Masks

I need to start focusing on my summer brief for college.. It is quite simply to use own images taken of inspirational objects to produce some visible studies to work with later in the year.  These studies need to reflect line, detail, texture, tones, colour and need to be executed in as many different mediums as I am able.   Some of the pieces I have been working on through the summer will contribute but I would like to concentrate on working with more texture and detail.  I didn't do enough drawing and prep work on my last module and the finished samples reflected this so I want to try and draw as much as possible - not just with or on conventional materials  but with the sewing machine, print, natural objects and whatever comes to mind.  

We visited some friends in Wales who have a wonderful collection of interesting objects collected over many years from all over the world.   I started by drawing a collection of masks - some carved in simple wood with  embellishments of baskets and grasses, others very ornate, gilded and painted.  Most of them appearing to be pulling grotesque faces.  

some of the mask collection 

I have been doing line drawings from them, trying to pull out the detail and experimenting with different drawing techniques.

While in South Wales we visited Melin Tregwynt Woolen Mill where a very generous member of staff let me have some offcuts of the selvages... little or no idea what I'll do with them but I decided to weave a few pieces on the mini loom and replicate the grassy "hair" on a simple wooden Africa mask.

Some of the line drawings I did I think will translate nicely into embroidery and collage pieces to be experimented now I am back to base after our journey round Wales.