Dat Quilling

(A different type of blog, but still a relevant one nonetheless.)

Okay, so I’ve been doing some research on a type of medium called quilling.

Quilling is an easy paper craft that requires minimal tools. It produces amazing results which can be used for decorating papers, cards, and other embellishments.

The art of twirling paper started during the Renaissance when nuns decorated bibles and religious texts with swirly strips of paper. Back then, they used feathers (quills) for writing and it is believed that they rolled the strips of paper around the quill - thus the term "quilling".

In quilling, a narrow strip of paper is rolled around a slotted quilling tool to form a tight roll (called a coil). The loose end of the coil is glued onto the roll to prevent unrolling. The coil may be allowed to unroll itself slightly before the loose end is glued on: this forms a "loose coil". Loose coils can be shaped by pinching the ends to form teardrop or crescent moon shapes. These coils are then arranged into flowers, fruits, animals, and any shape imaginable.

Quilling requires very few tools, which is great. Something I can easily do in class. For a beginner (that’s me), you will need strips of paper, a slotted quilling tool, and glue. However, as with any craft, you begin to desire more tools as your projects progress in complexity. For example, serious quilling enthusiasts will use a circle template, a cork board, pins, forceps, scissors, and a quilling fringer.

 Aw yeah.

I look forward to it.

Historical Work of Oscar-Claude Monet

Monet’s San Giorgio Twilight

We all know that impressionist paintings include relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes; open composition; emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities; common, ordinary subject matter; the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience; and unusual visual angles. The hues in this piece are more vivid with the renderings of sunlight and its interplay with nature. It gives off a very warm feeling. Oddly enough, Monet’s simply impressionist style has pulled off the illusion of depth many times with his contrasting warm and cool colors. He manages to create shadows without using black, which he had banished from his pallet anyway. The lighting and shadows are absolutely perfect. You can clearly tell from his color choices that this is during a setting sun (if the title wasn’t what it is, that is), due to the warm reds and oranges. His brushstrokes seem to be closer together and more blended in the background to resemble the sky, while the longer and thicker strokes resemble the ocean. Monet was an expert at what he did, and I’m proud to call him one of my favorite artists.