In 2014 I was asked where I would like to be to celebrate my 50th birthday (later that year). My response was almost immediate; the Alhambra!
I had been there before.
When our children were younger we'd lived in the UK for a while & during that time made the most of school holidays to visit different places in Europe. One of those places was The Alhambra, but whilst I was able to enjoy the visit, my role as Mother was paramount & I couldn't really lose myself in the beauty of the place whilst also watching my children. Hence my desire to return.
Sure enough on my actual birthday, there I was in Granada, Spain about to spend my 50th birthday in one of the most breathtaking places I'd ever been to. I was horribly jetlagged having just flown in from Australia, it was very humid & I was overwhelmed to actually be there. I was determined to make this day last, because to be there a second time in my lifetime was a privilege I was very very grateful for.
The past few Weekly Art Projects have focused on my travels. This WAP continues that theme, with the difference being that my whole weekly art project will be inspired by this one place & my time there during one single day. Ideally, I'd like to do 50 projects. Realistically, it will probably be over 21 weeks, as my other projects have been.
Glimpses of the Alhambra can be seen as one meanders through the cobbled lanes of the city of Granada. Equally spectacular is the upward glance from the the banks of the Darro. With my first project, I wanted to capture the colour & dominance of this beautiful complex sitting strategically uphill.
This year I have asked myself to use my tools! So with a new project I decided to use a tool I haven't used before; masking fluid.
My goal was to paint a map of Granada in latex masking fluid, so that when I'd painted over the dried latex & peeled the it off, I'd be left with a cool batik effect map.
Unfortunately, I didn't do a lot of research before attempting this. I was sure I'd read it could be used on fabric?!!!
Whilst this map would be very hard for anyone who has walked Granada's streets to navigate from, I was pleased with how it looked.
I was also pleased with the colour & texture I managed to achieve with my roller & a few paints.
However, to cut a long story short, the latex wouldn't peel off! It wouldn't iron out either & I wasn't prepared to spend a whole heap of time trying to wash it out. Therefore...it stayed! With it's rubbery stickiness the lighter paint has adhered to it & although more subtle than my original plan, I like the result. This was to be my building material!
Tracing a simple drawing onto thin paper I stitched the outline through the fabric...
...and then had the laborious task of removing the paper!
A little cutting away & I had a sky in the background & a building in the foreground.
I'd been given perfect tree fabric & I thought I would use it. However, it felt rather too illustrative for me. I'm trying to capture more than a recreation of a photo, I wanted an impression not accuracy.
Raiding the scrap bin I came across a variety of pieces that interested me & began moving them around, trying to find a pleasing composition.
Wonderful story
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