BUM WAD

Tony Costello, an architecture professor of mine, always used to use the term bum wad.

He was referring to what people normally call trace paper. Or overlay sketch paper. Any of the architects reading this know exactly what this paper is. But if you don’t, here are links to where it is available:

–Blick Studio Tracing Paper
–Bienfang Canary Sketching and Tracing Paper

The paper is translucent, which allows designers to draw over an earlier drawing as we seek truth and knowledge. This overlay drawing is of similar concept to our Drawing From Drawing. In traditional settings, the paper is typically used for 2D geometric resolution in plan, section and elevation. It has a beautiful texture and is either yellow or white. It will take pencil, marker, felt tip, roller ball pen, etc., with great ease. Because of the smooth texture of the paper, it is fun to use, and it is always a great feeling as the pencil glides over the surface.

The question suddenly hit me: what happens if I use bum wad as a translucent overlay for my transparent drawings? The drawing above is one of my recent uses of this Assembly. I first did some layers employing Form Combine, Krylon Transparency, etc. Then I adjusted a piece of tracing paper by making holes and cuts. I then applied spray mount on the back, and then stuck it to the drawing, and kept drawing.

What freedom! Now you have a fresh layer to draw on. It is as if you have a brand new start to the drawing, while you are in the middle of your process. The lines that you now put on your tracing paper respond to the knowledge already on your paper. And the lines also can move toward their own holistic resolution.

The paper becomes the form, just like any transparent ink or watercolor tone that you apply. The edges can be used as form generators.

As is typical with any Transparent Drawing Assembly, the possibilities are infinite. You can do one layer of trace and draw on that. Or you can do two layers of trace + draw. Or three. Openings can be cut in the paper before you apply it. And I found that you can cut an opening in the paper once it has been applied, as long as the spray mount coating is thin. My drawing above only opens the door on this assembly.