Oops

I discovered today how far behind on my blog I am, that is, about 4 weeks behind. So here is me flooding my page of everything I've been doing for my astrology book but not got round to uploading until now!............

Taurus girl sketches

The top image has been created using biro, acrylic and water colour paint. I like combining these two paint mediums as the effect is quite fresh and I like the brush marks which can be acheived more easily. The two bottom images were just ideas to get to the final idea for the Taurus character, I really do not like them, they are quite ugly looking! I have given the girl green clothes and eyelashes as green is one of this signs colours. 

Renée Nault

Renée's use of colour, pattern and drawing is beautiful and mysterious. I think her imagery is amazing, here is her zodiac set of Taurus and Aquarius. I've included her work in my blog because although I have only just found her, it certainly inspires me as it is aesthetically pleasing, feminine and decorative which are the main qualities I aim to capture in my astrology book. It is inspirational to find star sign illustrations like these as the majority I have seen are very simplistic and graphic.

Zodiac Body Painting

I stumbled across this stunning and intriguing body art while searching for star sign illustrations, the artist is unknown but here is a link to the site....http://www.astrologyweekly.com/zodiac-pictures/zodiac-bodypainting.php

Printmaking

Some delicious and delightful prints I stumbled across

                                                                             Beth Weintraub
                                                           perseus, Etching, 20" x 20"

Both above- The little friends of printmaking

Bernadette Sipkes- beautiful, beautiful prints

Another Sipkes special

Printmaking from week 26/10/10

For this project I am working on creating a folding book based on one of Aesop's Fables. My chosen one is 'The Jay and The Peacock' which has a wonderful moral, this being ' it is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.'

__ How many Prints did you make this week? 11- 7 monoprints, 4 etchings

__ How many of these taught you something new?  I learnt a new process in Etching as previously I have only etched onto metal plates never card, I did not know this was possible. I also learnt that I need to remember to write the type in reverse for it to come out the correct way on the prints.

__ How many hours did you spend in the Printmaking Workshop? 5

Monoprints

Assess yourself using these bandings.

0-29	no show - did not try
30-39	failed to understand
40-49	minimal application, 40 is a pass
50-59	satisfactory
60-69	really good
70-79	great
80-100	Excellent - perfect

Assess yourself for this week for

__ Competence in practical printmaking techniques

60-69

__ Thoughtful and imaginative use of printmaking

60-69

__ Visual Sensibility; understanding and expressing ideas in images

50-59

__ Using research to expand knowledge, enrich thinking and affect your work

40-49

__ Active participation in taught sessions

60-69

Etchings

Just a random little idea for an image, the idea is to have a recurring theme throughout the folded book; to give the Jay bird a red heart on its breast to symbolise a good, warm nature. When the bird is adorned with peacocks feathers the heart will turn blue to show a cold nature. This I hope plays on the moral that it is what

is inside us not our appearance that makes us fine people!

Illustrated book on star sign's sketches and ideas:

Pisces - The Mermaid








































































For my project I am creating an illustrated zodiac book, I want to characterise a female to represent each individual sign to try and really capture the traits we are supposed to have which are influenced by our zodiac sign. Alot of people think 'astrology, what a load of old bollocks' but it really interests me as I have a great interest in personalities and people. Also, there are many things to look at in our birth charts that influence us and make us different such as the placement of planets, the houses in which the planets are in etc etc. Elements are another focal point, these being water, fire, air and earth, these elements all add various qualities to each sign.

Sketchbook drawings

I have an obsession with birds, here are some sketches for a book I'm creating in print making based on one of Aesop's fables 'The jay and the peacock'.