how-to of the day – making silk paper, part three

When we last worked with our silk paper, it was still drying on a piece of mesh screen… have you peeled it off?

Now what do you do with it?

I’m going to attach mine to a piece of quilted canvas, and then stretch it onto a wooden stretcher (the way paintings are hung)   Now, that’s easy to say – but do I really know what I want to do?

It’s time to get out your sketch book!

Sketching and making “cartoons” can help you to visualize exactly what you want to create.  In my case, I’m going to have narrow strips of fabric, creating strong vertical lines.  I’ve made quite a rough sketch, but it’s enough to tell me if the composition is going to work:

I like how the vertical lines play off the soft, fluid flowers – I think the overall composition is going to work.

Sketching doesn’t have to be a meticulous process, it can be quick and rough – as long as you get a feel for how your art work is going to come together as a whole.