Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Progress, in black and white

I thought some of you might be interested to see how some ZIA tiles progressed as I worked on them.

I had started four tiles with gray washes. I had a vague idea of 'tree' or 'houses' but I try not to be too specific with shapes at this point. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of just the washes. Here are the four tiles with some initial tangling on them.
At this point I'm thinking:
  • Tree: I like the tree trunk but what to do in the sky?
  • 3 onion domes: It looks like a big window in the left-hand tower, but that's not appropriate, is it?
  • 2 onion domes: I like the dark gray in the middle sky. The tree worked out alright. What's going to happen on the left?
  • Houses: I like the two windows on the right. What's that Paizel on the left?!?

Next stage, well-developed but lots to do still.
At this point I'm thinking:
  • Tree: Nice Paisley Boa fills! Still, what to do with the sky?
  • 3 onion domes: Interesting layers happening in the background - not quite what I expected. Why did I do those windows on the left-hand tower?
  • 2 onion domes: Nice moon. Nice bushes. Okay cloud.
  • Houses: Nice windows and door. It's become a rainy day. Still not sure what that Paizel is on the left.

Finally, finished.
The finishing and fine-tuning:
  • 'Jujube Tree' - I added red/orange jujube fruit. The sky needed to stay simple so I just added an orb and shading. I did a thicker outline around the tree.
  • I wanted a dark sky so I made it medium gray and tangled Morse over top.
  • "Moon Roofs" - The cloud ran into the top of the onion dome so I darkened it at that end. Added a few shadowy Sanibelle bushes behind what was already there. Fine-tuned the moon glow and whitened the moon.
  • "Rainy Day" - I grayed the clouds and darkened along the top to give an overcast feel. I put some white lines in the black of the Paizel/house on the left. I made the half-circle window above the door stained glass. I added thin, wiggly lines of rain in front of the houses in 005 black pen and added some tiny circles. I added similar wiggly lines in Sakura's Clear Stardust for some rainy sparkle, and used a clear Glaze pen on the windows. The angled photos below may show the sparkle better.
    Oh, the Paizel? I think it's a vine.
Attempting to show the sparkle of Stardust and Glaze pens.
At this point I'm thinking:
  • 'Jujube Tree' - I might do something more/else with the ground. I'll probably mount it on canvas and paint around it.
  • I probably will not mount this one. I find the background too busy, or perhaps it's the towers. Maybe I can do something about that later.
  • "Moon Roofs" - I will quite definitely mount this on canvas and paint around it. I love the light in it.
  • "Rainy Day" - I'll probably mount it on canvas and paint around it using a bit of glittery paint. :)

10 comments:

  1. Super gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the process....I am sorely tempted to have a go at using some of your ideas...if this is OK? Axxx

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    1. Absolutely okay, Annie. Whatever you do with an idea will be different from what I did with it. When I share something, I'm happy if it inspires someone else. :)

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  2. I love reading your commentary as the tiles build up. It's great to learn how they come together and very entertaining too!

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  3. Thank you for this posting! Absolutely fascinating to not only see the progress, but to 'hear' your thoughts as well. Very informative and your work is beautiful.

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    1. Thank you. I always find it interesting to learn what's going on in the artist's mind as they were creating!

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  4. Dear Margaret I have been doing some tangles of late. Love seeing yours and how you bring it all together. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Thanks Margaret! Love reading the process. It gives me hope for when I hit a "I don't know what to do with THAT!" spot on my tiles. 😉

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    1. I suspect that happens more often than we know. The artists just don't tell us about it! ;)

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  6. Great tiles and I like the variety. Like how the tree progressed and the touch of color. I really like the towers on the lower left. I think part of it is the night time. You always seem to come up with such interesting compositions. I did use your Christmas trees from the past as inspiration for an ornament that I am working on. Using Bijou tiles and frames from Michael's. Have not posted on my blog as not finished yet.

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