Wednesday’s woman wood engraver
From Women Engravers by Patricia Jaffe
Today’s wood engraver, figure painter and illustrator, Elizabeth Rivers (1903-1964) studied art at Goldsmith’s College of Art, London and later received a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy Schools. Later she studied in Paris before travelling to Ireland in 1935; settled for the of her life living and working. Rivers found great inspiration in the rural life of the Aran Islands. Her time spent on Inishmore resulted in the publication of her book Stranger in Aran(1946) which she both wrote and illustrated. It was the last book published by the famous Cuala Press. Rural life and landscape is a theme prominent throughout her career, seen not only in her book Stranger in Aran, but also in a set of engravings produced for the Dublin based, Victor Waddington Gallery and in a set of drawings commissioned by Muriel Gahan for her famous “Country Shop” which was located on St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
Rivers also worked closely with Evie Hone and her accomplished stained glass studio. During Hone’s final years Rivers worked her inch scale window designs up to the full size, the Eton College Chapel window was developed in this way.Rivers was instrumental in the foundation of the Graphic Studio Dublin, founded in 1961.
Weekly Photo Challenge … Descend
It has been a while since I used an image from my recent visit to Rio de Janeiro; but needs must. I live in the south of England where we do not enjoy any lofty heights. I live pretty much at sea level and would have to miles north to find a hill, let alone a mountain to descend.
So we go to my daughter’s home where she literary lives precariously on the side of a hill. Her home is very comfortable with all mod cons but some of her neighbours are not so lucky and use this spout for their daily ablutions. As the icy water runs continually it is used to wash bodies, clothes, cars and bikes. It is an image that I wanted to capture many times but always no matter how attractive with the human element, it deserves privacy!
So this somewhat empty space is evocative as the water continually descends from the forested rocks above.
Last week I had …
A wonderful shopping experience!!
The weather on Saturday look miserable at dawn but went on to be a bright and warm day. So we enjoyed as we planned a river boat trip from little Venice in London at the beginning of the Regent Canal to Camden Lock. It proved to be a wonderful journey along the edge of the Regents Park ; the Prince would built the canal across the park but the local residents didn’t want their space sullied by the those ‘bargees’ especially those from Birmingham and Wales!
We passed on our right the London Zoo where a massive wild (?) boar was searching in the bushes for what ever wild boar search for. Then on our left was a aviary built in the the tree tops by Lord Snowdonin the 1960s. Where elegant birds swooped and called in the trees beautiful the autumn sun.
Near by was the old electric pumping station to where some of the barges brought coal from Wales and the north of England and returned with the ashes that were made into bricks.
It was a only about three miles long but it was a wonderful insight to life in England before railways and metal roads between 1850 and 1950. It was quiet on Saturday but in its day the canal would have been heaving with boats coming with goods; like steel, coal, pottery, bricks, grain and going back with imported goods from Tilbury Docks like tea,sugar, wood pulp etc.
Our boat had a engine but barges didn’t in those times and were pulled by horses it was poor life for all who lived, worked and built on the canal using man, woman and child power!
I was going to British Boot Company in Camden to buy some boots, the company established in the late 19th century would have been supplied by the shoe makers in the Midlands and indeed my boots were made by hand in the same factory. They would have been bought to London on a boat like the wooden and iron one we ventured on too. It was my intention to buy Doc Martens but sadly the style I wanted are not made in the UK ; the Chinese ones for a third of the price are not so well made and the quality poor! The alternative although over my budget is well made and a beautiful shoe!
This is beginning to sound like a a advert for British Shoes or a diatribe against Chinese imports … maybe ; more a celebration of a good shopping experience that doesn’t happen too much these days.
Silent Sunday
Saturday …
Since not working a five day week I have grown accustomed to an outing at the weekend! So in the absence of a planned workshop, me and the other half have a plan B. Sadly, it is raining and that was not a factor considered yesterday. Nonetheless, never say die until the ‘fat lady sings’ and be sure of the old adage ‘rain before seven will clear by eleven’. So I have great hopes for this morning! A week or two back I went to Little Venice in London and had a little reconnoiter; it was raining then so I didn’t hang around long. Also, I did have other pressing arrangement s to attend to. This morning we will return and this time we will take a London water bus along the Grand Union Canal to Camden Lock for a stroll and lunch.
However, there is another reason for concern. I have been watching Peaky Blinders on the television for the past few weeks. There are, I hear, among those ‘barge types’ rogues, vagabonds and bandits who will rape and pillage of the price of a pint, so if I do not return by tomorrow …
If you haven’t been watching Peaky Blinders then catch it on iplayer.
Friday’s library snapshot
This book was borrowed from the library to be used in a recent publication about Max Weber; it was on my desk to be re-shelved; I just love the cover design.
Max Weber, American of Russian decent. He began learning art at at the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York and became a teacher. After many years he was able to afford to go to Paris to study where he was pupil of Matisse. Although he aspired to El Greco, Henri Rousseau and Picasso, he preferred the art of primitive peoples and the sculpture of Egypt and Assyria. This little book of poems shows his interest in poetry later in his career and is his first published collection.
Alphabe Thursday X is for 10
Ha Ha! Saved again by my dear old nursery rhyme book.
I read Latin and after working in a library I have no difficulty remembering Roman numerals although at first I could have used a mantra to fix them in my mind.
I am not sure that this rhyme would have helped much.
X shall stand for playmates Ten:
V for Five stout stalwart men:
I for One, as I am alive:
C is for Hundred, and D for Five:
M for a Thousand soldiers true,
And L is for Fifty, I’ll tell you.
Wednesday’s Wood engraver
Annabel Kidston (1896-1981) is probably best known in her home town St Andrews on the coast of Fife. In 1940s Annabel was part of the so called St Andrews School ; along with Jozef Sekalski, Roberta Hodges, James Scott and the Mckenzie sisters. They formed a group under the auspices of the Scottish Arts Council, to promote Scottish and International art through exhibitions and lectures.
Between 1941-1946 Annabel became an instructor in drawing and engraving for the Committee of Education for the Forces. Together with her friends and artists Alison and Winifred Mckenzie, she held weekly evening classes for the Polish soldiers who were stationed in St Andrews while the Polish Government was in exile.
The woodcuts that resulted from their work were exhibited in art galleries in St Andrews and Edinburgh. Some of these works now form a part of the St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum collection.
After the war Annabel went on to teach and exhibit her works. As a member of the Society of Print Makers she produced illustrations for Jonathan Cape, Glasgow Bulletin, Saltire Society and Chambers Encyclopedia. Her prints can be found in Manchester and Glasgow galleries as well as the Ashmolean in Oxford.
I have only found a few examples of Annabel’s work but will search out more while in Oxford in a week or two
Weekly Photo Challenge … Book Cover
I am delighted to say that this weeks challenge is not only an example of my recent book cover design but also an opportunity to promote my son-in-law’s recent book of short stories about real life in Rio de Janeiro.
My work is a mixed media ; collage and lino cut. While I will not give up my day job; exploring book jackets, covers and bindings are things I enjoy ; as library assistant, as a print maker and would be illustrator.
Thank you for a chance to share this little recent adventure.
Addendum …
This morning I was a little disappointed that I had attended a workshop to learn about Woodcut in particular for me and wood engraving. I had bemoaned the fact that I had gone great lengths to get to Farnham Maltings and made some detailed preparations and then not finished an image to share or take home. It was a very busy workshop and I learned a lot and was able to complete my work at home this morning.
So I am pleased to show the results as a further post! I have a lot to learn but my first attempt at a Woodcut (the saucepan 15×11) is OK and please note the jug and lemon is only 5×4 cms
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Coat Hanger Doll's House 