Violence against Vellum

The long-bladed metal scissors that were used to cut galleys of type when pasting up graphic design mechanicals (the pre-computer way of designing pages) are perfect for attacking the same vellum used to create overlay drafts. I guess the attack of materials has multiple layers of meaning, but what I’m seeing from an outsider’s perspective is an abusive, exasperated, middle-aged woman in a schmatta. (Yiddish word for “rag” that my Greek grandmother used to describe the house dresses usually made out of bedsheets or some cheap, patterned fabric she made for herself.)

The objective is to create a ground of texture before paint application. It created some areas needing repair, and some areas for the underpainting to show through, and also some interesting folds and wrinkles, like an old skin.