, and sometimes, a little chaotic. :)


Step 2-Still filling in backgrounds...


Step 3-All 40 backgrounds filled in! It's been fun, but now the REALLY fun part begins...Pulling out and creating the images! A few of them are coming along...

Step 4-I added a border of "stitches" with an ultra-fine black sharpie. I'm also adding a frame of "stitches" as I complete a square, so the squares that are completely stitched around I think are done. Right now there are about 5, but if you look closely you'll see in several of the other squares where I've pulled out images in pencil, ready to finish. Others are not so clear just yet, as to what they will share.
I haven't decided yet whether I will cut them apart and use them that way, or leave them as they are, with drawn stitching, and use them for a journal cover. I also considered using a sewing machine to really stitch between them, but I don't know if they'd stay together or not, with the needle perforations. We'll see how it goes...
Anyway, this is as far as I am for now. Looking at the sheet as a whole gives you some idea of how my mind works. Scary ain't it! :)
There are still many images to come, and I'll post the finished sheet as soon as it's done.
Hope at least one square made you smile. :)

12 comments:

nanke's stuff said...

Oooh, I'm going to have to try this! I've made many inchies, but not done it on a single sheet of paper like this. I really like it a lot. Thanks for sharing! nancy

Carolyn said...

Looking good!!! I like the way each one is different...keep posting your progress. Maybe after I get "caught up", I'll try this.

Hybrid J said...

Wow, I just love the tiny drawings! Great artwork and thank you for sharing the step-by-step how to. Maybe I'll give it a try ... :)

Alex said...

What a great idea! :) Reminds me my aunt's quilt, but she did it in hexagons which was like the coolest thing ever. I am sure a lot of people are going to be doing this one, how innovative!

donna said...

Thanks for the update. The paintings look great.

Ellen Burkett said...

This is such a good idea I may have to steal it! haha! Seiously, I love the idea and will try it for sure!

You're doing a great job and thanks so much for posting your progress! Now, where's my ruler????

Ramona Davidson said...

I like your art. It reminds me so much of a patchwork quilt, where the whole is greater than the parts. Yet each part is necessary and part of the art of quilts. Lovely.

Leah said...

love this! and i love seeing the work in progress!

Timaree said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I just might try this as I need to start playing with watercolor and how threatening can this be? If it works out for me, I'll share this with my granddaughters too.

Krista Meister said...

How cool! Very quilt-like indeed. Thanks for sharing your process.

Aurileide Alves said...

So nice to see your process.

trish said...

Oooh, how interesting and what a great idea! I will have to try this - it may help with my hesitation to using watercolors. This is wonderful!