This week I focused on making the hot air balloons, trying to get the design/colors on the paper to appear, while still letting light shine through. I first began by using my small globes and a paper towel roll to make the shape of the balloon. I then decided to first try with the origami paper that I had since it was multicolored. However, after cutting strips and modge podgeing a few pieces to the structure, I tested out the light and found that you could only see it through the cracks between the strips and you could not see the design or colors on the paper at all. I then tried colored construction paper because I had that already as well and found similar results to the origami paper.

I then found a sheet of multi-colored tissue paper (I had originally wanted to used tissue, but have not received the colored pieces yet) and tried it with the modge podge. The results were much better as the tea candle lit up the design and it could be clearly seen. I wanted to try different patterns, so I used water colors to paint on white tissue paper to see how that would show up. However, for both types, the coloring and light did not appear the way that I had hoped so I considered a different light source.

I knew I wanted the “flickering” effect that the tea lights provided, but the ones I have are very yellow, so I decided to try using the string lights I have that came with the small globes. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this earlier, but I think the balloons looked much better and the colors were so much more vibrant.

I did not get the flickering with these lights, but they were much less yellow than the tea lights I used originally. Therefore, I ordered flickering tea lights that are “white” instead of yellow and are remote controlled. If they do not work though, I may use string lights that have a smaller wire that could be harder to see in the final piece.

The next steps are to make “cleaner” balloons with designed or colored tissue paper, testing out the new tea lights, attaching the balloons to the shadow box, and creating my background.