Always we begin again (take 4)

~ Liz A

After realizing I had exceeded my media storage, it didn’t take much to decide on the upgraded version of WordPress as the path of least resistance. So here (at last) is the post I began to write earlier.

I’ve been schooling myself in color as a result of Tansy Hargan’s watercolor class. Of course, me being me, I haven’t exactly followed her project directions. Rather, I watched how she does what she does and then went off to try my own version.

First I purchased a 24-color set of Inktense blocks, two ceramic palettes, and some paint brushes. Then I ironed pieces of white cotton cloth to freezer paper and marked grids of twenty-four 1/2” squares, one for each of the dyes.

Standing at our bar-height counter, I was determined to mix every color with every other color …

24 by 24, which equals 576 little blocks …

I’ve gotten better with practice, so I’m actually redoing some of the early blocks.

And yes, the colors do run a bit, which means I just have to figure out how best to make that an asset rather than a liability.

Shibori maybe?

18 thoughts on “Always we begin again (take 4)”

  1. LA – wow what a task -and I love how the colours bleed a bit – it makes it both an art work as well as a record of each colour. Brilliant. B

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    1. I do hope to make a little swatch book once I’ve done all 24 colors as a way to reference the colors … I continue to be amazed at what some of the unlikely looking combinations yield

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  2. Golden makes a product called GAC900 that will set the colors and not affect the hand of the cloth. As I read your post I had a flashback to 1967 or 68 doing an exercise just like this but using DrPh Martins ink. I never finished the task but mixed the colors into gel medium for a clutch of temporary tattoos with willing classmates.

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    1. I took an intro art class in college and had absolutely no “curiosity” … just did the assignments and learned very little … now older and (somewhat) wiser, I realize it takes time to learn, whether it’s color, music, painting, stitching, you name it … Malcolm Gladwell’s theory that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert comes to mind … anyway, this is something I want to know, so something that I once thought tedious is now great fun … and that makes all the difference

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  5. ah this is beautiful like Deb you take me back to painting colour charts and wheels for the graphic design class in first year at art school back in 1973, how colours speak to each other

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    1. now that I’m 65, I can take up to six credits of state university coursework for free (as long as the class isn’t full) … I really wanted to start taking studio art and art history classes, but Covid has taken the wind out of my sails … still, this exercise has reassured me that there is much to learn, so maybe someday …

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  6. thank you for these pictures….i’ve never done this to any degree….looking here,
    i ask myself why???? Whether i retained it all, just the experience would be
    absorbed and bled into my mind….
    love

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    1. When I began the “Find Your Colour Voice” online course I questioned whether I would be willing to make enough time to do it justice. Well, I’m still on the first couple of days of a ten day course because I’m utterly fascinated by the variations. I even bought a few more Inktense blocks that are now winging their way from Dick Blick. Stay tuned … ha!

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  7. I adore this on sooooo many levels! I love sampler books. I love having a resource to return to and not have to faff about trying to recall what was what or how I did something. I love a grid, I find them so very calming. I love seeing colours together and going yay! to those combos which pop. Oh my, If I started that 10 day course I reckon it could take mea year. Like B said, the subtle bleeds didn’t worry me too much – as a sampler they told me stuff as well; but I can see your progression and gradual ‘mastery’ of things. Onwards!

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    1. I’m hoping to post about bleed tests soon … also still experimenting with the best way to wash out excess dye, which leaves a grainy residue on the cloth

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  8. Love all your testing Liz, you have been busy as usual. And love the bleeding!!! I would let everything bleed over each other to see those more saturated colors when they overlap/mix in the white spaces between.

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