Adding Fabric Into My Illustration Process #MFADays (1 of 3)
In June, I wrote this post about my wanting to incorporate more fabric into my mixed media art 👇🏽
Well, that add-more-fabric feeling didn’t start up for me just this past June 🙂
It actually started back during my MFA days … 2018’ish
One of the very first times I totally went for it in terms of adding fabric into my illustration process was for an assignment where we had to recreate, according to our memories, an image showcasing our childhood bedroom.
Because the assignment was for a children’s book illustration class, this exercise in particular was to get us students emotionally reconnected with our childhood selves.
The instant I recalled my childhood bedroom
Well so for me, the FIRST memory I had when tasked with this assignment was that of my faithful companion, a Winnie the Pooh teddy bear I had received for Christmas way back when. My Winnie the Pooh was covered in thick and plush canary yellow fur and he was always waiting for my company (or hugs) as he sat patiently right above my covers.
I think it was the idea of rendering that very distinct, canary yellow fur that got me thinking, and perhaps even doubting, that no digital pigment could do it justice, in terms of both color and texture.
(I also remembered my bedroom walls were wallpapered with an abundant blue and purple flower motif; I’m sharing this detail just in case you’re wondering about all those flowers on the walls 🙂 )
At the time, it just so happened I had a bright yellow pillowcase cover sitting around my linen closet.
Once I remembered that sunshine yellow pillowcase, I tore my shelves apart to find it, which I did — and shortly thereafter, i took scissors to it and cut out my Winnie the Pooh’s shapes from its fabric, which you can check out how that all turned out in the final illustration shared below 👇🏽
Keep in mind this assignment was early on in my illustration/grad school journey …
As such, I wasn’t always sure what I was doing half the time 🙂 so perspective, composition, line consistency, and other details were/are in definite need of more attention 🙏🏽
Still, I was absolutely *thrilled* with my fabric details and accents on this illustration.
Here’s my fabric usage breakdown 👇🏽
Despite the tight turnaround for this assignment, the point was much more about getting us students emotionally connected to our “inner child” and less about technique or skill.
In the end, fumbles and all, I was and still am quite partial to this illustration … not only because it WAS indeed my first time using fabric as part of my illustration process but because it ALSO introduced me to the full world of mixed media, for which I’ve been so excited about and grateful for ever since 🙏🏽
Have you worked fabric into your mixed media? Or not (yet)?
Let me know about your mixed media adventures in the comments below or on Instagram or Facebook.
Yours in mixed media,
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