Finding Compositions Using Viewfinders (and Scissors!)

Abstract Coastal Picture from Handmade Felt (20cm x 20cm)

Annie

I decided to revisit my coastal photos and pebbles theme from the previous post, but in my usual way I ended up doing something else - still coastal, but not the pebbles....yet. I was trying to find a fresh composition for them so I flicked through some photos for reference and did some very basic sketches on an A3 piece of paper of a variety lines, shapes and motifs from the photos. I used view finders to look over the sketching to find interesting passages and ended up picking one that was unexpected, and then decided to use it exactly as it was, rather than finding a home for the pebbles for now.  This cropped section is only about 6cm x 6cm but I scaled it up to 20cm x 20cm.

I think this method can work for finding compositions because when you crop down, then the lines "go over the edge" of the boundary of the view finder and also in this case the objects are not to relative scale. I find by cropping out a small section to work with it introduces more interest, movement, angles and randomness than I could achieve by intentionally drawing within the boundaries of a piece of paper or square of fibres. So the marks and lines and other inputs are done with intention but the finished thing is helped along a bit by fate and randomness.

To make the piece of felt I laid out two fine layers of natural merino, then a layer of fabric, then some more fibres thinly laid, then some white scrim, then more fibres and finally some details created with fabrics, prefelts and yarn.

It is only a very simple composition but I think it works quite well. Toward the end of the felting process I cut it square (20cm x 20cm) with a rotary cutter then worked it a bit more to finish the edges. It would probably look good with company, maybe in a set of 3 or 9.

I like groups of squares set out together to make an overall display. Recently I painted a picture of some really pretty flowers that I had bought to brighten up my hallway, then immediately took the scissors to it because it was awful and didn't do them justice at all! However, cutting it into squares (4cm x 4cm) and randomly rearranging the pieces improved it no end and made it much more visually appealing!

 

 

 

Here is my inspiration - a collage of the flowers in my hallway:

I think I'll keep these little squares in my sketchbook as they could feed into future work, or at least serve as a reminder of ways to start work when I feel stuck.  I have many ways of working - sometimes I plan, sometimes I use prompts or other methods like those above, and quite often I just dive in headlong and see what happens! How do you plan your felt art? Or do you just jump straight in and make it up as you go along?