In line with 2014 being the Wooden Horse year according to Chinese Calendar, I decided to quill a horse using wood shavings. Prior to this project, I have always quilled with paper. I decided to be somewhat adventurous and quill with wood shavings this time.
The first challenge was to get suitable wood shavings. I thought of collecting shavings from carpenters but their shavings were too rough, inconsistent in thickness, and way too short for me to work with. But I was fortunate enough to obtain the shavings from the guy who makes the frames for my artworks. He was kind enough to try out a few different type of wood before settling on one that produces long strips of shavings.
The next challenge was cut the shavings into strips with consistent width. I didn't cut with precise accuracy as it will be time consuming. But average estimation did the trick but cutting strips out of coiled shavings was not easy. Especially when I was trying to get long pieces to outline the horse. Wood shavings are super fragile and they break easily.
Third challenge was the design itself. I have this bad habit of not following through with my initial draft when I quill, I tend to stray and modify designs as I quill. And this piece was no exception. But truth be told, I never could have pulled off my initial design - which completely disregarded the inability to make small coils with the shavings. So I have to improvise, and think of patterns that will not cause the strips to break. Hence the loose coils - not my usual style.
Forth challenge was shaping the strips. I couldn't use my usual tools as the strips were too fragile. I could only use hands. And strangely, as if to stay close to the Chinese element of this piece, I ended up using a chopstick, which worked perfectly. And just when I thought the challenges ended there, I was wrong. Sticking the strips on the the red background paper proved to be tough too. Upon applying glue on it's side, the strip becomes soft and sometimes bends in, unable to take the pressure of my finger holding it down. It even breaks in the middle at times. I had to be extra gentle, using a lot more patience than my usual projects. And I couldn't afford to remove and redo many times, as the glue stains will make my work look messy.
Literally, every strip had to be almost perfect in shape, length, width etc before I glue it down.
Regardless of all the challenges above, I am satisfied with the output. This is my first work for 2014 and I'm happy. It has its flaws but I'm okay to accept them as I was exploring a different material to quill. Perhaps this year will be a year of exploring different possibilities, different materials. Let's wait and see. :)
The first challenge was to get suitable wood shavings. I thought of collecting shavings from carpenters but their shavings were too rough, inconsistent in thickness, and way too short for me to work with. But I was fortunate enough to obtain the shavings from the guy who makes the frames for my artworks. He was kind enough to try out a few different type of wood before settling on one that produces long strips of shavings.
The next challenge was cut the shavings into strips with consistent width. I didn't cut with precise accuracy as it will be time consuming. But average estimation did the trick but cutting strips out of coiled shavings was not easy. Especially when I was trying to get long pieces to outline the horse. Wood shavings are super fragile and they break easily.
Third challenge was the design itself. I have this bad habit of not following through with my initial draft when I quill, I tend to stray and modify designs as I quill. And this piece was no exception. But truth be told, I never could have pulled off my initial design - which completely disregarded the inability to make small coils with the shavings. So I have to improvise, and think of patterns that will not cause the strips to break. Hence the loose coils - not my usual style.
Forth challenge was shaping the strips. I couldn't use my usual tools as the strips were too fragile. I could only use hands. And strangely, as if to stay close to the Chinese element of this piece, I ended up using a chopstick, which worked perfectly. And just when I thought the challenges ended there, I was wrong. Sticking the strips on the the red background paper proved to be tough too. Upon applying glue on it's side, the strip becomes soft and sometimes bends in, unable to take the pressure of my finger holding it down. It even breaks in the middle at times. I had to be extra gentle, using a lot more patience than my usual projects. And I couldn't afford to remove and redo many times, as the glue stains will make my work look messy.
Literally, every strip had to be almost perfect in shape, length, width etc before I glue it down.
Regardless of all the challenges above, I am satisfied with the output. This is my first work for 2014 and I'm happy. It has its flaws but I'm okay to accept them as I was exploring a different material to quill. Perhaps this year will be a year of exploring different possibilities, different materials. Let's wait and see. :)
