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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

In my sketchbook: playing with borders

This is just one of those weeks where I am having difficulty getting any studio time. Sketching time, however, has been much easier to come by. 
(Look how nice and sweet our cat looks! Don't be deceived!! He loves to drool all over my sketches! Yet another reason why I am not much of a cat person.)

Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


I really like to have parts of my designs go off the paper so that it feels like they extend beyond the work itself. Sometimes this can feel kind of awkward as I haven't always got the feel for a shape down before my pen hits the paper. I had the idea this week to draw a border about 1" around my paper so that I could have those initial movements outside the finished piece. 


Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


Then I thought it would be interesting to do two pieces side by side on the same sheet.


Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


After that I tried to see what would happen if I had a piece in the middle overlap both working areas. I already had multiple shapes down so it didn't work so well. 


Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


The next time, I drew two shapes overlapping both work areas. The final design in the left one ended up being significantly stronger than the one on the right. 

Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


Lastly, I kept things simple and had just one shape overlap. That gave me much more freedom to then work on each side individually because I want both sides to be interesting. 

Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


Left side:

Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


Right side:

Rachel Loewens: In my sketchbook, playing with borders


This whole, "What happens if I try this?" process is what really fuels my creativity. It keeps me from getting stuck in a rut and keeps my curiosity alive!


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