Shadows can be stencils

I was looking for interesting shadows and shapes as I did my bike ride today.

A photo of a great shadow can easily be turned into some kind of matrix for printmaking. For people who do not love to draw this is a great way to make your imagery personal.

Shadows are wonderful because they flatten the 3-d shape into a 2-d image that is easier to draw or trace. It is one way to trick the mind into flattening 3 dimensional shapes.

• I encourage you to look for shadows.
• Look at different times of the day.
• Capture them with your phone or camera.
• Be open to the idea of making them into a stencil or stamp or other printmaking matrix.

Sometimes you can create shadows. I placed the jar of tools on the window sill, in bright light and hung a white piece of fabric in front of it.

Shadows simplify the negative spaces. The objects become shapes rather than the things that they are. This creates a new freedom in your mind to draw the shape, rather that the tiny details of the things.

Try it!

Screen printing is a process where you can use shape based drawings to print on fabric and paper.