I don't always feel the need to create studies, for painting or tapestry, but occasionally I feel they're needed if there are techniques I want to explore or any uncertainties I want to address before beginning the final artwork. There were many things I felt unsure about with "Inganess ebb" (as mentioned in my previous post I avoided starting this piece for a good two years) so my best way to push through the uncertainty was to make full use of studies.
As a happy surprise, not only have my studies been useful, they've also ended up as interesting, exploratory artworks in their own right. Now that I no longer need them for reference I'm happy to set them free into the world, rather just shoving them away in a sketchbook.
"sky ripples, II" Inganess study
handwoven tapestry
size: 18cm square (inc. limewaxed box frame)
materials: cotton, linen, rayon and wool; woven on 8 warps per inch
"Sky ripples, II" is (unsurprisingly) my second sky study for "Inganess ebb." The rippled effect is much more subtle than in the first study, which I shared back in April (see here) and I also slightly changed how I wove it. This one is closer to what I ended up doing in my final tapestry.
"Inganess hues", study *SOLD*
handwoven tapestry
size: 17.5 x 22.5cm (inc. limewaxed box frame)
materials: cotton, linen, rayon and wool; woven on 8 warps per inch.
"Inganess hues" is an overall colour study for "Inganess ebb." It helped to figure out the overall "feel" for the final tapestry, how I wanted to use textures and also confirmed that I needed to purchase a few new shades of green to achieve the effect I wanted for the seaweed ebb area.
Even though the purpose of "Inganess hues" (and studies in general) was to give me a feel for my colour palette, my choices generally do change slightly as I work on the final artwork. For this reason I often warp up a separate narrow strip on the loom next to the large tapestry, usually 2 inches (5cm) wide, which allows me space to test colour gradations or blends to see how they look before committing to it on the final artwork.
The following two studies are a result of this paint palette strip and I absolutely love how they have turned out now that they're framed, especially photographed against the larger "Inganess ebb" tapestry.
"sea", colour study *SOLD*
handwoven tapestry
size: approx. 21 x 7cm (inc. limewaxed box frame)
materials: cotton, linen, rayon and wool; woven on 8 warps per inch
"sky", colour study
handwoven tapestry
size: approx. 22 x 7cm (inc. limewaxed box frame)
materials: cotton, linen, rayon and wool; woven on 8 warps per inch
Now it's back to the drawing board. I've come to the end of my last body of research so I desperately need time outdoors to walk, think and draw and then time in my studio to think, draw, paint and develop! I've also coincidentally come to the end of my last sketchbook. A new sketchbook always feels fresh with possibilities so let's hope I put my new one to good use over the coming months.
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