Monday and last week …
Last week I was sent a gift from a virtual friend on Facebook.
We are a group of ‘friends’ aka Studio Pen-pals who aspire to being artistically creative, we don’t not share too much virtually but from time to time send each other a gift of encouragement in the ‘snail mail’.
As artists we are often without motivation and inspiration so a little gift, such as a coloured pencil, a skein of embroidery silk paper or stylist note pad might be all it takes to set the ball rolling again.
While the procedure is monthly the content is usually random. I received a very generous bundle of gifts, but one of them was particularly pleasing and it will sit on my desk with my other angels. It represents my very first creative venture. As a little girl of 6 years old, my dad made me a knitting doll; with a cotton reel, 4 nails, a toothpick and length of wool I began to knit.
I don’t knit as I used to but this little girl will give me the opportunity to play and feel the joy of a child when being an artist is just a bit too grown up!
Silent Sunday …
Saturday and a question …
Saturday’s blog post and a question; but first I set the scene. I am a print maker and a tea drinker, pretty much of equal measure. Tea in one hand and a graver in the other; I know this is not always a sensible combination, so sometimes one or the other is at a lose.
So, it not surprising that the subject matter almost without exceptions is pretty much tea. My other love is my push bike and that too has safety risks when attempted at the same time!
I digress, I do like to feature tea and its accoutrements in my work … and the question. How does a tea strainer lend itself to the art of printmaking, particularly with lino but later in wood?
I have looked and looked at the delicate mesh and sketched it endlessly but remain wondering … how is it done?
Friday’s Snapshot from the library …
I came this across this little book published in 1962 this week. While I don’t understand a word of Danish, without the joys Google Translate, the illustrations by Povl Christensen are self explanatory and a joy!
It would seem this item earned its place in the Mark Longman library because Danish, Povl Christenson (1909-1977) was not only a painter and illustrator who in the early 1930s joined the artists’ colony in Zealand known as the Odherred painters but mostly remembered as a highly proficient graphic artist, not only for his woodcuts and engravings but for his contributions to overall book design.
Alphabe Thursday … H is for Thomas Hardy
Continuing in my Alphabet of Walking; Thomas Hardy tells us of walking in his novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Tess and her friends celebrate May Day by going ‘club-walking’ a pre-Christian spring ceremony in which they walk 2 by 2 in a procession around the parish and lanes until they reach a meadows, where they begin to dance. This is a fertility rite and when the local young men have finished working they will join the party later.
The other young men in the story who are on a walking tour are enjoying another ritual; with their backpacks and walking sticks they connect with nature. However, while his brothers are keen to continue walking the other decides to leave the road and dance with the peasant women.
Wednesday’s Wood Engraver … Claire Dalby
Another wood engraver of whom I know nothing is Claire Dalby (1944-) her subject matter as many of her fellows is usually inspired by gardens, buildings and holidays. She visited Shetland and possibly still does but she is I understand best known for her prints as a botanical artist.
I would like to know more about her.
Weekly Photo challenge … New
Each day I write a journal ; I started three years ago when I began another round treatment for my depression. Writing, three pages a day, words that record my daily mood and behavior pattern. I rarely read it afterwards but if I dare to unravel the awful handwriting it expounds self-pitying twaddle or self-congratulatory claptrap; enough to make a reader depressed!
Sometimes on a lucid day my words develop into a blog post; this is how I am with this week’s photo challenge. While I cannot evoke an image yet the word ‘new’ resonates strongly.
Probably because I am relatively old in years but feel and look young. I enjoy contemporary music and the challenges of modern life. I work with rare and elderly books, yet use modern technology. I am happy with well worn and comfortable clothes yet delight in fashionable accessories. I use tried and tested cosmetics and always look forward to new lipstick. I glance back at my last year’s diary heaving and bursting with richness and the new one slim and trim waiting to be filled. I have some old gravers that have seen 50 years or more in old and withered hands. Mine, shiny and ready to give me hope as a future printmaker.
I could list ad infinitum the joy of the old and the power of the new; but how do I illustrate my life and its old and new paradoxes?
A recent acquisition, a pencil sharpener. My dad, dead now 20 years would throw his hands up in despair! His old razor sharp chisel was his tool to bring a fine point to a blunt pencil. While I struggled I never quite got the hang of it.
This little joy of newness fits the bill.
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 29,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Last week I learned …
At the end of last year I began a little (?) exercise. I bought a new press and it seemed like the right time to have a thoughtful look at my methods. While I could have undertaken it while using a barren it would have taken longer and become tedious.
So, I began with reduction prints using oil based and safe wash ink and Zekhall paper. First making a reduction board from the back of a drawing book.
While using the Wash Safe ink the drying time was much quicker and the cleaning process a little easier. The oil based ink perhaps has a better finish.
The problem I had was more general and to do with the mixing the colours to get a pleasing result was a little hit and miss. Often, missing completely and wasting ink.
While I found reduction a little challenging at first; once I learned the rules, the results were pleasing even if they did go a little awry at times.
So, I am left with some skeletons of the original reduction that will lend themselves to other works, like, perhaps mixed media or chine colle? I have tried both, with poor results; the former was a little too busy and the latter a gluey mess!
It is worth noting too that I made a reduction board and it did need replacing half way through the process. I have learned that no size fits all but is vital to have a supply of board, close by to make a quick replacement.
My art teacher suggests when looking a a finished work that I consider the 3 ‘Fs’
Fact … Lino cut reduction using new press, oil based ink and Wash Safe ink.
Feeling … I am pleased!
Future … Lessons in ink mixing, Chine colle and mixed media
A successful exercise!
Silent Sunday
Coat Hanger Doll's House 