An Experiment

One of the most intriguing techniques I have learned in my painting class is image transfer - laying printed material face down in gel medium, drying it, and removing all the paper and leaving something behind. Frankly it is a tedious process, and I am not sure I am doing it correctly, but it is intriguing.

All week I have been thinking about transferring a floral image from my laser printer completely onto a small canvas. So I did. The transfer left much to be desired (left lots of the image off the canvas), but there was enough to inspire a color palette of reds and greens. These made me think of poppies and bright colored abstract flowers and leaves. I had a great time painting this little canvas - just playing with the color and the paint and the shapes. I am delighted with the simple painting that results. The image beneath the paint is now just some darks and lights that show through, and a texture - subtle, but definitely a presence within the image. I want to play with this technique again.

In Layers

Float

I started this by using a compass to draw a pattern of circles. Then I drew the weaving lines over the circles.

My idea was to use color to identify each circle, cool colors for the circle shapes, warms for the background. I combined medium and fine point sharpie to draw all the lines.

Then I layered more lines to define each circle, and then used thin layers of intense pencil to create the overlapping weave of background color, and added another layer of lines to define the over lapping areas. Then a little more color.

This does not translate well on the screen, but the image on 11x14 drawing paper creates a strong impression of depth.