Last week, I was working on another concept for a series of small pieces. I had planned on calling the series Echoes, which was appropriate for the concept. Well, the concept just did not work. Weird. I was very excited about it, but as I started on the design, it just was not working for me.
I immediately shifted to this idea of working with framing spring clips for a series of small pieces. The original concept, though unsuccessful, led to this concept. I’ve been trying to come up with a title but could not, so I am sticking with Echoes for now. Update 7-22-2020: This series is titled Study in Moderation.
After finishing the spring clip and smalti motif (at left), I next needed to decide my andamento. What I did was to take the image at left and import it into my Procreate app.
Then using the app, I cleaned up the background and created a layer to play with a couple of ideas. I settled on a rather classic approach, the result of which you see above. It is just a sketch, a guide. I’m going for something like it but without being too precise.
When I made the piece at right, I had intended to use a looser technique but realized, about 1/4 way through, that I had habitually slipped into a very controlled and precise execution.
I was disappointed but finished it in the controlled and precise manner in which I started it rather than start over.
Although I am happy with this little mosaic, I think it could have been much more interesting had I used a looser and less controlled execution. Or maybe just different. I want to explore different.
A Little Love Story 6.5” x 8.5” | 17cm x 22cm. Marble, travertine, smalti, coral, turquoise mosaic gold.
Although I’ve started with the smalti inside the spring clips being fairly precise, I felt it necessary because the spaces are very small and difficult to work within. I will see if I can be happy with loosening that up in the next piece. But the stone background is where I will really practice less control. Let’s see if I can do it!