Sunday, October 10, 2021

Phase 1: The Tricksters Hat

 

.Anyone going to join in for this. I see no one has commented.

I ran across an exercise in Collaging that was in the book THE TRICKSTERS HAT by Nick Bantock.

If you've never read any of Nick's books they are wonderful,  interactive, brain and  intriguing books. You should check them out. Maybe after I finish what I have in mind today and what follows I'll do something with his books. He also designed some fun and quirky rubber stamps. I am not sure if you can still find them but it would be worth the search.


GUIDED COLLAGE

Just in case you have a thumbs twittling day ahead of you, may I be so bold as to suggest you have a go at this exercise from The Tricksters Hat. You don't have to be a practiced artist to get started, its designed for everyone regardless of age or skill level.

First and foremost before we begin you need a friend to participate in this with you. A neighboring artist somebody you see often or if you want to do it through the mail you can but it will take longer, its up to you.  I'm going to do this with my friend Sheila we spend at least one sometimes two days a week having Makey days.

MATERIALS NEEDED

-White board anywhere between  12x10" or 13x16"

-acrylic paints  (make sure you have a  blue)

-matte medium 

-chalk pastels

-Supply of varied old magazines for ripping and tearing 

-black and white gesso or paint

-a largish brush

-colored pencils or crayons 

-tissue paper and other ephemera for collaging (this is a 2D project by the way)

 

Okay here we go, Phase 1

-Select any tube of paint using a thin mix solution of that color, quickly cover half of your board with the largish brush (keep in mind that there are many different ways to cover a half).

- Take a colored pencil or crayon and scribble rapidly on the remaining white half of the board.

-Add a red triangle 🔺️. 

-Add a number ( hand drawn or from a torn piece of magazine or newspaper.

- Add another bigger number, this time making it touch up against the edge of your board.

- Pick a chalk pastel, draw into half of the remaining white area and rub it in with your fingers.

- Tear out a figure from a magazine could be human or animal and adhere it to your board.

-Select another tube of paint. Mix that color with a little black and a little white.  Use this mix color to paint out the remaining area of white on your board.


Don't get too precise about any of these instructions we are really just building the ground in order to create some layers.


- Squeeze a small amount of blue paint on to the heel of your hand, then without thinking about placement bang it down onto your picture three times.

- Tear a piece of tissue and paste it down onto your piece with matte medium, then paint back over the top of the tissue with more matte medium.  (When it dries not only will it be well stuck, it will be sealed in so that you will be able to continue to work over the top of it.)

- Quickly scan your ephemera and magazines looking for a map or a diagram tear a corner section out and put it in one of the corners of your picture or board whichever you're calling it.

- Go back to your magazines and ephemera and look for something "unexpected" put it in the opposite corner to the map/diagram.


But now the picture may be a messy. MESSY IS O.K.  We are just developing the necessary layers.


- Find a largish letter (alphabet not mail) cut it in half,  and add it to your picture so that the two cut sections are butted up against different edges.

- STOP! Look at what you've done so far. Push any judgment from your mind. Just absorb what's there without taking critical responsibility. Wait until you see an area that you'd like to add to or change. Ignore the little voice that says "All of it!" 

-Simply decide on the one part that needs something different. Then paint or collage as you wish.


You have now reached Phase 2.

And that is for another day.

You and your partner should be at the same Phase.


OVERTHINKING IS THE 

          DEATH OF CREATIVITY.

                                            Seth Apter


Til the next time... 

CIAO,

PUFF 💋💋

No comments:

Post a Comment