Through the arched window

Arches are strong. Arches support weight because pressure is pushing inwards towards a central point. They have a keystone that holds everything together. I wish I knew the mathematics that explained this. But it is something amazing when you see arches in churches or castles or other religious or secular places supporting the rooves of buildings. They can be so elegant and flimsy looking but they have innate strength. All due to forces, and geometry.

Etch-a-sketch

Who remembers these? I loved mine and by twirling both buttons together I found I could draw curves! I used to draw mazes. I remember turning it over and the shake of the silver dust as it covered the trace of your sketch. Also the twanging of what might have been elastic bands moving a stylus? Against the screen. It was just a tiny dot. A bit like a computer cursor! I’d love to get one again!

Bright pattern

Changing ‘curves’ in digital photo editing apps can really change colours and make them ‘pop’. Initially you see a square with a diagonal line on it and also a series of squiggly lines underneath that indicate how much of the spectrum is in what part of the box. If you click on the diagonal line you can change the shape of it. Raising the line by dragging it makes it your image lighter (you can watch the image change as you drag on the line). Pulling the line down darkens the image. But altering the line into a flowing curve also changes the colours without altering the underlying pattern or shapes. You can also change colours in other tools. Have a go. See what happens.

Curves

Today’s #bandofsketchers prompt was curves. I drew random curves with a few felt pans taped together.  Then I used Masking tape to block out lines.  Finally I coloured in the uncovered paper,  then removed the Masking tape and coloured the rest I’m slightly differently.  I left the pad on the floor after taking a photo and the cat who had wet paws from sitting in the water that had spilled out of the hanging basket came snd sat on it and smudged it badly.  So I added more colours to define the patterns again. That’s why there are two photos.

Today’s painting

Bottle oven and swirls

I like painting bottle ovens on long thin canvases and I tend to use the shape of the side to make almost a yin yang curve. I might add some stars to the swirling sky. I’ve used mainly reds browns and oranges for the brickwork on the kiln. I need to go over the dark mortar and add some shading to the kiln to give it more shape. Acrylic on canvas.

Drawing to scale

Oh I wish I’d done technical drawing at school. I’d know how to draw perfect circles and how to indicate cross sections. Yes I can draw around things, like this watch, but the line is very wobbly, then I wanted to draw an inner circle, but again its approximately a circle….. I’m a bit disappointed to be honest. I must find out if there is a particular template I can buy. If I’m going to learn, I need the right equipment. Another thing I need to invest in, and maybe an illustrated guide to technical drawing?

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