This new challenge turns out to be hard. First month grids, next month a 3d stitch, now assisi embroidery. But what’s hard about that? for me, because it is ultimately about positive and negative space, black and white and such. I never was really good with this. Remember my recent linocut?
When researching linocut recently I stumbled over the concept of notan. This is japanese and means light-dark. It means a harmonious balance between light and dark areas in a work of art or design. It is especially important in a medium of woodcut or linocut, because if it’s not a colour print light and dark becomes the main focus of the design. I guess the same goes for assisi work. Apparently, good notan can improve any work of art or design. Strange that I never even heard about this before, and I did take painting lessons. Here are two good links: article about notan at emptyeasel, which also leads to other articles about notan there, and an article about notan by Sharon Himes.
Now here are my own practical efforts, although I didn’t really get anywhere with them. After This experience, I admire Sharon’s work even more. Right now I’m really at a loss about how to design that way.
Update: The picture I used as inspiration is here. Thanks to that kind blogger, who allowed me to use it.
a flower bulb – black copic marker, black and white crayon pencil on khaki ingres paper. Just a quick sketch to figure out where I want to go with my next design.
The same – white crayon pencil on dark blue ingres paper. More like a classical chiaroscuro drawing.
A copic marker doodle done while procarstinating about doing some more bulb sketches- I’m sure I couldn’t do something like this if the topic was black and white line drawing or somesuch.
use ins
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 am
One of the best ways to really think about notan is to use black and white construction paper and cut out one and lay it on the other to see the strong contrasts. It is much more difficult to grasp the concept of negative space when dealing with grays at least at first.
The thing that really impressed me about notan is that ‘negative space’ isn’t really ‘negative’ at all, but just the inverse of the ‘positive’ shape, and therefore a shape in it’s own right.
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April 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Wow. I really like the lowest picture you posted. Great!
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April 13th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
[…] 13, 2009 at 7:29 pm · Filed under assisi embroidery, tutorial I described here what ideas I had about assisi work and how I started my design […]
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December 14th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
[…] are links to substancial in-Progress postings: – The design process – The finished design and the transfer to fabric – A closeup of the needlewoven bars in the soil […]
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