Monday, December 27, 2010

Sketchbook Studies

In preparation for the first prompt (coming on 1-1-2011) for The Sketchbook Challenge, I have been puttering with my sketchbooks during my holiday vacation and I thought I'd share some of it with you.

I'm developing texture studies to use in my Masteries class with Jane Dunnewold and have been playing with my own hand writing in both large and small formats.




The design wall is currently covered with these studies.


The idea to stack text came as I was doodling in this little beauty, a hand-made, fused-silk covered journal gifted to me a while back by Sue B.



Inside, while working on improving my handwriting before moving it to fabric, I began to be fascinated by the shapes, whorls, and sharp lines of text and the way one word looks when sketched directly on top of another. 


I started with the basics, stacking the same nonsense word on top of itself, turning the page this way and that as I wrote. Interesting textures developed. 


These led me to wonder about creating shapes using this simple technique.


I was happy with my results and began to think that some of them looked like graffiti. 


I've long wished to "tag" my own name, and I know there are classes being offered online to help you learn to do that, but I've never taken the time to look into any of them. So I started playing independently with my own name and voila, a tag is born.




Finally, to play with even more text, I began stacking journaling on top of paper that's already been printed on, like telephone book pages.

Now I just need Jane to help me interpret all of this onto fabric!

Happy creating and hope to see you on 1-1-2011 for our first prompt! - Judi

13 comments:

FunkyC said...

I like the random patterns that emerge as the text overlaps. It'll be fun to see where this leads!

susan said...

I love the look but mine looks like a bunch of scribbling. Do you have any suggestions? Also when you talked about a "tag", what does that mean? Love your art!

susan said...

oops - here is my email

Cate Rose said...

Very cool, Judi!

Gina said...

This is fun! I'd like to see this technique done with each layer a different color although the black and white of text is so striking. I'm looking forward to seeing your next step with this!

Eva said...

beautiful calligraphy! With a living motion in it. That's not as easy as it looks.

Susan said...

I really enjoyed looking at study with text. It was very inspirational.

Love your "tag" too. Didn't there were classes for that!

Can't wait till the challenge starts.

elle said...

I just luv words. What a cool idea to stack them up. This is great, Judi. And here I thought you were just sitting around drinking egg nog! lol

Diane Kelsey said...

Really interesting and definetly worth further exploration! I cant wait to start on te sketchbook challenge!

Pussyfoots said...

When my calligraphy gets too tight, I paint with watercolor to loosen up. But after seeing your journaling practice, I'm thinking this would be another way to loosen up. Can hardly wait to try it.

Unknown said...

Oh, this is a neat technique. I am sitting here trying it. Love your examples!

janice said...

Wow, this is really cool. I think I may have to try it and then have Lynn make it into a screen.

Gayle Pritchard said...

Very cool, Judi. Thanks for sharing your process. Happy New Year!