I had a very enjoyable day today mark making in Cricklade near Swindon at a one day workshop with Amanda Hislop on a seascape or landscape theme to make small sketchbooks.
We made marks freely on a range of papers and surfaces roughly A3 in size using Koh-I-Noor water-based dyes, inks, candle-wax resists, fibre pens, pastels, crayons and, to my delight, a cola pen.
The papers were then cut or torn and folded into books and additional marks were added. The folding produced a random form of cropping and selection of images which I would not have obtained from a carefully placed card window.
Some members of the group then added stitch. Indeed I have a couple of others to which I will add some trial stitching ... and they're in colour of a less gloomy kind. The Koh-I-Noor palette with its range of rich jewel-like colours inspired me!
For anyone new to the idea of cola pens, an explanation of how to make and use them is given here. I'm not sure that this link makes it entirely clear that the nib for this pen should be cut from a metal drinks can such as that which is used to make Coco Cola (hence its name) or similar. The metal needs to be thin and very pliable.
The effects that can be produced by turning the nib as it's dragged across the paper or marking using the tip are to my mind unlike anything else I've used and, combined with a dark coloured ink, make a fantastic range of different marks.
The papers were then cut or torn and folded into books and additional marks were added. The folding produced a random form of cropping and selection of images which I would not have obtained from a carefully placed card window.
For anyone new to the idea of cola pens, an explanation of how to make and use them is given here. I'm not sure that this link makes it entirely clear that the nib for this pen should be cut from a metal drinks can such as that which is used to make Coco Cola (hence its name) or similar. The metal needs to be thin and very pliable.
The effects that can be produced by turning the nib as it's dragged across the paper or marking using the tip are to my mind unlike anything else I've used and, combined with a dark coloured ink, make a fantastic range of different marks.
Love these but I like gloomy colours and the orange gives a lovely lift, also like the different grades of height.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie. It was a good day which has prompted some different thoughts, which is after all the point of this kind of exercise. Not sure where they'll lead right now but I too like the changes in height and the glimpses of things behind - echoing hills - so I may well explore this further.
DeleteThese are so fantastic. I'm in awe of what you're doing lately!
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, making these little books prompted me to use colour again and also to try some new mark making tools. good for me no doubt!
DeleteI love these, especially the ones with torn edges! Great photos. Interesting techniques, new to me!
ReplyDeleteVery many (if rather belated) thanks, Marj-leena. The cola pens are great to use, making a tremendous variety of interesting marks. They were the great revelation of the day for me.
Deletetoujours beau! je regarderai plus simplement...de retour à la maison...
ReplyDeleteMerçi Elfi ... et bon voyage!
DeleteHow did I miss this post, and indeed this class? Oh but this is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteVery many thanks for your kind comments. This was one of those workshops which seemed to prompt all manner of thoughts for me. I've used the technique several times since (see my latest post) and have found it very freeing. The unexpected happens. Because I'm not trying to force things, surprising juxtapositions of mark and imagery seem to appear as if by magic ... though there are failures too! But they don't matter which is the point of this.
Delete