FMP (12/4/16) paper making at home

I decided to have a go at making my own paper at home today. I had already tried it at college on earlier projects but I wanted to try and be more independent and try it myself. I wanted to create this paper so I could draw and cut bits of it out to collage, I love the texture you get from the handmade paper and I love the process I have to go through to achieve it. Here are the steps I took ;

STEP 1/ I started by ripping up bits of scrap paper and old photographs in which I don't need anymore. I ripped these pieces up very small meaning it could blend easier.

STEP 2/ I then put all the paper into a blended with double the amount of water to paper. I blended this up until it turned into a mushy paste.

STEP 3/ I then used the sive to drain out the excess water from a chunk of the paste. 

STEP 4/ I then gathered the bits of paste and pressed them into the thin paper shape I needed. I will leave this to dry and post the results in the morning.

The paper making could have gone better, I feel that the mixture I made for it could have been blended more however it was too lumpy to blend. Making the paper thin was also a task because of the lumpiness of the mixture. I also didn't like the colour that the paper was. I think it's because the scrap paper I had was full with lots of writing and picture and the ink has made the mixture darker. 

FMP (12/4/16)

Today I decided to create a large piece of work on a piece of parcel paper stuck to the wall next to my desk. I wanted to practice creating a piece of art on a much larger scale to prepare for my final piece and I also wanted to try creating different textures on a larger scale to see how different it would be. Even though this piece only has one or two layers of paint to it I am wanting to practice adding more and more layers, throughout the rest of my FMP I will practice building up structures more and making them link together better. I realise that this piece is a bit blocky with lots of different bits going on, this is simply because I was experimenting with colours and textures to get the right ideas. This is all planning and preparation for me on my main piece which I have finally decided the measurements for today. I am wanting to work on a scale of 4 1/2 ft by 5ft. 

FMP (8/4/16)

Today I have created 3 pieces on small canvases, all these pieces are water colour and acrylic paint. I've created them by layering up the paints. These paintings are not finished yet but I'm happy with the vibrant colours and quality of them. I will be working back into these pieces and posting a later blog post to show you how they look at the end.

FMP (7/4/16)

Today I have been to Harrogate, I decided to take some pictures of some buildings closer up rather than further away. This is because I feel that throughout the project my ideas are developing and I'm creating more textured zoomed in work. This has altered my way of thinking a little bit and I needed some more images to create developments with. These pictures are mainly of moss, old bricks, peeling paint and rotting. I will be adding to these images throughout the project and will have a good set of them towards the end to work from. I have become very exited by the texture seen in bricks and rocks and the moss invetween them. I hope to create lots of studies from these ideas. 

FMP (5/4/16)

Today was the first day back at college since the Easter holidays. I decided I wanted to take some more photographs of texture for my work seen as though that's where I wanted to go with it. I decided to look closely at the old paint palletes at the back of the classroom that people have been too lazy to clean. I took some really nice photographs of them and I then started to peel paint away from the mucky palettes to leave a layer of shiny paint. I have collaged these in my sketchbook along with the pictures of the paint palletes I have taken. 

FMP (1/4/16)

Here I have been creating artist studies on trine panum and artist who creates abstract pieces with paints and mixed media. I like her work and the bright complexity of it. She creates lots of shape and structure in her work which really inspired me for this project. 

Easter holiday work FMP (30/3/16)

Today I looked at an artist called Heather Day who has been really inspiring me for a few months now. I really love her art all the pieces she creates are very abstract, bright and wacky! Her style reminds me a lot of mine and Her work has been giving me lots of ideas for my own abstract designs. 

I decided to use her as one of the artists to look at for my FMP simply because I like her work. I want to show some of that style in my final piece and really show vibrant colour and abstract shape and texture. I decided to produce a painting in my sketchbook inspired by the style of Heather Day and I thoughroughly enjoyed doing this. I used acrylic paint, and a pallete knife, that's it. I'm really pleased with the outcome; below are some of Heather Days pieces and my own piece of art. 

I still need to complete this piece.