A segmented or modular picture is a creative design solution. A picture of modules is a divided one-piece canvas into parts that are located at a short distance from each other.
Fabrication of canvas
Segments for a modular composition can be made from canvas with an image applied to it with acrylic or oil paints. As a canvas, you can use pieces of fabric with bright patterns. Cut the fabric to a larger size than the base so that the edges of the fabric can be secured to the back of the stretcher.
The canvas can be made from paper. The drawing can be printed on a color printer. To do this, divide the desired image into segments in any graphics editor. Paint, which is a standard Windows program, is suitable as an editor. Print the resulting fragments on A4 paper.
Dividing the whole canvas into 2 parts is called a diptych, division into 3 parts is called a triptych. The canvas, divided into 4 parts or more, is called polyptych.
A drawing on a large sheet of paper can be printed on request. When printing a picture, it is recommended to make not one whole canvas, but separate fragments with overlaps along the perimeter. So you will preserve the integrity of the picture when the fragments are positioned relative to each other when they are fixed to the base.
Foam base
The simplest base option for modular pictures is polystyrene. It is easy to cut, has excellent glue holding and is a lightweight material. For this purpose, ceiling tiles are quite suitable. Such a base is suitable for pictures on paper.
Cut the tiles to the size you want. Paste the edges with plain dark paper or paper similar in color to the picture. Apply PVA glue to the surface of each base and glue fragments of the picture on them. Attach a loop on the back.
Wood base
For modular fabric paintings, you need to use wooden frame structures called stretchers. On these bases, canvases of pictures are stretched and fixed on the reverse side with a furniture stapler. Stretchers are sold with canvases already attached to them in specialized stores. If you are going to attach a ready-made canvas to a stretcher, the factory canvas must be removed.
As a stretcher, you can use sheets of plywood or chipboard. Tiles of the required size are cut from the sheets. Canvases are stretched on their surface and fixed on the reverse side with staples using a furniture or construction stapler.
Segment location
The resulting segments of the modular composition can be distributed in different ways. Modules of the same size can be arranged vertically or horizontally in an even row, or in a semicircle or "steps". The main thing is to take into account the future arrangement of the segments relative to each other when gluing the picture to the base in order to preserve the image of the original picture.
To add volume to the image, use modules of different thickness.
Paintings consisting of modules of different sizes look expressive, creating irregular, symmetrical or asymmetric forms of the entire composition.
