progression, on all fronts...
in my last week here, things have started to come together - it seems all this thinking time has been good after all
most of what i've learned is in reference to what i like, what i'm drawn to...
the old, weathered, linear, industrial, abstract, faded and worn
texture and line, strength in both
neutral colours but a splash of something bold now and again
a contrast of natural softness and industrial strength
these first images are crops of photos taken at the transportation museum on my birthday... crawling on the floor, trying to get some interesting angles... thankfully it was a quiet day but my actions did garner a few odd looks
the side of a late 1920s truck
cast shadows on the floor
part of an aircraft engine
another angle
yesterday i got the idea to write verses from "the spell of the yukon" onto white tissue paper to collage with when i get home
at first my writing was fairly neat
the tissue paper had a mind of it's own though and it was easier to give in to the nature of it, letting the letters go where they may as the pen and the paper wished
(I learned that from the expressive calligraphy course with brody n. though this writing is in no way reflective of calligraphy)
this second column is a bit looser because of that
letting go even more
and yet more again...
that writing led me to my small "sketchbook of days" begun here in on my arrival in january
favourite lines and couplets from the same poem written lightly over several pages followed with a light wash of paint in the colours i am seeing here at the moment
three two-page spreads with varying transparency in the colour; shown here is the lightest of the three
sketching on top of all of them is next - perhaps some mountains or hills, maybe skinny trees, winter branches... when i get home i'll try this again with my light grey permanent pens as well as my dip pens using a more calligraphic style of writing... perhaps some fireweed pink colour added to the mix... or purple for the spring crocuses that will cover the hills after my departure... and the flowers themselves sketched on top... maybe a splash of gold paint
none of these thoughts are original - you can see versions of any or all of it all over the internet but they are new to me and a way of moving my thinking along in a delightful easy going way