Chapter 8 - String Prints

3.8.1
Using my trusty map of Devon I copied the following

I deliberately made my string block fairly small so that I could get several prints across and down on each page.
3.8.2
a)  & b)  both done with oil pastels, then water paint wash on different weight papers

c) this one was done with black and silver crayon which gives a sharper line I think

d) no water paint wash on this one

e) & f) done on quite thin papers

g) page from old atlas

h) I wonder why this reminds me of a leaping hare when looked at in portrait?

3.8.3
Although I lined up one side of my 'made up' map for the second block, in retrospect I would like to have made it so both sides could have 'joined up' which would have been fun.
a) Done on kraft paper. I did in fact give it a deepish brown wash but of course it didn't show up

b) I liked this one. It doesn't show up but the paint wash has a slight sparkle which is very pretty. I tried scrunching up the paper first to see what effect it would have. Answer, not a lot!

c) yes, why use one colour paint wash, when you can use three. I like it.

d) I used both white and then gold acrylic on this page and was a bit disappointed with the end result, though it does in fact look much nicer than the scan shows.

An extra. Being thrifty (Scots mum) I never waste the paint I have squeezed out so I just paint up papers for future use. This is a piece a paper painted weeks ago and I have used up the gold metallic acrylic paint on it with one of the string prints only.

Well that was a great Blue Peter chapter, thank you.

Chapter 7 Drawing the landscape

3.7.1
I hadn't realised how many hundreds of drawings by Van Gogh there were. From my very large library book I choose this one of a country lane. Using the central lines when copying is very helpful.

3.7.2
I have so many pictures of Brentor Church from different angles though this is similar to one I have used before. I very much enjoyed doing this drawing.

3.7.3
Different angle this time. The rock really is very very big from here! I'm a little disappointed with this one. It helped leaving it for a day or so and then doing more to it, but still....

If Van Gogh had lived in Tavistock I am sure he would have had a great time with this church!

Edited version of 3.6.1

I didn't like the original version of this at all and at Viv's suggestion tried to improve it.  I first of all gave it a wash (not quite under the tap) with a weak solution of bleach which lightened it, rinsed that off and then eventually used some metallic rub-ons to brighten it up a bit.  I was looking for my Treasure Gold, but perhaps that would have been a bit much if I had found it.  Anyway it is now allowed to stay in my sketchbook and not get ripped out.

Chapter 6 - Torn Paper Lines

HAPPY NEW YEAR


3.6.1.
I tore up an assortment of papers in various colours and types and stuck them in my sketchbook. The ink wash I used was too dark though.  It almost completely obliterates the newspaper and the rest of the pieces don't show up very well either.  Just shows that I should have tried it on a spare piece of paper first!!! Not a very cheerful first page of the new year.

Make Viewfinders. Since I haven't seen my old ones for ages I was very happy to make these.

3.6.2.
Collage landscape.   Charmouth Beach
Partly because of the size,   (4 1/2" x 5 3/4") I wasn't sure if I should have put more detail in or not. The perspective doesn't look very good as the sea on the left looks odd but I was reasonable happy with the colours.

E.A.  Brentor Church, Dartmoor.
These next three pictures are even smaller as I decided that I wanted to put them together on one page of my sketchbook.  The papers are again all different weights and sources including a bit of fluffy paper I made from Kozo bark. Yes I could see these as a trio of textile pictures and yes I DO LOVE Brentor Church.