I didn’t plan to do this page really, but instead, I was going to do one large dendrite with lots of branches off. I was playing around with my inks and compressed air and decided to do lots of interconnections like those in the brain (hence the grey background). I did think that if I just tried to go vertical and horizontal only then it would not look as messy as if I had blown the ink in all directions. Everything is interconnected in some way or other.
I drew the left side onto some coloured background paper using a black pen and water soluble graphite pencils then scanned it into my computer and mucked a round with the image in photoshop for the right hand side. Concentric rings turn up all the time.
Inspiration for this double page is Spirals. You can find spiral formations everywhere in nature be it in flora, fauna, weather patterns, rock formations etc. I have chosen an Ammonite to show a logarithmic spiral (Fibonacci or Golden spiral). I used mostly acrylic paint for this page and a touch of oil pastels and a sepia pen.
Inspired by the book CHAOS making a new science by James Gleick; another good read. The Butterfly effect (sensitive dependence on initial conditions). Tiny changes can have large consequences following a chain of events. (this is only a small portion of what the book is about – he explores randomness, patterns, science and maths and other theories). Again this double page has watercolour pencils, inktense pencils, black Pitt pen and some butterfly stamps.
This double page was inspired by microbes and zentangle. It is all so often the tiniest things that matter the most. I love doodling these kind of things. It was created using mainly watercolour pencils, inktense pencils, water soluble graphite and a black Pitt pen.
This double page spread is about some of the things that go into making life. Water and chemicals, chromosomes, DNA etc. But what gave life that vital spark?
I used acrylic paints, water soluble graphite, white Prisma pencil, a doily, letter mask, and handmade chromosome stamp (wool glued onto foam).
The first pages of my little book. I used the verse from The Big Bang Theory (by the Barenaked ladies) to get the book started then the first page depicts Daisy world from the Gaia theory of James Lovelock. He describes a kind of planetary feedback mechanism to maintain Earth’s homeostasis. In one very simple model he talks about black daisies and white daisies bringing this about and this is what I imagined as I read it. I used acrylic paints, black pen, Prisma pencils with sansador and some sequin waste as a stencil.
I finally finished my Sketchbook project for 2014 and it is now in Brooklyn and will go on the Northeast tour in 2014. I like the idea that my little book will be going on tour and not just sitting in my bookcase at home.
The theme I picked was ‘Greetings from…’ so mine is Greetings from this extraordinary place called Earth and is named Organised Chaos. What makes out Earth unique? Is it just chaotic randomness or is it all structured and within the laws of nature? Why do you find similar patterns emerging on different surfaces. I don’t give any answers I merely depict what was going on in my head while I daydreamed about the questions. I took out the rather thin paper that was in the journal and used bamboo paper instead as I like to use all kinds of media. I also changed the cover from the plain brown card one to a grunge board one which I then painted with gesso and acrylic paint. I sprayed the cover with a light coat of sealant but it reacted a little with the ink on the label so I hope it still scans ok.
Finally on the last day of the sketchbook challenge for March I have had time to do a sketch. The theme for March was Natural surfaces – I absolutely love the patterns you see all around in nature and I have quite a few photos of surface that I have yet to do something with. A while back I took a couple of photos while we were visiting the Natural museum of Scotland above is orbicular granodiorite. You can capture quite a lot of detail even with my small camera and I can see I will have fun doing a few things with these images when I have time.
I did a small sketch using shades of grey Pitt pens on some patterned paper which already looked like a stone background. This was then manipulated in photoshop (inverted and coloured) to add colour. I was just mucking about so I don’t know if I would ever be able to replicate it.
To encourage me to try sketching a bit more for practice I have joined the sketchbook challenge and this months challenge theme is ‘Sweet: sugar and spice and all things nice’. I didn’t know what to sketch so I flicked through some cook books and found a photograph of a delicious looking caramelised apple flan (or tarte tatin) so I thought I would have a go. I scanned my sketch with a sheet of acetate over it in black and white mode so it is not picking up the subtle colour of the pencil. I am looking forward to doing a few more of these challenges.