The next exercise examined symmetry. We were to use two or more shapes and the primary hues for these works. No dilution was allowed to create tints or shades and the primary colors were not to mix into other colors. My final project for the drawing class several years ago was a reflected industrial scene, and I have wanted to develop this work for some time. That work involved vertical symmetry and our assignment was to create horizontal symmetry.
I explored some other options but came back to this initial concept. The juxtaposition of the rural hedgerow with the urban industrial will be the essence of the symmetry.
The idea will be to create silhouettes of the rural and urban components, one with a fir tree, the other with a pylon, and collage them onto a painted background. I may add touches of white where they seem appropriate.
It seemed a good idea but sadly it didn’t work out. I tried cutting a collage piece out of red painted paper, but even with a scalpel it wasn’t very successful. I tried tracing round the cardboard and then painting and also using the cut out as a stencil, but neither gave clear lines and also painting with red over the yellow background was very streaky – lots of lessons to learn here. If I want to use collage pieces I need to probably have something a lot less finnicky to cut with the scalpel, I also need to be aware that it is very difficult to cover the yellow background with red paint….hmmm…
Another observation in general is that using the white card paper for collaging is quite difficult. It tends to curl up a bit when painted and it is then hard to stick down the collage pieces and keep flat, I may need to look at a different type of paper if I am going to work on a collage…
I think I have a result. I worked from hexagons through concentric circles finally to concentric squares. I used paper from my sketchbook for some of the squares rather than the glossy art paper and it seemed to accept the color more evenly for the larger squares. I have five inch, three inch two inch and one inch squares and tried several different arrangements, The images are mirrored but also reversed. Got a chance to use an old tie press I got from a yard sale as a press to flatten the squares and get better adhesion.
Just need to trim the edges now. This work is primary colors.