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Wednesday’s wood engraver

May 13, 2015

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Today I celebrate Sally Hands; I bought one of her wood engravings recently at the 77th Royal Wood Engraving exhibition at Kevis House Gallery in Petworth, Sussex. I was drawn to the image and knew nothing of the artist. I have since  discovered that she is a printmaker of many years and has recently returned to spinning and weaving. As I am a lapsed spinner, I decided to reunite myself with my wheel that I had unceremoniously demoted to the loft, since it  began to gather dust and take up valuable space.  

So while I may not take up spinning in the near future I will make some sketches and maybe make an engraving … So thanks Sally Hands!

Weekly Photo Challenge … the Forces of nature

May 12, 2015

I live in Reading UK; we have discussed this before pretty much; it is as far as you can get from the sea although we live near the river Thames that might break its banks during VERY heavy rain. The autumn leaves sometimes stop the trains running but this in minimal.  Also in Berkshire we will not get altitude sickness. All in all, I am not exposed to the power of nature. I smile, as I look at the gardens and front drives of the houses whose owners have gone to great measures to protect themselves from nature and her unsightly (so they say) infestations of greenery with concrete and brick paviour.  Such is the force of nature! So with the utmost respect to those who endure the power of nature daily some in fear I count myself lucky; and enjoy the little seedlings that find their way through the urban protection against nature and her unruly force.  

On Monday …

May 11, 2015

On Monday; I look back at the previous week and the happenings in the world of Nela Bligh.  The events that stand out and have made an impact maybe not consequential in the big world of Helen but have buffeted Nela a bit and she feels the need to share and unload.  

I am writing this on Sunday with a cup of new black tea delivered this week. Enclosed with my usual order and the requirements of my daughter to take to Brazil, there were some added extras.  Ann, my supplier know our needs. For, me I prefer my tea as it comes White, Green, Black etc so she included some Jasmine balls and ‘M’ who prefers mixes, like brain boosting, relaxing etc she added some White tea mixes that are kind to ‘M’s’ troublesome skin. So a lovely interlude before the result of the recent elections here in UK; another 5 years of a Tory government with continued austerity measures and strident immigration laws, among many other fears, my family and I are very sad. I have always been a Labour supporter and struggled with the inequality of our country and now the differences will be increased.  So with sadness, especially as I cannot see a way to address the above mentioned difficulties; even as a trade unionist I feel unheard and neglected by the current regime.   

So, the week continued I researched the artist of the wood engraving I bought last weekend. I discovered that Sally Hands is not only a printmaker but a spinner.  I am also a spinner although a little lapsed … there are only so many hand spun sweaters a girl can wear. So when taken over by more pressing events the wheel was removed to the loft.  

However, after looking at Sally Hands website I was inspired to fetch it down and use it; not perhaps as tool more a model and then we shall see what happens.

Then, there has been Caverham Art Trail; where I was exposed to some great local artists and inspired by couple … I learned to use a needle felt making machine better known as a embellisher; nice but at the moment economically removed from the dream.  Then, Sunday I learned the joys of monoprint ; it was not only successful but also no expensive tools required!  

Today, I am off to a drawing class; which involves a bike ride, train ride and a further trek on the bike so a bit of an adventure …

So another week begins with some challenges; some insurmountable in the near and distant future … so put on the back burner. The others joyous and exciting.  

Cup half full or half empty? The jury is out.

Love to all especially those who bought great joy this week.  

Silent Sunday …

May 10, 2015

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Its Saturday … Have a good one!

May 9, 2015

Its Saturday morning a pot of new white tea; a break in the rain clouds, a few herb seedlings to transplant and this afternoon an art trail … all is right in the world.

Paintings by Carole Stephens and Liz Real showing this weekend and next on the Caverham Art Trail 

 

Friday’s Snapshot from the library at Special Collections …

May 8, 2015

I came across this book while browsing (working) this week.  Called Impresses quaint by Joseph Crawhill, and published in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, by Mawson, Swan & Morgan, 1889 it is a large collection of woodcuts in the style of early chapbooks.

More than that I know nothing, sometimes a bit of narrative would be helpful … nice pictures though!

Alphabe Thursday … Y is for Frances Yates

May 7, 2015

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Y is for Frances Yates (1899 – 1981) whose book the Art of memory uncovers the history of the  technique used from 5th Century BC in classical Greece until the between the 14th and 17th Century  during Renaissance  to commit quantities of information to memory.  This was a vital skill before paper and printing and the written word replaced the memory for the storage of rote information.  In her book Frances Yates describes the ‘workings’ of the system in detail.

First we understand the  general principles of the mnemonic, then, it is necessary to imprint on the memory a series of loci or places,  before the images by which the speech is to be memorised in the various ‘buildings’.  After this as soon as the memory of the facts needs to revived, all the places are visited in turn and the various ‘deposits demanded of their custodians’.  

We can think of the ancient orator was walking in imagination through his memory palace or building, while he is making his speak,drawing from the memorised and the images he has placed in them.  

The method ensures that the points are remembered in the right order, since the order is fixed by the sequence of places in the buildings or landscape.

 

alphabet thursday

Wednesday’s wood engraver …

May 6, 2015

On Monday we went to Pallant House in Chichester; in particular to see the exhibition of Leon Underwood.  Although I enjoyed his work very much, the works of the Brook Green School was simply the best!  In the years between the wars Leon opened up his home and studio in Hammersmith known was the Brook Green School, where he taught and and influenced some of the most gifted students during this time; among them was Eileen Agar (1899 – 1991)

She remembers that life drawing was the focus of Leon Underwood’s lessons and the etching here demonstrates this.  I haven’t got any books about her and those I see are very expensive, so I will have to look about for a bargain meanwhile I will look out for other examples of her work.

Weekly Photo Challenge … intricate

May 5, 2015

 

I am a printmaker; although I do linocuts and woodcuts, my dream is to do wood engravings and more so since seeing the works of the early (and later )masters whose works are so intricate.  I will never reach such giddy heights, but continue dream and seek out original works as I did yesterday at Kevis House Gallery in Petworth and Pallant House a bit further down the road at Chichester.

The images are not great … so I recommend those able to pay a visit to the Wood engraving and the Brook Green School ; Eileen Agar, Gertrude Hermes, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Henry Moore and Leon Underwood at Pallant House and 77th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers at the Kevis House Gallery.

Wonderful.  

May Bank Holiday …

May 4, 2015

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Today is a Bank Holiday Monday, nothing new, for me Monday is always a holiday.  But, today with company (my husband doesn’t yet enjoy a 4 day week) I will go on a trip across country, not far to East Sussex to see the exhibition of the Royal Society of Wood Engravers, at the Kevis House Gallery in Petworth.  I am particularly excited because the SWE is the principal organisation for the art of wood engraving in Britain and this is the first time the Spring exhibition has been held here in the South East England other than London.

Also, there will be a mixture of wood engraving, woodcuts and linocuts and the work in the show includes that of some of my favourite artists such as Hilary Poynter, Chris Daunt, Anne Desmet etc. etc. So have a good day!!