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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At the weekend …
At the weekend I went to a woodcut and wood engraving work shop at the Farnham Maltings; where I learned the similarities and differences between printmaking using woodcut and wood engraving . I had look forward to it since I had returned from Brazil where I learned a little about wood cutting and was given a few pieces of wood to try. Unfortunately I have since learned that the wood given so kindly ; although very lovely is not suitable for a beginner. I have been attending various classes and workshops over the last few months but still find the experience very difficult so I go to great lengths to prepare myself. I am able to engrave wood now albeit a little juvenile I am eager to learn the ‘other’ method.
This time I had to include a rather complicated train journey to Farnham. I did find my way; and the preparatory exercises given by Susan Yeates were put to good use. There was much to learn and I was not able to finish a piece to bring home. While I did learn a lot I have spent the last couple of days finishing my little works of art. Nonetheless, it was a good experience and I am looking forward to buying some more suitable wood and tools to continue wood cutting along side wood engraving.
Silent Sunday
Saturday and I am off …
Today I am off to Farnham to a print making workshop so I will in off the radar for a while. I will be learning the techniques of woodcut and wood engraving. Although I have done a little of both ; I am keen to learn more.
The venue is Farnham Maltings and it is a short but complex train journey away so I will be leaving home quite early so I can ensure a stress free trip!
I was going to show you my preminary sketches but instead I leave with an image from the Art Centre
Friday’s snapshot from the library …
I have a passion for alphabet books so when this one by Alice M Cook landed on my desk I was intrigued. I know nothing about illustrator so I welcome any information. Although the images are very like those of Mabel Lucie Attwell and very much of a time. The colours are very lovely and the images do tell us a little of oriental culture at the late 19th century albeit stilted and rosy … my favourite is ‘T’ for the tea (ceremony)
Alphabe Thursday W is for Old Woman
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children she didn’t know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
She whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.
The celebrated inhabitant of the shoe has been identified with several ladies for little reason other than the size of their families, for example Caroline, wife of George II had eight children, and Elizabeth Vergoose of Boston who had six of her own and ten step children. It is surprising that no one suggested Edward Lear who had twenty-one children.
The rhyme is old and relates to the version in the Infants Institutes (1797)
There was an old woman, and she lived in shoe,
She had so many children she didn’t know what to do.
She crumm’d ’em some porridge without any bread;
And she borrowed a beetle, and she knocked ’em all o’ the head.
Then out went th’ old woman to bespeak ’em a coffin,
And went she went back she found ’em all a-loffeing.
The last word suggests that there is a Shakespearean reference. So if the rhyme is very old then there may be a folk-lore significance. The shoe has long been symbolic of a woman until her marriage. Casting a shoe after a bride when she goes off on her honeymoon is possibly a relic of this, symbolising a fruitful marriage.
Wednesday’s Wood engraver
I discovered Clare Leighton early in my search for women engravers. I still know little about her except that she was the first woman to write about wood engraving. It was considered a new kind of book. From then people could ‘teach themselves’ ; the process of wood-engraving is described for the ordinary reader in simple and straightforward language unlike other works such as Chatto and Jackson’s A treatise on Wood-Engraving (1839).
I have a copy of the book and it is as Patrica Jaffe suggests in Women Engravers ‘remarkable … as it is the first 20th century technical guide which gives a running commentary, in the form of captions, upon actual contemporary prints. She provided an index to the serious aims and achievements of living engravers.
The following year. 1933, Leighton published the Farmer’s year a folio containing 12 images illustrating the agricultural labours during the year.
As a new wood engraver the for me progression of Loading is indescribable
Further reading
Women Engravers by Patricia Jaffe
Wood-engraving and woodcuts by Clare Leighton (‘How to do it’ Series)
Weekly photo challenge … refraction
Oh Dear! A double whammy for me this week. I do not know the meaning of refraction ; so therefore have no idea how to demonstrate it in a photograph. Not wanting to waste an opportunity to publish a blog post I will give it my best stroke.
As if by magic this morning under a Indian Bean Tree near the library a ‘crop’ of toadstools appeared. They are very beautiful and attracting lot of attention from the students as they walk to and from the library. The tree is huge and the soil below remains dark and damp most of the year. Although it is a idea environment for fungi it is not so easily photographed. Until this morning when the sun was high and particularly bright. It filtered through the heavy foliage and even lit up the tiny droplets of water that hung precariously on the edge of the toadstool.
I am not sure, as previously mentioned that this has any thing to do with refraction but for me is as good as it gets this week.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 