Finshed Piece

I have finally finished my tree, which I am really pleased with. To fill the gaps I used wool wrapped wire coils, felt circles and wool wrapped card to represent the inside and age rings of a tree. Overall the tree looks colourful and I like the different textures which help to make it look more realistic, however to improve I would touch up the paint which started to peel in some areas.

 

 

Progress:

I have now got an A4 Sketchbook to help me progress with my project by using it to test out different materials and ideas. In my sketchbook I have made a mindmap of ideas for the overall theme of my tree and I have decided to base it on the age and history of a tree, shown by the textures and rings found within a tree trunk. I'm going test out different construction methods of creating these rings such as wool wrapping, photography, layered circles of wood or paper and I could also use free machine embroidary and to create different textures.
Overall following the multi-colours I have painted my tree I would like the finished look to be quite abstract and free as nature itself isn't perfect and hopefully the end result will be more eye-catching.

I decided to go with abstract colours because they have more of an impact and allow you to be more free with the colours. When painting my modrock I found that it was quite hard to get an even coverage and white gaps where left over the whole of my tree, however I quite liked this effect as it gave more texture, I then coated my model in gloss to give it a shiny finish. I have decided that I am going to add some more dimension to the tree by wrapping wool around wire which I will attach around the gaps, which will eventually contain sketches.

Alternative Sketchbook

I have started making progress with my alternative sketchbook, and have completed the base layer of my tree using wood, wire and modrock and I have left holes in it to add sketches and to wrap wool around. So far I'm happy with the way it looks quite rough and textured, but I'm not sure what colours to paint it; either natural browns and greens or using inspiration from Trisha Kieman by using abstract colours instead...

Plaster Casting

We had a go at plaster casting the other week as part of our technique samples and I was really happy with the way mine turned out as the plaster picked up alot of detail and is quite easy to do. I also like the way it is quite free as you can make a cast of anything, so I'm considering using it for or as part of my final piece but maybe next time I can try using leaves and berries or other natural materials or maybe create a series of  different squares. I would also need to make sure that the edges where straighter to give the cast a more finished and professional look.

Trees

Following on from my artist research I took some photos of some trees for some inspiration and ideas on the detail, shape and texture of tree trunks, to help me when I continue to make my alternative sketchboook. I also took some in black and white to show the finer detail and patterns more clearly. I particularly like the close up photo of the fungi in the hole as it represents what I want to do with my tree by putting drawings inside the holes and gaps of the trunk to make it a little more interesting and intriguing!

Trisha Keiman

I have finally started on my alternative sketchbook and have decided to make a hollow trunk of a tree made from weaved wires and modrock and decorated with wool and ribbon to create texture and colour. I will then add sketches inside that you can take out, and maybe incorperate some sketches on my own butterflies inspired by Tasha Lewis.

Trisha Keiman paints many different subjects, but I particulaly like this painting because it includes bright bold colours and is quite abstract which makes it quite similar to Luiza Vizoli's work. I choose this painting because of the texture and intertwining roots and bark incorperated in the tree, which I can use to inspire the shape and look of my own work for my alternative sketchbook.