On Saturday …
After a few days of annual leave, I returned to work on Tuesday. Welcome Week was in full swing and I was part of a team who make the freshers feel at home in the library; with talks, tours and general direction.
I also returned to my regular fortnightly art ‘class’ with the RGA using materials of our own choice we drew items with a holiday feel; it was good!
So for those at work or play may we have a rich and eventful Autumn …
Friday’s snapshot from my library
I have enjoyed dipping into my library for the last few weeks; next week I return to Special Collections when I begin on a new project. Meanwhile from Woodcut/wood engraving : a contribution to the history of art by Imre Reiner a couple of images by Hedwig Bauer; I don’t tire of these.
Alphabe Thursday … S is for Sou is a gentle patriot
Sou patriotic e gentil
Temos tudo em nossa
Desde os ricos pantanais
Ao pico da alta serra
país que não tem deserto
Ciclone, vulcão nem guerra
The poet is a gentle patriot; he celebrates the rich wetlands at the peak of the High Sierra.
He has everything he needs and is without cyclone, vulcano or war. He is pleased with his lot.
It is sad that the deforestation and other environmental abuses are not such a pretty poem. The over population on the sides of mountains around Rio and the torrential have been the cause of landslides recently.
Wednesday and a fine woman …
Every week I champion a good woman and today there is no change; I celebrate my daughter especially as she is in Argentina. She is speaking at conference on Friday, she has been very anxious and brushing up on her Spanish. I am very proud of her and wish her well especially as she has planned a few days holiday before she returns to her home in Rio de Janeiro.
We will not be able to communicate so readily while she is away so while I send her good wishes I celebrate all women who can stand up for the rights of women and children.
Weekly photo challenge … a grid
In the garden yesterday afternoon between showers I peeped through the back of the chairs. I think these fit the bill … a grid.
At the weekend …
At the weekend I attended a drypoint and collagraph workshop. I was hoping to learn another printing method that I might use with my lino cut; but that seems that will not to be so easy.
So, I am in a bit of a dilemma; this however is not an unusual state for me; as you know.
During the last couple of years or so I have found the new methods of printing overwhelming so I have adopted some and discarded others. The decision making can be painful or a welcome relief; but neither happens easily. I have to consider time, cost and ability.
Drypoint and collagraph is quite different to lino cut and will require different tools and materials. Then there is the time; perfecting these new found skills will not come overnight.
Then, there is for me the question: When does one’s mish mash of learning material becomes one’s style and able to show it confidently without having to add ‘’ work in progress’’ ?
Silent Sunday
Saturday …. printmaking in Cheltenham
By Sue Brown
Today I am going on adventure in Cheltenham. About 2 months ago I booked a dry point workshop with Sue Brown Printmaker at the Yard Art Space, before knowing how far Cheltenham is from Reading. Although it is over two hours away on the train; I am very excited. As a printmaker I am keen to learn new techniques especially those I can combine with lino and wood cutting. Since I know little about dry point etching; I and not sure how it might work, but I am going to give it my best shot. I will share the results on Monday. Have a good day.
Friday’s snapshot from my library …
This week I have been on annual leave; so called because it is not holiday. I am old school, thinking, that there is work and there is holiday. We go to work to earn enough money and we go on holiday to have a rest and recharge our batteries! What is annual leave? A time to catch up on those things left undone since the last ‘annual leave’
So this week I have split my time religiously between household chores (the left undone) and spent a good amount of time on my art work. A good plan that almost succeeded; the house is cleaner, less cluttered and sparkles.
The art not so! I have been working on a project and this recent lino cut is doomed to fail. It is a reduction print that might have worked if I had not cut the background too early and then to late to put it back; thus not being a reduction print more suicidal (This is another name for reduction print; I felt was rather too strong until now!)
I will carry on to finish it but I have rather lost the enthusiasm …
So as a small distraction I look to the work of Edward Bawden the master printmaker … who never failed to impress! He knew about backgrounds!
With some lithographs from 1949 … just before I was born, when life (it seemed) was less complicated (with less paid holiday) in village life where lino stayed on the floor!
Image from Life in a village : sixteen lithographs by Edward Bawden penguin Books 1949
Alphabe Thursday R is for Riquezas (Wealth)
Riquezas temos , eu sei
Se somar da muitas mil
todas metais preciosos
Águas cristais, céu de anil
Tudo que o mundo precisa
Só vem buscar no Brasil
The poet tells us about the wealth in precious metals, the crystal waters and the indigo sky in Brazil ; enough to share with all the world … a nice sentiment
but I smile, as my son-in-law has recently acquired a metal detector, while beach-combing along Copacabana beach his treasure is not enough to share; although the small change does help out at the end of the month before payday.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 