This fab flop was done using a technique taught in my drawing class Art School, using willow Charcoal, shellac, and colour pastel. (My teacher can do this stuff on her ear!)
The process involves automatic drawing in this instance, where you begin by making marks on the paper (cartridge of mix media paper should be fine), then obliterating them with the side of your hand. This creates an interesting texture and tones your ground. Then you flip your drawing upside down, and make more marks, then wipe them off again. Turn it on
Turn it on it's side and repeat, then see if you can find some shapes among your marks and bring them out, then wipe them out and flip and repeat. Once you've brought shapes out, you can use your eraser one charcoal to see if the shapes remind you of anything, or you can work abstractly, then once you're happy, spray with a fixative.
After that take some shellac, and a brush (One you don't mind destroying! A chip brush is ideal), then use the shellac over where you want your darkest areas. You may need to work it a little so that the charcoal that lifts is set down again on the paper. Once you're happy, come at it again with your charcoal.
If your shellac is still wet, you can get some interesting dark lines. Use it to further establish your form, and spray with fixative again.Use your shellac again to build up the colour of your shellac and to work your charcoal again if needed and re-spray with fixative.
You could call that done if you want to keep it to just the charcoal, or you can then start adding some pastel to create interest. This can be "knocked back" with fixative, and more colour added. To finish, it's advised to not use any more fixative or varnish unless you want your colours knocked back.
Not done much work this way, but wanted to share something fun :)
One of many flops :D
Embrace them....they help us grow :D
This fab flop was done using a technique taught in my drawing class Art School, using willow Charcoal, shellac, and colour pastel.
(My teacher can do this stuff on her ear!)
The process involves automatic drawing in this instance, where you begin by making marks on the paper (cartridge of mix media paper should be fine), then obliterating them with the side of your hand. This creates an interesting texture and tones your ground. Then you flip your drawing upside down, and make more marks, then wipe them off again. Turn it on
Turn it on it's side and repeat, then see if you can find some shapes among your marks and bring them out, then wipe them out and flip and repeat. Once you've brought shapes out, you can use your eraser one charcoal to see if the shapes remind you of anything, or you can work abstractly, then once you're happy, spray with a fixative.
After that take some shellac, and a brush (One you don't mind destroying! A chip brush is ideal), then use the shellac over where you want your darkest areas. You may need to work it a little so that the charcoal that lifts is set down again on the paper. Once you're happy, come at it again with your charcoal.
If your shellac is still wet, you can get some interesting dark lines. Use it to further establish your form, and spray with fixative again.Use your shellac again to build up the colour of your shellac and to work your charcoal again if needed and re-spray with fixative.
You could call that done if you want to keep it to just the charcoal, or you can then start adding some pastel to create interest. This can be "knocked back" with fixative, and more colour added. To finish, it's advised to not use any more fixative or varnish unless you want your colours knocked back.
Not done much work this way, but wanted to share something fun :)
Let me know if you give it a try :)