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.
Wednesday’s Woman …
I am always on the lookout for household items to draw and use later when printmaking; my house and garden if littered with stuff that shows potential.
Now I am on the lookout for a 1930s phone that fits with my colour scheme ; if only I could remember what it was !
I love the work of Margaret Calkin James (1895-1985) what a woman! Image from At the sign of the rainbow ; Margaret Calkin James (1895-1985) by Betty Miles
Weekly Photo Challenge … Monochromatic
As a printmaker; I do wood engraving, transposing a drawing taken from life on a large sheet paper and engrave it onto a small block of wood. Then, I print it, using black ink onto white paper. The idea is that I should age old skills to replicate the colours, tone and texture of the original image with marks made with the engraving tool. It is the skill of the old print makers used long before modern technology of the 19th century to illustrate books and newspapers. I have not mastered this yet but I try and there are examples on my blog.
Meanwhile, I am going it seems, of the track; While waiting for the previous skills mentioned to come, I am also learning dry-point. This is another old printing technique using usually black ink again the art is in the cutting strokes to give the impression of light, shade and colour. My first attempt at dry-point, the buttons and drawing demonstrate this I think However, and this is where I come to the point of this week’s prompt. The buttons in the jar are pretty much bar a few are monochromatic … the large brightly coloured ones of the 70s have been lost in time … a shame.
Last week I ….
Last week I bought a hanging rack to dry my prints. I have been wanting one for a long time; but I couldn’t find the right one in my price range. Also, a permanent structure seemed to me as an emblem of experience. Only the ‘pros’ hang their work on show albeit to dry!
And then there is the space; I cannot swing a cat let alone hang works of art out to dry.
So I have spent months considering the options; looked in a multitude of Print Rooms. Even bought some of the so called proven methods; only to find they would not cope and collapsed.
So last week I bought this gem; coveted for months as it seems a bit too costly. It now hangs strangely quite discrete … but when the art output fails … I can still look at its own beauty.
Silent Sunday …
Saturday and Sunday around Reading
My adopted home town is Reading not a beautiful town as I have discussed at length before. Developers have ripped the town apart. Removing buildings without a care; and those that are left are not being looked after as they should be. Local residents, who celebrate the town’s diversity don’t hold out much hope for the future as the government funding is cut year after year.
Nonetheless there are those who do care and hang on to a thread of hope as we encounter Heritage Open Day.
There are sites open in Reading this weekend at Brock Keep and the Rising Sun Institute.
Friday’s Snapshot from my library
In a few weeks I am going to a wood engraving weekend workshop; so I am browsing my bookshelves for some inspiration. I don’t have to look far, this is a favourite of mine it is a rich source of ideas, colour and warmth … Brickfields by Mary Wondrausch
Alphabe Thursday Q is for Quero … I want …
Quero ser a criatura
Que sempre fui e serei
Amante da minha pátria
Que e mais rica,eu sei
As culturas do nordeste
que nasci e me criei
The poet seated on the northeast side of Brazil is very satisfied with with his lot here.
He loves his country and richer because he was born and raised in Northeast Brazil and wants to remain there where he enjoys the culture.
I have not been to northeast Brazil but understand there are many migrants living and working in Rio de Janiero where they go to great lengths to celebrate their unique culture in their new found communities.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 