I have been working with “local value” this week in an effort to improve the structural framework of my compositions, textile and otherwise. Practicing with watercolor and sticking to just one color has made it possible to knock out a handful of studies in a relatively short period of time.
Jamie’s Pitcher © Elizabeth Fram
One of the things I’ve noticed is that the successive flat layers of paint allow me to think abstractly in addition to building up forms within the image. An unexpected but gratifying side benefit of this aspect of the process is heightening my awareness of the interaction between the image and the surface – a characteristic I am continually working to emphasize.
Jamie’s Pitcher © Elizabeth Fram
It’s a good reminder that there’s a lot to be gained from stripping back to fundamentals.
Jamie’s Pitcher ©Elizabeth Fram
Aside from working with values this week, I also finally finished overhauling my website. What a relief to check off that chore and to get away from so many hours tied to my laptop! The big decision was to move from iWeb to Weebly, an incredibly user-friendly platform with plenty of flexibility and a very low learning curve. Most importantly, my images are now tack-sharp. I’m not sure why it was, but the look of my pictures through iWeb always seemed to suggest my glasses needed cleaning when I knew the trouble wasn’t with the images themselves. After some concentrated web-searching I learned that it’s a problem a lot of people using iWeb have struggled to overcome. Since iWeb has long been on its way out anyway, it was a no-brainer to switch and I’m more than happy with my decision.
Jamie’s Pitcher © Elizabeth Fram
To take it one step farther, I have an awesome tip to offer you that I learned during the overhaul process. Check out Compressnow.com — it’s a free site that will reduce your images (max 9MB) by whatever percentage you want, compressing them quickly and easily with no noticeable degradation in quality. For example, I converted my mostly over-6MB images to a 500-300kb range.
Jamie’s Pitcher © Elizabeth Fram
Overall, a pretty productive week!
Exciting work Betsy…I love the way you have illustrated the progression of the values. a couple years ago I bought some markers which are graded by value – 2 sets – one warm grays, one cool grays which have become great tools to illustrate the “value of value” to students. I would like them better if there were a few more choices in the value scale…but as a go to tool they aren’t bad.
I’m not surprised that you figured out a smart way to teach values to your students — those markers are certainly a quick and easy means of drilling the theory home.
What a delight to see these images develop. I find myself going back and forth in the time sequence either to see the origins of a detail or watch where it will go. Thank you for sharing your processes. Nice work too on the website. Very easy to navigate, inviting, and the photographs of your work are actually commensurate in quality. Enjoy this day! Sorry I can’t be at the opening tonight at Helen Day.
What I like is that there’s a tiny bit of the fun of a flip book in watching the progression. Hey, that’s an idea …maybe I’ll try that!
Thanks for visiting the website — it’s been one of those things that’s been nagging at me; so glad to have it done!
Your new web site looks really fantastic. I hadn’t realized that your drawings were such a major part of your work. I love them all.
Thanks Judy – it’s been really interesting (& fun!) to see how each discipline (drawing & textiles) feeds the other – even though ostensibly they seem so different.
Beautiful work Betsy. I enjoy seeing the progression of the work. The images look clear and precise. Congratulations on the shows as well!
Hi Melitta — Thanks for checking in and for the positive feedback. It kills me how much time I spend on the computer – but it was worth it this time.