The weeks before Christmas are very busy for me as an artist, and I have had very little time for blogging! For this post, I thought you may like to see some of my working methods, with a Christmas theme ...
One of my previous commissions has been to create ranges of 3D pop-up Christmas cards, a task which was very enjoyable and challenging. I began the process in my usual way - by doing a rough spontaneous sketch using biro and cheap felt-pens. (A friend of mine, on seeing the above sketch tentatively asked, "Will the animal on the finished card - er - actually look like a fox?") I hope it does!
The image above is from scans of the finished artwork. I used artist's quality watercolours on heavy watercolour paper - following the traditional method of using no white paint, but using transparent washes to allow the white of the paper to show through for the highlights and white areas.
This design was printed onto both sides of one piece of card, laid out in absolute precision so that when the card is die-cut, scored and folded, little tabs slot into place creating a 3D structure.
This next card, 'Woodland Xmas Eve', was much more complex in structure than the Fox. I began with the scruffy sketch and cut it all out to make a mock up to test the paper engineering design.
Above you can see the separate paintings I made, which all had to be scanned and a proof printed, including lots of little tabs and slots. My next task was to very precisely cut round the proof print, and assemble the card. This was then sent to a company who make die-cutters so that the card printer would be able to cut the cards after they had been printed.
The various components fit together to make a deep box-like structure emulating a hollow tree with a Christmas wreath at the front.
Above is a photo of the finished product.
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After cutting out the proofs for many designs, I had blisters on my hands and neck-ache ... But this has been one of my favourite commissions - and I hope you have enjoyed the little journey into the creation of pop-up cards!
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You can see all 24 of the 3D Christmas cards by visiting my 3D Christmas card site
North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre, Durham artist, England UK. Greeting card designer, illustrator, Fine Art paintings for sale, greeting cards for sale, 3D pop up greeting cards for sale, paper engineering, Portrait painter, animal portraits, English landscape painter, internationally renowned artist Ingrid Sylvestre.
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For further information about Ingrid Sylvestre's Arts & Entertainment work please visit her main site Ingrid Sylvestre Art
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3D pop up Christmas Cards by North East UK Artist Ingrid Sylvestre Arts & Entertainment Illustration Commissioned Artwork Live Events Entertainment North East UK Newcastle upon Tyne County Durham Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Northumberland North Yorkshire UK Fine Illustration Interpretive Panels Greeting Card Illustration Greeting Cards Design Bespoke Wedding Stationery Live Wedding Entertainment Caricatures Silhouette
Greetings of the Season to everyone! I wish you all a very happy holiday, and thank you all for your beautiful and interesting blogs, and your friendship over this year.
I don't often write poetry, but was inspired to pen this earlier this year - and thought I'd post it to join in with TFE's Christmas poetry event, Santa's Poetry Go-Kart!
