Module 5-Chapter 2: Paper Relief Investigations

In this chapter we were supposed to fold, rip, scrunch.... various papers to see its effects.

I used Liquitex matte medium to glue the pieces to the  pieces to the black paper.

2a: copy paper folde, ripped

2b: a finer version of tissue paper, It's interesting to see the marks of the glue under the paper

2c: tracing paper, this paper is stiffer than the normal paper, the creases stand up because it was difficult to glue them "flatter"

2d: paper used in toilet to dry hands, I like the feathery effects the paper creates when ripped. It somehow reminds me of frost

2e: Japanese batik paper , when torn this paper creates fibrous edges

2f: another Japanese paper with incorporated leaves

2g. paper for pattern tracing

2h: crêpe paper

2i: packing brown paper, notice the pattern of the "stripes" in the paper

2j: scrunched copy paper

2k: scrunched tissue paper, the pattern in the creases is finer than in sample 2j where the paper is stiffer

2l: scrunched crêpe paper: this paper proved more diffidult to scrunch. Also I tried to take advantage of the quality of the paper and tried to give it a bend

2m: scrunched paper for pattern tracing.  The grid on the paper creates a secondary pattern
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2n: paper for drying hands

2o: Japanese batik paper

2p: transparent fibrous paper

2q; kitchen roll paper

2r: packing paper

2s: very thick candy box lining paper

In general one can say here that the stiffer the paper, the coarser the scrunched surface and the higher the relief is. The paper holds its creases very well.
With lighter, tissue like paper the creases are much finer and could be more "controllable"

Manipulated tissue paper:

2*a: twisted tissue paper, looped before being glued down

2*b: twisted, knotted and spiralled

2*c: two strips of tissue paper were interlinked, then flattened before being glued down

2*d: another scrunched tissue paper sample where I tried to put more glue under the surfaces that weren't crumpled

2*e: another pleated kitchen paper sample, in the lower part I tried to rip the paper and overlaying the strips so that the edges would create an interesting surface

2*f: ripped tissue paper, loosely pleated

2*g: loosely pleated tissue paper, creating more organic shapes with tonal effects where the black background shines through

2*h: pleated vertically and horizontally

2*i: handpleated strips, curved

2*j: little paper triangles were gathered then glued

2*k: paper rectangles were gathered in the middle part and form little bows

2*l: a longer piece of paper gather with hand stitches, creating larger pleats

2*m: these two paper strips were not pleated when glued down, Instead a drinking straw was used to create a "resist" when glueing

2*n: scrunched tissue paper, parts of it was twisted to create little peaks stiffened with glue to make them stand (cf. shibori resist technique)

2*o: packing paper strips were folded in half, then ripped before being glued down

2*p: folded paper strips, cut/ripped before being glued down

2*q: copy paper was scrunched, flattened, gathered with hand stitches. I couldn't resist to rub the edges of this sample with a "Woody Stabilo", then water it  down to make the creases come out more clearly.

2*r: machine gathered tissue paper strip

 2*s: sorry there is a mistake in the denomination : overlaid torn tissue paper with fine holes

2*t: pleated tissue paper with holes

Module 5-Chapter 1-Texture in Landscape

These first pics have been taken in a wood close to my home. It is a part of a big area where people were extracting  iron ore which contributed to the wealth of our country in the 19th and 20th century. The extraction of iron ore changed the landscape dramatically. Now nature has reconquered it's territory and "ment its wounds". Some new plants like wild orchids now grow there. I want to concentrate on the wood in this area.

For a longer period in my life I had been running there with a group of ladies and I know every little path and corner. It all ended when I started working and didn't have so much time but it's there where I go to when I'm feeling down and want to be alone.

During the walk in which I took these pictures I felt close to this part of nature and realized how much I missed it. I concentrated on special textures and walked through the woods like Alice in Wonderland, stopping every few seconds to admire all the wonderful textures and stroking the trees. It was a good thing I was on my own.

The following pics mainly concentrate on three barks but also on what happened on the floor and on man made marks.

I decided to make my own sketchbook and used A3 black paper binded by bookbinder screws.

1a: a pic altered with Picasa, first twisted, then turned into black and white.Not a real "texture" pic though, but the lines show a pattern that could be reproduced into textured ones.

1b; raindroplets on grass, enlarged

1c: enlarged seed head

Looking onto the floor

1d: fallen pine needles (enlarged)

1e: man-made marks: mountain-bike tyre marks showing interesting pattern with raised and recessed areas

1f: beautiful texture here. It looks as if flat pieces of wood were attaced to a surface

1h: another tree bark with interesting shapes

1g: lichen on tree bark, irregular shapes

1i: round flat shapes

1j: diamond shapes,  textured

Looking up, looking down

1k: pine needles
1l: feather on forest ground

1m: unfortunately this photo turned out blurred. the ridges are not sharp but gently curved

1n: enlarged pine cone, square shapes

1o

1p: another example of man-made marks:

This "curtain" made of ropes is a tribute to the men working in the iron ore industry. Apparently it was inspired by our group of running ladies.

The "curtain is hanging from an old abandoned bridge called "the black bridge"

Split trees revealing their "inner" lives

1q: curved lines
1r: sharp pointed edges

1s: another treed bark covered with lichen (?) showing a very fine irregular texture

1t: another example of a pine cone, overlapping triangular, ondulating shapes

Peeling tree barks:

 1u

1v

1w: moss on tree bark, soft and furry

Looking at plants:

Ferns

1x: fern leaves and their seeds

Heavily textured barks

1y

Man-made: stairs

I finally would like to share a few more pics, I could have added many more and I certainly will at some stage, but I feel at the moment like going with Chapter 2 

the bottom of a mushroom