Working with the Paintings

Just like I did with my technical drawings, I used the same system with these paintings - just drawing a section by hand and then using digital processes to complete the image. This time I was slightly more organised and I scanned the image after the technical lines and then after the painting had been done on top so that the two were separate layers when I was working with them in Photoshop.

I tried a few different things once they were scanned in, initially just inverting the image like I had done with my other drawings, but it didn't quite have the same effect. They reminded me a little of blue prints, which I thought was quite interesting but it just looked messy. Because the Quink isn't a solid colours, the background is quite blotchy and unpleasant in its colouring once inverted. I did however really like the way the metallic colours, turned into this almost UltraViolet blue tone, as if painted in invisible ink and the UV light is being shone to reveal the design - now this I liked a lot! I think its a good development from my labyrinth idea, holding lots of secrets, maybe secret designs within my prints? 

As these ones were muddy in colour and quite flat to look at, I carried on and just completed the drawing in it's original colours and then experimented with the layers and things, eventually refining the UV/blue print look! By separating the drawing into layers: one enlarged area of the Quink for a more solid background colour, then the gold completed drawing, with the technical lines over the top, filled with a copper gradient. I was then able to use the layer effects, in this case the divide to create the blue tones. It's not perfected yet, but it's getting there!

After using the jewellery from a current designer in one of my technical drawings, it suddenly dawned on me that copyright could be an issue here, I've been from other designer's products and it panicked me a little. I decided to use the knowledge I've gained from my research and previous drawings to try and come up with some of my own shapes and plans, but still influenced by the antique / art deco style that I've been looking at. This time with the idea of drawing different parts of jewellery, to the put together to make a hybrid from parts, not completed drawings. Things that can be easily collaged together, and although they'll be part of a collection, there will never be the same drawing / piece of jewellery repeated in two different designs because they'll all be different.