Working Your Way Up in Scale
Conquering the fear of large piece creation.
© Jennifer Hollowell
Feb 12, 2007
Are you having issues with creating large scale pieces? In this article, I describe my similar frustrations and how I've managed to conquer them.
I'm trying to work on a larger scale and finding it to be very difficult. I love working on my 4x4's, but my 9x12's remain dusty. Here's how I've been attempting to solve this problem.
Cut three different sized papers: 4x4, 8x8, 9x12 (could be watercolor paper, bristol board, pieces of old cardboard, whatever as long as they're flat).Prime a 11x14 canvas and set it aside. Work the 4x4 until it's considered "done" and set it aside for 24 hours.Get out the 8x8 and adhere the 4x4 to it anywhere you like (the corner, the center, whatever). Work the 8x8 so the 4x4 becomes part of it somehow (as an accent, as a layer of a collage, as part of a painting). Set it aside for 24 hours.Choose a color that's complementary color to the 8x8 and color (paint, paper, whatever) the entire piece of the 9x12. Adhere the 8x8 to the piece. Add texture, paper, embellishments. set it aside for 24 hours.Now turn your attention to the canvas: treat the edges with a finish you feel would complement the 9x12. I've used crumpled tissue paper, stucco and thick layers of acrylic paint. Adhere the 9x12 to the canvas and embellish the whole piece. The reason I set the piece down and let it sit for 24 hours between each layer is that I get too overwhelmed by the scale and I need the piece to rest. (you may not need to do this). When I come back to it, the flow is so much easier and it comes very naturally. I tried completing one in one sitting the first time, and I ended up throwing the piece away because it frustrated me so much.
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