How to compose an alphabet

I realized that I haven't been very helpful tell people how to make the mixed media that I seem to produce every once in a while. So, while I was making the last alphabet, I took pictures and hopefully I can tell you some of my tips in making ART!

1st matter of business is a canvas.  There are 3 grades of canvases.  Cheap, medium and museum quality.  The cheap ones have staples on the side and I think they call them "Studio"  The mediums have a little bit wider width and the staples are hidden.  I almost always buy these. They are a good deal and the look great.  I buy the museum quality frames when I get really big canvases.  I know they will hold together. 

Next is a pallet.  I like to have a theme of colors in my head before I start working. I don't always stick to it, but it is nice to have it in the back of my head.  I try to look for color pallets everywhere.  Clothes, paper stores, store design and set up, everything. So keep your eyes open and I am sure you will start to notice them.  Here is the swatch I picked out for our example.

I will take that pallet and pick out the paper that I am going to use.  Note this is only for the paper that goes behind  the letters.  If you don't know what I am talking about, take a look at my art pics to the left.  You will notice that the squares alternate between paper and paint.  I do this because, I love using paper, but I think it would be to busy if I put it behind the little pictures.  So I use paper behind the white plain letters and use paint for the pictures. Note that I added a bright blue to my pallet to liven it up a little bit. Trust me it works. 

Coming next post, how to sketch out and measure your canvas for an alphabet!

Comments

[Emily]

You neglect to inform your avid readers that you have to be some sort of artistic genius to pull this off.

[Lael]

Keep it coming, I want to hear more!