November Update
I had more things planned for this month's Patreon Update but my ambitions were thwarted by covid. I'm sorry about that ☹️ It's the first time I contract it and I'm still recovering so if anything here doesn't make sense let's blame the virus 😬.
Sketchbook Explorations
The last few months have been about designing laser cut mechanical kits, which makes me crave a project that is more about the images. I'm always drawing of course, but I'm considering going in that direction for a little bit.
I started making these spreads on my sketchbook where I place a very geometric design next to a more illustrative or free-flowing one, both painted with watercolors. I like the way the watercolors can turn even a simple grid into something more organic, and it's really fun to obtain different colors and values by layering them on the grids.
With this first one the contrast between the two designs is fairly obvious: a grid on the left and some very squiggly lines on the right.
With the following one I went for more wavy lines on the grid an a more elaborate illustration that included some characters on the right. I like how the grid on the left looks almost like fabric.
Using these very textured or "granulating" watercolors helps a lot with the effect (I started exploring the American made Daniel Smith watercolors and they do not disappoint when it comes to interesting textures).
With this next one the grid got a little muddy (mixing green and purple is not so easy I guess) but things started to mix in a different way: I incorporated a greenish grid pattern on the right (that diamond towards the bottom). And in some ways that has been the intention all along, to find out more ways to incorporate these styles together.
Next I decided to use a rhombus and square pattern on the left, and draw a dreaming fiery lion on the right. I've used a variation of this pattern on a previous zine and I really enjoy how it creates 3D effects and lets you navigate it in multiple ways.
The next logical step with these might be to make some on separate sheets so they are easier to scan. I think I would like to compile them into a Zine, since finishing Mind Shrines with Theo Ellsworth I've been thinking I should get one started and this could be the right direction.
Besides easier scanning, the separate drawings could also be made available for purchase.
Here is a close up of that last pattern:
Etegami Postcards
I've recently found out about this Japanese folk art style of making postcards called Etegami, it emphasizes looseness and spontaneity and I've fallen in love with it. It was created by calligrapher Kunio Koike in the 1960's and it has a few simple rules well summarized in this article.
In short:
- Outlines are made with black ink, slowly, letting the line have character and imperfections.
- Colors are added with Japanese watercolors
- There are words, phrases or quotes to complement the image
- You sign them with a stamp often hand carved with a regular eraser.
Here are a couple of favorites I made recently:
These are made on regular watercolor paper and not the kind of high-bleed paper that Etegami is know for, but I had to start somewhere.
This kind of thing really speaks to my quest for "looseness" in drawing. I feel like I can be very controlling and I really admire people that can be really easy going and spontaneous with their drawings. So setting things up to reward "clumsiness" and accident kind of makes sense. I'll be making more of these in the future.
The best form of flattery
My friend found this amazing 3D printed version of the making waves kit I designed:
I haven't tested it myself but you can download it here.
The funny story behind this is that initially there was no attribution to my work on the download page. I don't think the idea is very original but the implementation was just identical to mine which made me suspicious. I eventually got to chat with the designer, Stefano from Milan, and we sorted it out in the most friendly way.
I'm really glad he just went for it though, I think he's really good at 3D modeling stuff and this kind of thing wouldn't have occurred to me. It also just makes me happy when anything I do inspires others.
Thanks for your support as always! I hope you are staying healthy and warm during this holiday season! ❤️
Federico.