Speak

A mixed media art that started as a self portrait sketch on my ipad. The line drawing was printed out and collaged onto watercolour paper along with pieces of gelli print on tissue paper. Layers of colour and shading were added with Neocolour II and coloured pencil.

During periods of travelling, I was struggling to make any art. Used to untidy wet messes and unpredictable piles of art materials on a wide table, I was at a loss for how to create without them. But I always had my ipad handy and an Apple pencil too. It was a luxury item and I wasn’t using it to its full potential.

Procreate came relatively easy. The basic tools are simple. Pick a brush, pick a colour, draw. I barely even used layers. I picked a pencil or charcoal brush and started sketching.

A quick YouTube stop and I imported reference photos.

The drawings were rough and I was out of practice but they were a usable starting point.

Back at home I could print out the sketches on cheap paper, cut them out and layer them onto prepped watercolour paper. An uneven wash of blue ink for a background. Torn pieces of collage for texture.

Then layers of colour and shading.

These pieces are not meant to be grand finished pieces. They are play and experimentation. They are unfinished. They have no purpose other than to be part of a process of creative expression.