Old and New. Learning from what has been done.

Midpoint in the semester, becomes a time for reflection.

As I have been working on enlarging my patterns, I have also been reflecting on my past media choices.

At one point I decided to work on canvas with acrylic. I enjoyed the canvas because it was a sturdy on the stretcher bars and provided a raised surface to work on. What I did not like was the acrylic because it was thick, and when watered down lost its opacity. The paint showed more of the brushstrokes then I liked.

I did produce two patterns that I was happy with though, which I include below.

Above: Blossom. 18"x 24" Acrylic and Canvas

Above: Blossom (Detail)

Above: Growth. 18"x 24" Acrylic and Canvas.

Above: Growth (Detail).

To move on from this, and learn from it, I decided to stick with the canvas, but use my new found media, watercolor, to fill in the pattern. I have no idea how watercolor would act upon a gessoed canvas. To my surprise it worked really well. The paint was thick enough to produce an even surface, while still remaining liquid enough to easily apply. I could definitely see myself working like this in the future. Check out my result below.

Above: Legs. 18"x 24" Watercolor and Canvas.

Above: Legs (Detail).

I also include another canvas, which is 22" x 28" that I have penciled out a pattern on. I have scanned into the computer a section of this pattern, and my hope is to use photoshop to manipulate colors until I find one I like.

I am taking the color inspiration from my research on Islamic Art

and I'm hoping to incorporate purples, blues, greens and yellows into my pattern in perhaps a stripe like way, similar to the picture next to me on the right.

This provides new opportunities for exploration.