Frottage featuring Max ernst and others

When I first read what frottage was I thought to my self, I have been doing that since school, we just used to call it rubbings. It was often used to decorate out best written work. I remember using surfaces such as the diamond pattern on a man hole cover or the grainy texture of a concrete floor.
Max Ernst used frottage to develop his paintings, using them as a base to start his art. He was originally inspired by an old wooden floor where the grain had been accentuated through years of scrubbing. These first rubbings suggested not just the floor but other images which he then built upon in his pictures. Perhaps an old forest or mountainous region. Although he started rubbing using a soft pencil, he later adapted his technique in order to use oils.

Max Ernst
Forest and Dove
1927

Forest and Sun

1931

and perhaps my favourite,

1970

What an interesting way to use a childhood technique! I have to admit I had not thought about using a textured rubbing as a beginning for a piece, and trying to look into the shapes that are revealed for form and likeness.

http://j4k0644061x.deviantart.com/art/frottage-minimal-116365963

This I found via google which I thinks shows just what can be done with frattage. I am trying to work out what the original rubbing is from, perhaps a tree bark?

 
Willi Baumeister: Gilgamesh, 1
Willi Baumeister used frottage to illustate the epic peom Gilgamesh. He produce 64 pieces, using frottage to help him obtain an archaic feel.
Yet another way this technique can be used.

I'm off to find some interesting textures to experiment with, so don't be surprised if you see a strange woman over a manhole cover on the side of the road!

Experimanting with textures.

Here are some uploads of my experimenting.

Staring with coloured pencil, trying to get the sewn diagonals of my scarf, then looking at a simple piece of kitchen towel which actually has a really interesting texture. It is surprising hard to draw because the dots are so mathematically set apart. Then I had a play with my dip pen. I don't get it out often but really enjoy it when I do! I used 2 different colours to depict a close up from my jumper - though it wasn't that colour!

My sofa has a very distinctive weave pattern that is very good to draw. It took me a couple of different attempts to get the pattern, as you can see in the square it isn't all the same. Fur, soft sweeping strokes, all going the same way. And a pineapple close up. You don't really get much more textured than a pineapple - do you?!

These boxes are just me playing with patterning rather than trying to capture a specific something. Although I did have a go at a lemon.

Pineapple leaves - they have a funny texture, a real contrast from the pattern of the fruit. the leaves are very spiky but at the base they are all grouped together and a lot softer.

Not copied from an actual cucumber - more a designed idea of one.

Whilst at my desk drawing these boxes, I noticed the grain on the desktop and thought that was a very common pattern to see. I actually created this using about 3 layers of pastel!

Lastly, I have a photo of the inside of a petunia, very close up. It has a wonderful patterning and texture about it, but I think this looked better before I smudged it. It is very tempting with pastels to smudge everything, when actually, its not always necessary.

starting from ... now!

I have decided to styart my blog from now rather than try to post all I have done so far.
I have done quite a bit of work already and don't have the time to sit and type it all up. So I hope this is ok!

Star drawing OCA

After reading an incredible amazing blog from a fellow student, I have decided to give this a go rather than writing in my log book - or perhaps I may do both.

I am studying art - start drawing, with the OCA and I have to say I feel I am very behind! It was suggested my first assignment should have been submitted in October, yet it's now January and I still havent done it.
AM going to start seriously pursuing this course as I do want to go for the degree, but will not be able to do it at this rate, I shall be drawing my pension before I finish!

An apology for lots of posts to start with just while I catch up with myself.