Sunday, September 28, 2014

Complementing each other...

Barry and I have begun work on another project together. Once again it's fun to observe how we each bring our own ways of seeing and thinking and doing to a project and yet how complementary the work ends up being.

Barry began with some metal.  I then tried to work out how reflect some of the detail and patterns in the metal.

I tried tracing it. Which was pretty good, even tho it meant I only chose a few highlights and not the whole design.


And then I began to do rubbings...

I was most excited! This way I could get a really good sense of the design without too much trouble.



I had forgotten how much fun rubbings were.

I was hoping to use these images to cut some embossing plates and be able to emboss a modified version of the design - to hint at it, and give a sense of it without trying to replicate it perfectly as I knew that would take me forever and be beyond me.

And then.

I looked at the metal.

I looked at the paper.

I looked at the press.

And I thought, why not?





Oh me oh my, I used the metal as an embossing plate and transferred the whole design into the paper.

I. was. over. the. moon. happy.

My mind has a thousand ideas now and Barry's metal stash will never be safe again!

20 comments:

  1. A natural progression, waiting to be discovered.

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    1. It seems like that now Jo - how obvious to print off metal plates?!?! But I had never thought of it before...happy discovery!

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  2. Wonderful! I've been having fun doing rubbings of patterns from plastic lately, but the embossing…! Woo hoo! Absolutely, I think Barry's metal stash now belongs to you! ;-)

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    1. Thanks for the vote of support Ellen for my rights over the stash! ; ) Rubbings are so much fun, I had completely forgotten, but I must admit, the effect of embossing direct from the plate is without peer. Go well.

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  3. I love embossing on paper. Beautiful! And how lovely when you make this sort of discovery. No wonder you are so happy. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Amanda - embossing, white on white is one of my favourites things on earth, and now I can do it like this as well! Amazing.

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  4. What a happy resolution - a lovely soft and complimentary result. The final work should look amazing. x

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    1. Such a happy resolution Susan - it reflects the metal so beautifully and better than anything else I could have pulled off. Hopefully the two shall come together beautifully in the next wee while. Go well.

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    1. Indeed Velma! Little happy dance when I work that one out I must say.

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  6. Wow. It just got better and better!

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    1. Thanks Mo - they look stunning and I smile each time I walk over and look at them. Go well.

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  8. Oh that is so gorgeous Fiona. Is the pattern on the surface of the metal or chased through to the back side? If so, it would be great to have positive and negative pressings but don't abandon the rubbings idea as that softness of line could be so complementary to the crispness of the embossing. Love it.

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    1. Lots to think about there Lesley - I was so excited I just went with what was in front of me! I like that idea of blending rubbings and embossings...go well.

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  9. Oh, my, this is fabulous, Fiona! Barry will have to cope with your encroaching on his stash. I know the two of you will do something wonderful!

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    1. Such fun Carol - always a delight to discover things between our work...crossovers that appear from nowhere and make magic! Go well.

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  10. Wow. Such a simple idea and so effective. Looking forward to seeing the collaborative outcome.

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    1. So true Jac - it's so obvious in retrospect, but I hadn't ever ventured there, and now I can see loads of offcuts getting put to good design use!

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