A is for …
Today or rather yesterday I began another journey; that of a wood engraver. I would like to be a printer/illustrator. I have a long way to go; with limited time and resources. I enjoyed drawing and painting as a child and even got a GCE ‘O’ level in art. Sadly, for the next 40 or so years I didn’t pick up a pencil or pot of paint, although I harboured the dream! So now I am able to perhaps fulfil that schoolgirl ideal.
I enjoy lino cutting and I will of course continue down that road; this is a little side turn. There is no rush I have waited 40+ years; a playful sojourn can do no harm. I say playful laughingly this is serious stuff! It is costly time, consuming and hard! This little gem has taken weeks of preparation; including a weekend workshop, various ‘how to do it’ books’ and Youtube videos. Then, there is the wood, tools and the sharpening of engravers. Probably subliminal delaying tactics for making the first mark in the precious wood.
So then I plucked up courage … this attempt is badly flawed; but it makes me smile. It was a joyous afternoon; the sun shone on my bench, a tea pot near by and music. Radio 6 is my lifeline I will no go on a journey without it!
So A is for adventure
Silent Sunday
Have some new wood blocks and some practice pieces .. my tools; a couple of new ones and the rest sharpened! Guess what I am doing this weekend … must get a first aid kit!
Friday’s Library Snapshot …
I have been working on a particular project for years, and it is almost complete and as I see the end in sight I have quickened the pace and not noticed the little gems as I might have done in the past.
Nonetheless, this book grabbed my attention; it is little larger than most and a little more shabby or perhaps rather well used.
I would like a copy of my own but it is a little out of my price range …
but I scanned a few images and put the book on the ‘nice to have one day list’
Grafika by Irme Reiner
Alphabe Thursday X is for Xia Gui
For the last 23 weeks of the Alphabe Thursday I have tried keep to a colour theme. It was not always easy and I am not sure that I have always achieved this. However, this week I have definitely failed; so instead I bring you Xia Gui (1195–1224) who was a Chinese landscape artist of the Song Dynasty. Very little is known about his life, and only a few of his works survive, but he is generally considered one of China’s greatest artists.
During the Tang dynasty only the greatest artists were using colours for their paintings. However, the gentlemen artist considered this vulgar. They preferred to combine the skills of poetry and painting while trying to portray the landscape of the mind rather than that of the eye. Sadly, none of the Tang monochrome paintings survive; Later in the 13th century and the Song dynasty had a renaissance and it became a mainstream theory. One of the most precious paintings in the National Palace Museum is by Xia Gui called the Remote view of streams and hills.
The dislike for colour still continued; Victoria Finlay in Colour retells a story of Su Dongpo a scholar and artist renown in the 11th century who was criticised for painting a picture of a leafy bamboo with red ink. It was, the critic agreed ‘not natural’ and that ‘he should have used black!’
Wednesday’s Wise Women … Maria Quiteria and Joana Angelica
I don’t like reblogging it feels like I have run out of ideas or steam. Perhaps, I have and maybe I should consider the need to post daily. I would value thoughts about Blogging, the reasons why we do it ? Also, why at some point we or just I, wonder if I have lost the plot and should get a life! Meanwhile, as the the year goes on and I look back of the last 3 months of grief and pain and separation. I can perhaps see why blogging has not always been my priority. Then I think, in three months I will be looking at the statue of Princess Isabel of Brazil at the end a street very near where my daughter lives. Maybe the I will be able to celebrate again, the way in women and not just those from privileged backgrounds do cope with adversity.
In my bid to discover some lesser known Wise Women I have discovered various blogs and websites. One such site is Mulher 500 Anos, it is in Portuguese and the translation is poor. Nonetheless it is a list of women of Brazil who have contributed to the building of the democratic and egalitarian society. These women made changes overcoming racism and ethnocentrism; in a man’s world and made history.
During my research I read and learned a little about Princess Isabel the daughter of Pedro II, Brazil’s last emperor. In the absence of her father in 1871 she presided over the enactment of the Law of Free Birth that marked the end of slavery in 1888. For this she earned the name A Redentora (redemptress) I understand that this move did not come from an ethical stand but for economic and practical reasons and pressure from would be…
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Weekly Photo Challenge …. Letters
This week’s photo challenge was no less difficult even though I spend my life surrounded in letters. In the form of books and manuscrips. Even at home I collect letters as letterpress, as well as books and have a wealth of handwritten journals. As a scholar of dead languages and if pressed I could produce a selection of perfectly penned ‘other’ letters
But …
Recently when asked to design a book jacket for a friend; I was inspired by an artist called Nancy Spero. She was infamous for her ‘Victim Art’ and used typed text and newspaper clippings in collages. I had a go but used computer generated fonts on copy paper, which I stained with cold tea. Like her I tried to over print with lino cuts. While her works, worked! Mine failed miserably.
So I decided to use a recently bought manual typewriter; with better quality real printing paper maybe I would fair better …
Sadly I am no typist and the ribbon is well passed its use by date, I will not reach the lofty heights of the likes of Nancy Spero. However, I will not give up on my new rather clumsy and unforgiving friend.
Monday … After the weekend
After Saturday and wall to wall lino cuts and wood engraving, at the Print Fair, I am ready to begin the week or so I hoped.
Sunday was spent in a quagmire of self pity as I struggled with the internet connection on my laptop. I am not sure what caused the problem as my other devices were working perfectly. I did all the usual tricks but still nothing seemed to work.
This morning I am reluctant to turn the thing on.
Why does the media connection have such beastly hold?
As I said I enjoyed the Print Fair; I came home with lots of ideas and echos of ‘I could do something like that!’
After lunch at our favourite vegetarian restaurant in Soho (Mildred’s) we walked to British Museum, carefully avoiding the heavy showers, where we saw two of Picasso’s lino cuts. While the rest of the museum was heaving with tourists,Room 90 on the 4th floor was quiet and peaceful. WE were able gasp knowingly at the exhibits. While I made be not attempting either at home yet; here is a first print of my last drawing of my bike! At least she can be relied on … but I am not holding my breath!
Silent Sunday
Saturday …
On a Saturday I usually tell you how life is or how it seems. (generally of course, more detail would be like painting the Forth Bridge) After a week of ups and downs, I decide whether to be thankful or offer a prayer for divine intervention.
I suppose this week has been no different, there have been the usual trials and tribulations for which I remain grateful.
However, there was one event for which I will probably get divine retribution! I got Doctor’s receptionist rage and also doctor more intense rage … For which I do not apologise or regret!
I should have know better but nonetheless I had reached a point in my recent malady when I wanted some help, reassurance or even comfort instead I got insensitivity, rudeness and inhumanity. Not just from the receptionist but the doctor who had the bedside manner of circus trainer. Strong language, but I don’t respond well to people who don’t offer common courtesy or look me in the eye and then click their fingers when I required to take a seat!
And then I was asked ‘How I thought a doctor could help; as no one knows what causes alopecia and there is no cure’
So after the doctor had gazed at my head as if I had some deadly disease; I tied my scarf round my head and left feeling bereft and broken
However; I am sensible and rational and have a keen sense of fun. I know the score there are ways to address this and it is not life threatening. But, I am now a little sad that the NHS is so unkind.
But I needed to get it off my chest … which incidentally is also less hirsute 😉
I look out of the window now as the sun tries to come through the rain cloud I think this Saturday is going to be OK!
With a trip to London, to visit the Royal Academy and then lunch at Mildred’s in Soho and then off to the British Museum … Marvelous; all is well.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 