12.10.20 - Beetle experiments and more embroidery

Since my cushion photocopies worked really well I did the same process with my tied beetle and the clay ones. Because I had to place them upside down in the scanner, the beetles string legs really come forward and I like that they seem to have a life of their own all going in random directions. The  large beetle came out looking really sinister with the extremely dark shadows, I feel like it is standing up on its it's back legs running towards me out of the darkness which is a really horrible image. I think it's interesting that using different recording processes can completely change our perception of the same object.



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I used wire to suspend the clay forms at different heights in an asymmetrical arrangement in front of the window. Since they're close to the radiator and the window, they are constantly swaying and I think this emphasises the dancing position of the legs that I noted before and I find this sense of motion quite entrancing to watch, like falling asleep beneath a mobile as a child. 

I thought about embellishing them in a similar way to my fabric one so that they catch the light as they gently swing around, and the wire reminded me of a hanging dragon fly I have at home which is made out of wire covered in transparent beads. The artist wasn’t stated but I'd like to take inspiration from the object by making creatures with the same materials that can then be suspended. 












I did some observational drawings of the hanging beetles - I started with a rough sketch of the shapes and used fine liner for the wire, and then did some tonal drawings which look okay but I thought it was missing something so I did continuous line drawings in the gaps which overlap slightly and I think this helped bring more life into it.



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My project seems to be developing a sub-theme surrounding sleep, so I decided to do more embroidery because it reminded me of quilted blankets and the comfort of home and bed. I made a few patches using random shapes and different stitches - I thought about stitching them onto fabric which I will use to make another soft beetle that would have the patterns on it's back. 

 

I think this would relate better to my project if I used the same colour scheme as my sequin beetle so that it represents my own feelings of comfort. I’d also make softer lines rather than the geometric ones I've used in this case because I don’t find the triangulated shapes and sharp angles very comforting  to look at.






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