Working in a series is something I love to do. It gives you a chance to explore the things you wish you’d tried in the previous piece in the series. Not only that, it helps you create a cohesive body of work. For us creative people, this is a blessing. Since we naturally like to explore every idea, ‘Working in a Series’ helps make us appear disciplined and focused (even if that’s not the case).
From the first time I learned about ‘Working in a Series’ in an online class with Elizabeth Barton, I’ve always tried to work in a series. My most recent series was my hand series. Well, I’ve had to put that on hold, for now, while I complete Stitch the Sketch this year.
How to Focus Your Series Work
I love circles and I keep going back to them in my work. So a few months back, I decided to unite my abstract pieces by working in a series. In order to achieve that, I wrote out my design concept and my inspiration. I believe this is the most important thing I learned about working in a series: – to first write down in words your design concept before you start to sketch or design the artwork. Doing that helps to keep you focused and makes you have a sense of unity in the work. Again, our creative nature makes us prone to stray, so this set of parameters helps to reign us in, so to speak.
Here’s a look at my design concept. It reads in part like this:
“Use lots of circles – concentric and intersecting. The dominant color in the color scheme should be a warm color. Use transparencies to create the illusion of depth ……..”
My inspiration was first circles, and then some of my previous work like this one here. My inspiration to use transparency to show depth was a result of this other piece. Another inspiration is Sonia Delauney’s work. Her use of circles, diagonals, and bright colors appeals to me a lot.
Overcoming Fear Can Be The Start of New Things
Having got my design concept in place, I decided to start sketching. I’ve been sketching for months. I’ve now got a lot of sketches just waiting for me to use. Last week, when I finally overcame my resistance to trying my abstract sketches in stitch, I decided it was time to start working in a series again. So this week’s episode of Stitch the Sketch is #3 in the series. Last week’s was #2 and episode 24 was the first in the series.
Working in A Series is Fun
The thing about working in a series is that it has a way of bringing the fun things you like together in a set of works. You get to explore in greater depth the things you like. You also get to develop your own specific style of working (your voice). What could be more inspiring than that?
I’m part of a group of SAQA friends who’ll be meeting to discuss and share about working in a series this month. For me, it’ll be exciting to learn what everybody’s perspective on working in a series is. So if you see that the pieces in Stitch the Sketch are beginning to look similar, it’s because I’ve decided to be working in a series going forward.
Question: Do you work in a series? What do you find are the benefits of working in a series? Can’t wait to join you in the discussion below.
Warmest Regards,
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