Some days, I go to the studio and have a plan in mind. There's something I want to try, or finish, or a combinations of colors I want to explore (lately, it's been color palettes from Doctor Who I found on Pinterest).
Other days, I just go and doodle or mess around. Draw for a bit or clean my tools. I've been known to sit there and look at Instagram or read. Not all creative work is done on the surface; the atmosphere in the studio is so amazing, I like to soak it in and let it guide me.
Recently, I noticed that I was liking the pages created in my journal better than the ones on canvas, where Wireframe Girlsw were concerned. I just liked the look, or the way the pencil and inks worked on paper rather than canvas. I adore my garden series on canvas, but these girls...they work on paper so much better.
So I thought I'd step up my game and pull out my GIANT pad of Strathmore mixed media paper (18"x24") and start exploring this new vein - if I like the a Wireframe Girls on paper, but only in my art journal, could I translate the experience to bigger pieces?
To answer: yes, so far.
I did the top one last week, but went in and added subtle shading with a Conté crayon and a paper blending stump, which was a great way to warm up.
The second is still a WIP - I had a bunch of paint left on my palette from some other work I did, so instead of collaging and stamping and grabbing a reference image, I just started doodling and throwing down paint. There wasn't a full range of colors, since I just wanted to use up what was left, but I think it came out kind of amazing.
And I think it serves as a reminder to how I got into doing these abstract girls in the first place - as a way to use up paint, or make a mess. I think I've gotten so concerned with adding texture that I've gone a bit overboard...you can kinda see it in the first one...all that texture added with each layer. It's magic and practice that keeps it all from mixing together (I don't wait for layers to dry...I just keep working!).
I want to know what these women are thinking. What's going on in their lives? What is surrounding them? Do they need to escape, or are they content where they are? I feel like there's so much emotion, despite being faceless. Someone asked me if I was going to be adding faces later, and I honestly don't know. I'm leaning towards not, and here's why:
The less detailed a face/illustration, the easier it is for the reader/viewer to put themselves into the story. The more detailed, the more we see it as 'other.' I'm terribly paraphrasing a book on creating comics, but this is the general idea. I felt like we all got super obsessed with making face, we forgot about everything else.
What do you think?
Also, if you're local, I'll be teaching this method of brushless painting on May 17th! Link to info and to sign up on the sidebar.