Wednesday’s Woman wood Engraver …
Here is another woman wood engraver of the early 20th century who exhibited at the Museum of Oxford in 1979. Averil Mackenzie-Grieve was a Wood engraver, illustrator and author (b. 1903) studied at Bideford Art School, and privately under John Wheatley, Rachel Mafori Savini of Florence. She wrote several books including her autobiography Time and chance. She illustrated books for the Golden Cockerel Press and a translation by her husband of the poems of Su Tung P’o.
Weekly Photo Challenge …. Scale
Over the last few years I have become more accomplished while buying items on the internet. I buy clothes, makeup, tea, music and of course books, with a few disappointments. However, I do sometimes get it wrong and this little teapot is a case in point. When I started drinking green tea I was given a very nice Chinese pot and some cups; all were well passed their sell by date; the pot without a lid and the cups chipped and beyond repair.
So when I looked for some replacements I got it a wrong; while it was not a financial disaster, I do feel silly.
Now it has proved a useful example when discussing the scale of teapots and cups! In my case even the smallest cups are bigger than the pot!
Just a blip!
I took a little detour from my path of printmaking at the weekend (I say ‘don’t worry’ to my lino cutting and wood engraving my friends; ‘It is just a blip I am now back on track!’)
I have a collection of letterpress that was taking up valuable space in my little studio.
Before I turfed it out, I decided to give it one last chance to earn some artistic credibility.
Although it was fun while it lasted … I am not sure it was a successful exercise.
Silent Sunday
Saturday and time to play
Today, I am off to my regular Open Access Printing session; to play with some letterpress. I began collecting these little ragamuffins before the advent of my printmaking. So, when I began creating ‘studio’ space in a corner of a spare bedroom they were removed. I had in mind they didn’t fit in with the new regime; I suppose as a printmaker they are a little of a copout.
It is my dream to be a serious lino cutter and wood engraver but do enjoy the element play involved in mixed media…
so let the play begin!
A snapshot from the library …
This week during a library meeting we discussed the way should treat any pressed flowers we find in rare books. To be honest I cannot remember the outcome; I will have to refer to the minutes. However, I didn’t expect to find an example quite so soon. This little book was on a the open shelves; although it is not particularly rare it does need a bit of protection. The leaves found inside will also be preserved. (if I can remember how) They were found between the pages for the Rowan tree. Whether they are Rowan I cannot tell … another failing on my part. Nonetheless ,they did bring joy this week in the library.
Alphabe Thursday L is for Richard Long
It was when I read about Richard Long that I decided to look more closely at walkers and the reasons why they do it. Richard Long (b. 1945) is an artist dedicated to walking as artistic medium. His early work called the Line made by walking of 1967 is a black and white photograph showing a path in the grass across a meadow towards some trees on the far side. Long had made the line with his foot steps. Unlike other pieces of art, so called conventional, Long’s work is not always appreciated directly art lovers. The line made by walking is merely documented in the photograph, with some text. Sometimes a map is used ; the route is marked, the pencil traces his steps as he walks in a straight line, squares, circles or spirals.
In a similar way,his sculptures in the landscape are made by rearranging the local rocks and sticks into lines and circles; they are evocative geometrics that appear say nothing.
One such sculpture is the Line of the straight walk from the bottom to the top of Silbury Hill. With boots dipped in mud he had walked the distance not in a straight line but a spiral on the gallery floor, the muddy path represented a route he had taken somewhere else.
In some ways Richards Long’s works resemble travel writing, but rather than tell us what he felt, what he ate and other such details, his brief texts and uninhabited images leave most of the journey up to the viewer’s imagination.
Wednesday’s woman wood engraver … Pauline Clark
I discovered Pauline Clark (b. 1944) this week in the pamphlet called Shall we join the ladies about an exhibition in Oxford in 1979. She studied wood engraving under John O’Connor at St Martin’s School where she obtained the National Diploma of Art and Design. Later she became a freelance and engraver and stage designer, much of her engraved work depicts opera singers in there most famous roles. I would like to know more about her and other works.
Weekly Photo Challenge … Depth!
This week’s photo challenge is challenging for me. I don’t live near a deep ocean or on the side of a mountain. I don’t have any profound thoughts to share at the moment.
So here clutching straws and remembering my first lesson as an artist a couple of years back and the theory of colour. Until then I thought all I required was paintbox, brush and paper. Instead I need only the three primary colours, red, yellow and blue; to create the secondary and tertiary colours as well as complementary and harmonious colour juxtapositions.
It would seem the relative chroma (saturation, depth or intensity) of secondary and tertiary mixes is a measure of their purity or brightness and the quality of the primary colours used to create them.
So here I am deep in the theory of choosing and mixing colours … I told you I was challenged!
Yesterday ; we are on a journey!
Yesterday we booked our flights to Rio de Janeiro to visit our beloved youngest daughter. Mostly, It is was a momentous occasion. However, it was a little disconcerting for my husband particularly; as the cost even with the so called reductions due to the oil prices was still more than he hoped! So this put a damper on the event for a moment or two.
Then for me, the count down towards the visit is bitter sweet; while I long for the day of our arrival, our subsequent departure also looms painfully!
So I am learning to be measured as regards the future-ness of it all and try to make each moment before as joyful as those we spend in Rio! So the next five months will be part of the journey ; I hope!
So this morning, the day begins clear, blue with tinge of pink … a pot of pu’erh and some mixed media; somehow there is a theme of tea … how can this be?
So AJ we are on the way … the journey begins today.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 