Sunday, April 14, 2013

Playing around with barbed wire

I am thinking ahead a lot at the moment, planning ahead, getting ready, making preparations.  It might all sound dull and ordinary, but I am actually finding it gives me lots of opportunities and reasons to go make stuff and play.

Each day I head to the studio with my head buzzing with thoughts and ideas and plans and options and I am enjoying myself immensely.

This weekend was an example - one day drizzle, rain and mizzle and another pure sunshine delight - so I went over to do a range of things - indoor one day, outdoor the next.

Here are some of the bibs and bobs I got around to with barbed wire in mind...

Quick pen and ink...


De-bossing...


Embossing...


Rusty old barbed wire into wood...


All good fun!

24 comments:

  1. Big old huge sigh of amazement....

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    1. Oh wow - I almost heard the sigh from here J - thanks so much!

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  2. Oh these are so beautiful - ethereal, ghostly and understated - wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Charlton - little memories aren't they in a way? Like something you knew which has gone away, but you recall it...

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  3. I love the idea of embossed barbed wire. It softens it and yet it is still barbed wire. Nice work as usual.

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    1. Thanks Roberta - you can still get the sense of barbed wireness very much can't you? Yet it has definitely softened. I like it this way...glad you enjoyed!

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  4. I like how barbed wire is almost language in your drawing! De-bossing... using the piece that you cut the embossing pieces out of?

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    1. Mmmmmm yes Valerianna - like magic markings, a foreign language of symbols indecipherable. De bossing is exactly that, pushing that piece into the paper rather than the paper into the empty bit. I like how sharp it is...

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    1. Thanks Anna - sometimes if I sit and don't think, just do it , then I can make marks I am happy with. I think you can tell this is barbed wire...

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  6. I felt as if I was with you in the studio following your ideas - lovely post - thank you

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    1. Glad you enjoyed your studio visit Rosie! Please visit again sometime...Go well.

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  7. you make something harsh into something not just ordinary, but rather extraordinary... :)

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  8. Hi Louise - it does go just a little bit dreamy doesn't it? Go well.

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  9. Barbed wire patterns... so simple but very effective. Love the de-bossing image.

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    1. Hi Robyn - me too! They could be songs or birds on a wire or....

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  10. De-bossing, embossing! Who would think that the two could be so complementary! I just love barbed wire at any time, which I used to fear was a bit weird, but now I know it's just fine, thanks to you and some other wonderful bloggers. Somewhere, maybe in New Zealand, I came across a barbed wire museum exhibit and I was entranced. Fiona, your pen and ink barbed wire is elegant and beautiful, just like the real thing.

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    1. So glad you've become friends with barbed wire Carol! I find it beautiful and fascinating and elegant in a way. Wow - a whole barbed wire museum that would be something else for sure! Glad you enjoyed my 'takes' on it...go well.

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  11. ~i had never heard of de~bossing!!! do you think it would work on our wee littlest!?! each piece you shared sheds a new kind of light wonder and beauty to barbed wire...fascinating where you mind travels! much love light and blessings~

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    1. Oh Brandi - I laughed at that! How to de-boss the littlest one. I think barbed wire has a certain spare beauty, and it was fun to explore it! As you say, where one's mind travels...

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  12. I can't add anything that has not already been said. You remind me yet again about the beauty of looking at something close to hand with new eyes.

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    1. Thank you Lesley - I do think there is something beautiful about seeing the barbed wire like that - and I love having little stashes of it here and there around the place, always makes me smile and wonder.

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  13. such an elegant line in your inkwork Fiona

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  14. Better late than never I hope Mo - thank you! I enjoyed the quick sketching.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.