Bonjour, it is Dounia with you right this moment and I am right here to share with you a ‘life map’ retracing all the gorgeous locations I’ve lived in.
My inspiration for this mission got here instantly from the stamps, Kay Carley’s set EKC63. It is a stamp from one of many new units being launch this coming week, so you might be getting a sneak peek! It features a pretty collection of three little homes. I like that they’re subtly completely different, offering a lot of choices. They first jogged my memory of the structure from the North of France (I’m French) with their ornate pointy roofs, however I should not have any actual connection to that area, so I felt a mission on that may not likely match the present matter. Nonetheless it received me fascinated by how straightforward it will be to customize Kay’s homes to characterize completely different kinds. I’ve been fortunate to dwell in fairly a couple of stunning cities and cities with their very own architectural identities so I discovered this mission the right alternative to characterize my life journey by way of an illustrated map.
As I meant to maintain the homes illustrations fairly clear and easy, I wanted a impactful background to deliver curiosity to the remainder of the mission.
And what higher background than an precise map! For it to not be too overwhelming, I calmly brayered some Fresco End acrylic paint in Snowflake throughout, with a greater protection within the center the place I used to be planning to place my life map.
I then began to sketch the map half, selecting a flowing and sinuous line, because it has not been a simple journey! I made positive to depart sufficient area for the homes illustrations. Their measurement made me decide on 5 illustrations.
To decide on the position of the stops on the road, I thought-about which locations held essentially the most significance to me, but additionally which had essentially the most distinctive and fascinating structure. I attempted to used map symbology to characterize the cities and the journey.
Now for the homes! I made a decision to create textured backgrounds to invoke stone. My hope was to cut back the quantity of colouring I must do on the homes. I went for a heat and a chilly tone, utilizing Golden Sands and Sleight Blue Infusions. I sprinkled them on my palette then rolled Snowflake paint over with my brayer earlier than making use of to the paper. Tremendous fast and easy and I like the outcome! I really feel the residual grains of Infusions actually mimic the variation of color of pure stone.
I selected hanging references from every metropolis, even when that’s not have been I truly lived! I spent my childhood in Joigny, a medieval city within the North of Burgundy (based in 996!). Plenty of beautiful timbered homes have been preserved, roughly elaborate. Some have sculpted beams, some have mosaics in between the beams and they’re all completely different. Right here is a powerful instance, it was the Bailiff’s home.
Utilizing this as a reference, I simply added a a lot simplified model of the wooden beams.
I made positive to recreate the horizontal separation, as it’s a very recognisable function. Due to my background, I mainly solely needed to color the wooden!
These are the Hospices de Beaune. Based throughout the fifteenth century, it was hospital devoted to look after the poor. It was energetic till the 1960’s and is now a museum. It is usually in Beaune, not Dijon… I due to this fact selected as reference the marginally much less extravagant Hôtel de Vogüe, truly within the metropolis middle:
To raised showcase the roof, I made a decision so as to add a easy extension to my stamped home. I additionally lowered the lip of the roof to get the standard silhouette and added some extra particulars across the home windows and doorways. I had fairly a little bit of enjoyable creating patterns whereas colouring the roofs!
I then went to the capital for College (truly the closest to dwelling!). Paris in fact is a loopy mismatch of kinds, from Gallo-Roman to very trendy, however our collective thoughts, it’s primarily related to the Tour Eiffel and the Boulevards from the 18th and nineteenth century. To suit with the stamps, I selected a number of the much less ’rounded’ examples, from the boulevard Poissonnière:
For this adaption, my focus was on recreating the horizontal rhythm of the buildings. I truncated the roofs, added balconies and friezes. It additionally wanted extra chimneys! The massive doorways made excellent store home windows!
I then fled the gray skies and air pollution of the large metropolis to Bordeaux, within the South West of France. The historic port has a really explicit ambiance, aided by the lengthy streets, secrets and techniques inside gardens and a constructing restriction of three tales. The town is properly know for its neo-classic facades however these are laborious to recreate on small homes! I’ve been personally fascinated by a collection of homes adorned with glazed bricks with a really particular color palette:
Here’s a very intricate instance:
Supply: Google Maps
And a extra duplicatable model!
Supply: Google Maps
Right here I additionally added an extension, to raised showcase the sample and the color. I primarily centered on recreating the stone/bricks stability, with some added stonework particulars. It additionally took me a while to nail the color!
Lastly, I joined the PaperArtsy Workforce in Dordogne and now dwell within the small city of Lalinde, a former traditional bastide based in 1242 by the King of England. There are many reminders of this medieval previous amongst extra trendy buildings, together with my home. Here’s a image giving a good suggestion of the type.
I once more lowered the roof and had enjoyable including the lovable detailing across the home windows, in addition to hints of the uncovered stones. Few home windows and thick partitions to guard from the warmth!
Right here are my homes all collectively. I attempted to provide them every a unique persona by way of particulars and color. I’m fairly pleased with how they turned out!
Time to deliver all of it collectively! I glued the homes on the map however they appear to only float on the background. Due to this fact I added some shadows and streets texture to floor them.
All carried out!
I had a whole lot of enjoyable with this mission. It allowed me to be create my very own photos with the protection web of Kay’s superior homes. It additionally pushed me to mirror about my journey and the gorgeous issues I encountered alongside the way in which. The life map might be simply tailored through the use of one other focus than structure, like fauna or meals. Don’t hesitate to change Kay’s homes your self, to recreate yours for a journal unfold or a good friend’s for a personalised card.
Keep inventive!
Dounia