Distant stitch diploma. Ch2

I decided to continue using different media and technique to explore fingerprints more fully.

Using monoprint ,I liked the niose of the line. I also used spirals to denote the turn of a ballet dancer movement when on point.

Again on patterned paper using koh-I-nooor paints and salt to make patterns.

I also did a Lino print and I really liked the mark it makes and the ability to replicate, I also took rubbings from this and printed onto patterned paper.

I also used the technique of putting chalk /pastel down onto a base and covered with oil pastel then put a plain piece of paper and drew on the back to transfer the lines which were very delicate. The slightly spottiness reminded me of the bugs that are on our hands, as nurses we use a cream that shows up under uv light to show up any places on our hands where we have missed when washing them.

The technique worked much better with wax crayons and I like the mirror image.

I tried printing from my own finger prints onto patterned paper but too dark and dominant .

I also used ink and drew into  it withbleach. I then layered printed papers , I liked the burnt edges as more distinctive. Ideas for manipulating fabrics by wrapping, counching , channels of transparent fabrics with colourful threads inserted.

Distant stitch module one

so my sewing/ art room is sorted at last, so I have started by focussing on the footprint and trying different media to explore the fingerprint.  I just tried different brushes and with the paper wet and dry to see the effects.

distant stitch diploma CH 1

so reverting to my childhood and painting my feet for prints!
Seeing the print made me think about whether footprints, that is toes, are they as unique as fingerprints. so investigation shows that they are but i don't think many thieves are asked to give them.

This remind me of contour maps .
This thinking of feet seems to be leading me on a journey and started to think about the beauty of the ballet and the contrast of the damage to the female dancer's feet who dance on point shoes. Point shoes were introduced in the second half of the nineteenth century and give a certain grace to the dancer's moves however a ballerina's feet are not a pretty sight. The toes have to fit into a stiff cup which is known as a block or box.

This is a study of my foot, pointed as if in a pointe shoe.

A sketch of a point shoe.
The beauty of the costumes, music and dance is a stark contrast to the pain and dedication of the dancers and is interesting that it is usually only female dancers that wear the pointe shoe. when i was thirteen i visited Toulouse on a school exchange visit and my host went after school to ballet lessons.
These lasted several hours and needed a lot of commitment every night after school. for a thirteen year old it was a new experience of shared dressing room of male and female dancers , a real eye opener.

Distant stitch ch1 diploma

My self portrait needs work! Hope my drawing skills improve or should I say my observation skills. 

Distant stitch module 1

Drawing things upside down really works, suprsrised by this.

Distant stitch diploma ch 1

A drawing of my hand,pretty bad and a drawing of my daughter from memory, both fairly awful,looks nothing like my daughter, shows how your brain takes over and just draws a face.

.

Distant stitch embroidery diploma gh1

So I bought this book from the reading list and am working through it, I'll show you some of my efforts