Rope series...

A few years ago I got excited about painting ropes - I can't remember why exactly, but I found myself fascinated with them. A week or so ago I was going through old sketches and found the beginning of another rope painting that was only the initial pencil sketch.

Why not? or rather Why knot?... It might be fun to just take a little time out and paint a rope.

I had recently painted a 'class assignment' using the wooden matchstick and ink technique. I had a fun time with it. So, I thought I would use that for this rope painting. Instead of using an ink pen, I broke the heads off several wooden matches and sharpened them into sort of a pen tip. I inserted the matchsticks into holders, got out my ink, and was ready to go.

The rope was a series of knots and loops. I scratched out the ink outline and quickly added some watercolor washes.

Eh? Kind of fun, but no punch. The rope needed a reason for being on the paper. Maybe it was hanging on a barn wall...I lightly sketched in some barn siding and a few pegs.

Another eh... I'll sleep on it...

The next day, I was to be gallery sitting for a few hours and decided to take the art with me. I threw the matchsticks and ink into the bag...along with an eraser!

Then it hit me - not barn siding, but a dock!

Pencil is still pretty light here, but the pegs are gone. I started inking in the dock boards. What fun!

Fun and obsessively busy!  The next step would be to use a watercolor wash on the dock boards...

The rope pops! I probably could have stopped there, but I was compulsively playing with the matchstick... I added more shadow/texture to the rope and then added more shadow on the dock.

I was all ready with artwork for the upcoming Labor Day Show and Sale this coming weekend. Now I am rethinking  - maybe I will add some rope paintings to my display!

Drop by the show: Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12:30-5!