Sketchbook project - Part 2, From artichokes to feathers!

I've not had a chance to get on with my 'Layering' sketchbook in recent months so it has been lovely to finally have a flurry of activity and to complete a new section of it - from artichokes to feathers!

In a previous blog that I wrote about starting this sketchbook (see here) I explained how I started with a written mind map (which explored any links to 'layering' that I could think of) followed by 4 pages of those same ideas presented in a visual way.

I have already explored the red onion layers so the focus of this blog is on the feather and lampshade images from the same page.

I'm convinced that the lampshades were inspired by artichokes so that was my starting point. I used a black Staedtler fineliner pen to draw the artichoke using an image from the internet as a reference point.

I machine stitched the card onto some green fabric to represent the colour of the artichoke and then photocopied the image, playing around with the scale and repetitions.

My next page was a papercutting focus on the petal arrangement of a waterlily using a scalpel and some 10A blades.

I kept the tiny paper cuts to show the contrast between the positive and the negative.

I flipped the artichoke drawing upside down and showed the connection with several lampshades currently on the market which celebrate examples of layers in nature. I used some greaseproof paper and a rubbing of some hexagonal floor tiles to add colour and texture to the page.

I worked with a free machine embroidery technique to do some freestyle shapes linking the petals to feathers.

As a further exploration of the layering of feathers in plummage I used some watercolours and a Karisma Graphite Aquarelle Soft pencil. I love drawing with these pencils as it encourages you to be bold and work with the paints. I remember drawing very tentatively when I started college and the discovery of these pencils really changed my drawing style as well as helped my confidence.

I am now at the stage where I want to create something connected with feathers but I'm not sure what yet so watch this space!

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