Friday 20 November 2015

a three-cornered problem

I have mixed feelings about Tripoli.  I quite like drawing it, and I like the look of it when it's done, and in some people's hands it is a wonderful tangle.  But I'm never really sure what to do with it.  And quite often, in fact usually, I draw a bit of it, on its own on a tile, and never really know what to do with it.  Whether to include other tangles, or let it stand alone.  In fact I usually end up with an unfinished tile.  I've got quite a few of them sitting in my little tangle basket - maybe I need to think about a project to finish the unfinished... 

But anyway, when the Diva challenged us to work with Tripoli I knew it would be a tough one.  I started well, laying down lots of triangles with my thick Sanguine Pitt Pen.  I like the way it looked a bit like potato-printing.  Once dry I went back and added some details with my Micron.

Work in progress

 But then I got stuck - with Tripoli hanging there in a unfinished state.  And it sat like that for days, and it could have ended there... but I risked inking in a few tendrils, so that the Tripoli looked like it was attached to something, like it belonged.
Done and dusted

And I think that worked out okay - I think it's good enough to call it finished.  Not an easy one, but a sense of accomplishment nonetheless.

12 comments:

  1. Beautyful. The strings to connect the Tripos are a great idea. I'll keep it in mind.

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  2. I like the tendrils. It grounds the Tripoli nicely.

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  3. Such fun! The tendrils truly make it whole. It's like the energy of friendship or even love has connected everything. I love this!

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  4. Such fun! The tendrils truly make it whole. It's like the energy of friendship or even love has connected everything. I love this!

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  5. It's not only good enough, it's gorgeous!!!!

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  6. Really love the way you string the tripoli bits together! You're right, it's just what was needed! Thanks for sharing your process too!

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  7. Wow! I love it. Now you know what you can do to finish all those unfinished tripoli tiles. I love those strings too. I'm going to have to rethink how I do this tangle. I love your larger (than mine anyway) triangles. Thanks for inspiring us all.

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  8. I really think you figured out what to do with it! Wow, I love this.

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  9. I love the way the Tripoli is connected together with the tendrils and I like the filling in it too.

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  10. Gorgeous work! Greetings, Anja

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  11. Your stamping technique works beautifully.

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