A few months ago I wrote about the color beige and how much so much of home decor is leaning toward this color or lack of color. Although my agent is quick to point out that we need to be careful of that kind of beige that when printed looks like a bandaid – ivory go for more ivory. It goes with everything. The same can be said of black and white.
There’s nothing new about black and white. It’s been in design and home decor and everyday life from the beginning of time. For years I have adopted the classic fashion trend of wearing black, for its slimming qualities as well as its ability to be cleaned much more easily than it’s opposite – white. The combination of black and white has been avoided in horizontal stripes by women of a certain age and width, but I’ve been noticing it’s comeback in simple t-shirts for Spring and Summer. And the classic French boating shirt with horizontal black stripes on a cream colored shirt is back again. Maybe it’s back every Spring and I just never noticed it.
It’s the patterns that I’m attracted to lately, whether in color or black and white – florals, stripes, leaves, dots. There is just something to the effect of dark on light and light on dark. The simplicity that pairs beautifully with this simple typewriter font I’ve been designing with lately – a break from my usual calligraphy – but a necessity.
I am also enjoying a layering technique where I am using rubber stamps to layer with white gesso over simple black gesso. These are simple materials that I always have. Sometimes you can’t go wrong with basics in art supplies. Young artists shouldn’t feel stressed about having to purchase a ton of art supplies. White gesso, black gesso and basic paper are sometimes all you need to get started with making some great art. I like to use bristol board or even just white cardstock from an office supply store, but the fabulousness of gesso is that you can grab cardboard (cereal boxes, packaging, paper bags) and add some white gesso and start from there.
This bird series is mostly hand-stamped, hand-cut papers collaged together, but some little bits of “collage” came together in Photoshop, it almost always does. So yes, one of the best tools are my scanner, computer and Photoshop Elements software. I brush gesso on some scrap paper and stamp onto my artwork. Sometimes the scrap paper or cardboard ends up being a great piece of artwork as well, like the background behind these birds – painted with several layers of paint and gesso and while everything is still wet, I stamp into the surface. It becomes a way to take off some of the gesso and show the subtle colors underneath. I also love working with acrylic gel medium and stamps as well. There is something wonderful about subtle patterns in paint that reminds me of old brick buildings where you can see the faded lettering of an old ad or company sign.
I think there is a sweetness in my art lately that doesn’t shy away from simple designs, but with an underlying decoration that has been my love seen childhood. It’s something that adds just that little bit of elegance to designs that otherwise might be only suitable for a child’s room. I hope that these new pieces become designs that would work for many households – for a tablecloth, tea towel, cutting board, notebook, or wall decor. For those home decorators who want a bit of art to add to their perfectly staged home that doesn’t overwhelm, but has that certain elegance that is as classic as black and white.
Handwritten Life 