Sketchbook Day 16 - ripping and sticking

I'm having a problem leaving messages on some of your blogs, so please don't feel neglected! [Blame it on 'blogger'.] I really am enjoying looking at all your wonderful drawings so please keep it up - you're forgiven if you have missed some of the tasks, but you can still refer back to them later if you wish.

TODAY'S TASK - Gather coloured materials (papers and/or fabrics) that relate to the colours you are currently working with based on your objects. These could be bits torn from magazines, colour washed newspaper print, decorated papers from previous design projects, old wrapping paper - anything in fact as long as it can be glued down fairly flat!

First task - Choose to work on one object first as this can be large enough to fit onto your sketchbook page.

Select a ground paper and cut or rip (depending on character of your object) a basic shape. Add further patches of coloured materials to record the general areas of colour. My plum is still around - but you'll notice it is a bit wrinkled. This might be its last 'portrait sitting'.

Second task - 'Colour-in' your last printed background. The individual shapes in this will be a lot smaller I expect, so use your paper shapes to suggest the general colouring and not the detail. Read the two stages below as I found this helped me to sort out my coloured papers and get the idea of using quite crudely ripped blocks of colour to achieve a good effect - see below.

Stage 1 - Place large pieces of coloured papers on the various areas to help you identify the colours that you'll need then add smaller bits to suggest detail.

                          

Stage 2 - Rip or cut these coloured papers up and position them to create each of the objects.

TODAY'S TIPS -Glue down your paper bits as you work and don't be tempted to just position them to see if they look OK. As you build them up, you'll never be able to glue them down where you want them at the end - I know! Glue them down as you go; if you decide it's wrong later, add a piece on top to hide it or partially obscure it.

Keep squinting at your collage to see if you are getting the colours and tones right. You can of course, just take your glasses off or look at it from far away.

Don't be over ambitious as this technique has its limitations but can give such exciting and unexpected results.Have a go.