Frottage Technique Experimentation

Some experiments with 'Frottage', an art technique often used by Max Ernst, within his work. This could be a way to utilise it in my buildings concept designs.

 From bark, to brick wall. Glass, to concrete. There's a vast amount of  surfaces available to use.
The question is, how could I best apply these different textures to different parts of the drawing?

Here's a quick look at gradient and the softness of graphite (i.e. the best way to hold the pencil to draw the pattern out, onto the page).









In relation to the concept itself, the technique was considered 'automatism', where chance played a vital part in the production process.

This technique has known to be employed by more recent artists: Tony Orrico and Heather Hansen who both use 'automatic' drawing as a means of reaching 'the unconscious mind'. Where automatic body movements, momentary emotion and posture all effect the final piece. 

 In regards to the idea however...Is it technically chance oriented?
Max Ernst, after-all, (though using natural forms/branches etc. whose growth he has no control over), technically decides and limits what he wants to use in his paintings, and so there is that human element still in play.
Technically, you could see it as: Max Ernst showing the automatic 'underplaying elements' of mind and psychology (through choice), and his creativity, by letting himself respond to these random elements, when creating his work.





Again, horizontal or vertical line? 


Here I try combining 'Frottage' in architectural drawing to see how best to use it. The patterns might not come up as clearly as I'd hoped. I could draw it as a silhouette, perhaps, so there's more attention to the interior, than the outlines? 

Next time I'm going to use something with a larger surface area to get the graphite down. While I tried both softer graphite and different ways of holding the pencil, you still tend to get the pencil lines which might distract from the actual patterns themselves. Something to consider!

Comments

  1. This is an exciting post! When it comes to actually texturing your Maya models, frottage might prove to be a very applicable method indeed...

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