Food Observational Studies

I have been editing my art portfolio and came across these observational pencil studies of pineapples that I thought you would like to see. The focus of these pencil drawings was to show texture through the depth of line.

This second collection are mixed media pieces based on Japanese food. I used tracing paper as a base and used acrylic paint and marker pens to create the sweets. The noodles are represented with strips of masking tape.

The next study is mixed media using a combination of collage, watercolour, acrylic and varnish. The packet on the left is Japanese Miso paste with a small red box of chewy sweets bottom right. Shitake mushrooms and birds eye chillies complete the composition.

 This final piece was based on Gluttony; one of the seven deadly sins. I used a combination of magazine collage, watercolour, designers gouache, inks and wax crayon resist techniques. All studies of food were from observation rather than from a secondary source.

Food is a subject matter that I come back to again and again. I especially like the juxtaposition of the textures and colours of natural food versus the graphic text and patterns of packaged food.

Have you got any 'go-to' things that you like to draw or paint?

Check out lots of other cool crafty blogs at #handmademonday organised by Julia of Sum of their Stories.

Black and white stripy Sorbetto

I followed the link from Emma Jayne's blog at  Clipped Curves for the free pattern from Colette for a lovely top called the Sorbetto. If you google Colette Sorbetto there are hundreds of examples of hand-made versions that have been blogged about / uploaded to the web so I am in good company here.

I downloaded the pattern printed it out, stuck it together and then cut out my size. (I actually cut out the individual sections on the train over a couple of morning commutes).

Now which fabric should I choose to make the Sorbetto top?

I had purchased some fabric from Samuel Taylors, Leeds in June so I had a few options to choose from. I decided to opt for the black and white striped cotton lawn with the leopard print bias binding to finish the outer seams. What would you have selected?

Here is a quick photographic narrative of the construction of the Colette Sorbetto. It took me about four hours to make (not including the paper pattern construction). I used French seams throughout for a neater finish.

I am really happy with the finished garment but if I make another Sorbetto I will need to lower the bust darts considerably because they sit in the wrong place. I will adjust the pattern by lowering the front yoke just below the armhole and add 3 cm to the front panel. This mean that I could leave the dart as it is but it would just sit lower. Overall the top pattern is very short. I free-styled the back of the top by adding a curved lower hem and I added about 2cm to the length.

Maybe on my next top I will play around with a greater colour contrast on the bias binding? What do you think?