Design and Composition

Re: New designs

Barbara Triscari — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:50:19 GMT

Great number of photos! Art for years to come! I really like the umbrellas idea! It is so much fun working on a project that comes from a great experience that you can relive while you work. Enjoy the time you get to work, even if it is only weekends!

Re: New designs

reginabdunn — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:15:08 GMT

I looked at the charms. How beautiful. And what a fun project.

I returned with over 2000 photos! I know I want to make a series from a photo of brightly colored umbrellas in a night market. I don't know any details, but the colors and shapes should give me a variety of things to do with it. Also, I want to make some quilts with buddha images from the temples. Perhaps with some of the ruins we visited as a background. My husband took a great photo of a woman carrying a basket on her head with lotus pods that would make a great quilt. And I bought a lot of silk fabric that I want to use in making purses, cuff bracelets, and all sorts of fun things. The only problem is that school just started this week and I won't have much time (or energy) for art for awhile. In a few weeks I'll be used to it again and then I'll start making art on the weekends. I think I'll start with the umbrella project.

Re: New designs

Barbara Triscari — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:55:17 GMT

I just returned from 3 years in Italy and I had a preschooler and 2 school age kids. So, finding time to execute projects was very limited. I have a sketchbook for those ideas I don't want to loose and took thousands of photos to go through and find inspiration from for the years to come. Not to mention that Italy was our last stop on my military wife tour...so that is after living in other inspiring places such as Alaska for 4 years! So, I have so many projects I know I want to do, and those that I don't even know are just waiting to come out. Being overseas, you can be in places where antique means centuries old, not a hundred! The history is amazing! So I just photographed, photographed, photographed! We have been back in the states for almost 2 months and I just got around to looking at the photos I took in the last few days there and they were amazing! We were so lucky to have a clear day as we flew out of Marco Polo Airport and got great shots of Venice, Murano, Burano and San Michele! Can't wait to see what I create using the photos themselves and the photos as inspiration. And that is just a 10 minute span of time in our stay in Italy. I took photos of doors, windows, bugs, flowers, floors, architecture, people, on and on.

Enjoy your trip and enjoy all the memories, photos and sketches you bring back....and go for it! Save paraphanalia too! Who would have known I would end up in Cloth Paper Scissors for the charm swap when I saved gelato spoons! Too much fun!

If you are interested in seeing the photos mentioned: www.betoncat.com

or the charm swaps:

http://www.scambio.scambiocreativo.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=20

Re: New designs

reginabdunn — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:28:36 GMT

I posted a photo of some of the silk and embroideries into the Photo Gallery Today.

Re: New designs

Belinda Spiwak — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:14:17 GMT

That was a great idea. Glad you had an excellent time! I am sitting here at Art Unraveled catching up on things before getting ready for a class.

Re: New designs

Karen Christensen — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:11:27 GMT

How exciting!! Looking forward to seeing what becomes of those fabrics and the inspirations behind them!

Re: New designs

cousette — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:47:34 GMT

These good news from you let us wait for photos, especially those of the fabulous scraps ! ! we 're eager to see what this travel brought to your art !

Re: New designs

Approachable Art — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:19:34 GMT

Welcome home!! Do you have any photos to share? :D

Re: New designs

reginabdunn — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:04:48 GMT

I'm back from my trip. It was one of the best we've done. In addition to all the cultural things, I had my eyes open for anything to do with fabric. I approached seamstresses and bargained with them to buy their silk scraps. It was so much fun and they had a huge variety of designs on the fabric... floral, geometric, variegated, and solids too. I don't think they had a tourist before who wanted scraps. Whenever I bought fabrics, scraps, scarves, embroideries, etc. after I bargained and paid, I gave the merchant or artist an "inchie" that I had made. Each one had my email address on the back. They were so surprised and seemed to really like them. What fun! I don't have any specific plans for the silk yet, but I'm sure it will get used. I have lots of ideas.

Re: New designs

Susan Brubaker Knapp — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:55:47 GMT

It looks like I'm responding way too late... you are already there. But my best advice is to take a camera and capture as much as you can that way. If you have to move fast, the camera is a better option than the sketchbook. Hope you have a blast!

Re: New designs

Muppin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:21:46 GMT

How exciting for you and your trip! When I travel, I sketch little drawings and take lots of photos, and the drawings sometimes have nothing to do with the area I am visiting, so be prepared for that to happen too. I was in Alaska once, and drew lots of fairies while there. What "fairies" had to do with "Alaska" I have no idea! :)

I can't wait to see how it all turns out when you are back.

Cheryl

Re: New designs

reginabdunn — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:13:53 GMT

Karen,

your idea of notes to get the feeling is important. I haven't really done that before. I'll let you know how it goes.

Re: New designs

reginabdunn — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:11:59 GMT

Belinda,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I've been reading a tour book about the places we want to see and I think that I"ll be able to immerse myself during the 5 weeks. I think it will be important for me to add words as you suggest so that I know what my intent was when I did the sketch. I'll try to add words not only about structure of the design, but words that express emotions to capture in the final piece. I'll be in touch a little during the trip, but will share more when I get back home.

Re: New designs

Karen Christensen — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:19:03 GMT

How wonderfully exciting!! As Judy has said I dont think you will want to try to put a solid design together untill your back home. with the sketchbook and watercolor pencils I would just keep fast sketches of any and all things that capture your eye. Colors and texture especially. Cameras are an must! Take notes. lots of notes that put forth the feelings your getting from something that inspires you. That will make it much easier to remember just what it was you were thinking at the time. I think your idea of quick designs is a good one, and with notes all over the page to help in the modifying when your at home. Enjoy yourself!! I look forward to seeing what you come up with when your back.

Re: New designs

Belinda Spiwak — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:47:35 GMT

Ms spirit2sew,

I can't draw worth anything at all. I think you have the right idea though. I might sugges that you also bring along some glue and pins so you can just stick in some samples that give you inspiration. Some my best designs come from things that already exist. Just enjoy yourself and try to capture whatever you can so you can come back and use it in your art. If you get samples - all the better. I have some awful sketches that just give me a general idea of what I want to do later on - while I still remember. A few minutes later, the thought is lost because I am on to something else. The sketch does not have to be elaborate. It just has to be enough so I remember what I want to do later on. Since I really suck in the drawing department, I will add arrows, words, and color to supplement. The real sketch is drawn in my mind. I am good at the visualizing. Sometimes the most simple visual will trigger what I need to remember. I am sure that you will bring home plenty of colors, textures, patterns, and fabrics that you can use in your designs. Have a wonderful trip. One of the best trips I ever had was backpacking in Alaska.