Last week I learned …
I have not considered my recent artistry as anything more than another lesson to lo learn like: cooking, dressmaking or gardening. It is a skill I enjoy and wish to pursue further and perfect. As I would to bake a delicious cake, a sew fine frock or bring my garden to a constant delight. I am learning to make a print or paint a masterpiece; it will be part of my lifes work in progress. (I haven’t yet learned to bake a cake either)
But these last few weeks it has been more than that, I have been working on a particularly awkward ‘reduction’ linocut.
The first attempt as previously described was not so nice; but the second one has proved a bit more pleasing.
The whole procedure is time consuming because I intentionally used oil based inks and these are notoriously slow drying and need at least a week between layers.
It all began with some life size sketches of a bowl of fruit, that was then scaled down to a lino cut. This then was gradually cut away and printed. The concentration and deliberation has been like that of a meditation; but not focusing on the breath but on the cutting until I am left with a skeleton of the previous images or bigger picture!
I have not yet made the last print but it will be a fragment; little more than a breath that will be gone.
I have of course got a vibrant assortment of prints. They are a reflection of the original bowl of fruit I drew a few weeks ago and eaten . The lino has been cut away and tiny shards of rubber are in the bin.
This last image is strangely the one I like the best; a proof on news print and marked clumsily with the next cuts; it as beautiful as a breath.
Silent Sunday …
Saturday’s monthly art class
I am off to Art class this afternoon; where I learn linocutting. As you know I have been trying to do multicolour works and it has had mixed results. None are ready for human consumption and the whole business has I am sure contributed to my recent hair loss. What little that remains has been pulled out in desperation!!
Nonetheless It keeps me of the gin and I do keep coming back for more!
I began with a teapot scene, it is now complete and confined to the ‘one I did earlier’ file. I went to on to do a still life with some fruit in a bowl. Trying not make the same mistakes again; but falling foul of others!
Although there is a slight improvement it remains a work in progress. It will be discussed I hope this afternoon at class. Maybe I will be able to salvage something from the wreckage.
However; not easily beaten I began some further sketches last evening , before the ironing drove me to the sherry and consequently fit for nothing.
So a few images that will demonstrate life according to Nela Bligh maybe upsy downsy there is fun at times (or if not fun a distraction from the down-ness)
For a while we will be celebrating the publications of Two Rivers Press with an exhibition at the Main Library. All publications are held at Special Collections; so they are not always accessible for passers by [students and staff]. So this is a welcome and long awaited display. I celebrate ‘them’ regularly while at Special Collections and Peter Hay remains a constant inspiration. My favourite book now no longer available is Apple, Berkshire and cider; it is a source of ideas in my printing mode.
However, this week another Two Rivers Press publication was put into the collection; which will be a joy to me and my grandsons. I grew up with the poem The owl and the pussy-cat and often wondered ‘why and what they were doing in the pea green boat?’
This new edition of Edward Lear’s famous nonsense poem is a result of Matt Black’s exploration into the aforementioned puzzles.
He gives us an insight into the reasons why the infamous pair might have ventured off and what happened after the wedding on the sand.
All with lovely illustrations by Pip Hall, that will entertain me and my grandsons; for a while; I am sure. I will buy a copy before this also goes out of print.
Alphabe Thursday C is for Cambric
Cambric is a fine fabric used for shirts much like this one of the 19th century and used to illustrate this weeks nursery rhyme or song.
Can you make a cambric shirt? A song written by Ritson in 1780 and described 10 years later in his book Gammer Gurton’s Garland, or the Nursery Parnassus as a little English song sung by children and maids. The story, is of a maid being asked to do a seemingly impossible task of making a shirt from a scrap of linen 3 inches square, can be traced to the Middle Ages. There was once a king stronger, wiser and more handsome than any other man; but he had no wife. His friends urged him to marry but he replied ‘ You know I am rich and powerful enough as I am; find me a maid who is good looking and sensible I will take her as wife though she may be poor.’ His friends found someone who was not only beautiful and intelligent she was also of royal blood. The king however was not yet convinced and wanted to test her sagacity. Her sent her the tiny piece of fabric with the promise that he would marry her her if she would make him a shirt to the required measurements. The girl replied that if the king provided the tools in which she could work the shirt she will do as instructed. The king sent her ‘vas debitum et precosium’ and the shirt was made and they were married.
This is one of the tales of the 14th Gesta Romanorum, a tale which may be linked with oriental stories of great age. It is known also in Germany, where it was written down by the Grimm brothers. It would seem a man asking a maid to sew a shirt is the equivalent to asking for her love, and her consent is acceptance.
Can you make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage rosemary, and thyme,
Without any seam or needlework?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Can you wash in yonder well,
Parsley, sage,rosemary, and thyme,
Where never sprung water, nor rain ever fell?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Can you dry it on yonder thorn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
She replies …
Now you’ve asked me questions three,
Parsley, sage rosemary, and thyme,
I hope you’ll answer as many for me,.
And you will be a true lover of mine.
Can you find me an acre of land’
Parsley,sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Between the salt sea and the sea sand?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Can you plough it with a ram’s horn,
Parsley, rosemary, and thyme,
And so it all over with one peppercorn?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Can you reap it with a sickle of leather,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
And bind it up with a peacock’s feather?
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
When you have done and finished your work,
Parsley sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Then come to me for you cambric shirt,
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
Wednesday’s wood engraver
I came across a lovely book yesterday; so I have bought myself a copy and cannot wait to dip into it. Called, The way of wood engraving by Dorothea Braby is no 46 of the How to do it series.
Dorothea Braby was born in 1909 in London, She studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts where she particularly enjoyed wood engraving. After graduating she received several commissions, including illustration work for the BBC, Faber & Faber and Lyons. Braby met Owen Rutter the part owner of the Golden Cockerel Press in the 1940s where she worked for the next twenty years. In the 1960s wood engraving became less fashionable and Braby stopped working and died in 1987. I understand her work can be seen in the V&A. There are a few examples in the book but she has used the works of other engravers to illustrate her book more.
I found a good article about Dorothea in the Illustrator All in One Line: the graphic work of Dorothea Braby, by Nate Evuarherhe. 38, Winter 2013-14. It tells more of her history, that has a lovely filmic (?) feel she had a socio-romantic background and considered by some as an Edwardian New Woman. Well worth a read!
Weekly photo challenge … Split Second
I struggle with slugs and snails; not I might add physically. Snails, I might consider a bit kindly and they are pretty in a sluggy sort of way but slugs are ghastly. I would not kill either purposefully but will look the other way when my husband slings one over the fence when he sees one near the hostas. No matter how I try I cannot bring myself to admit they are valued in the in the ecosystem. However Alys Fowler did write a discerning piece in the paper at the weekend called How I learned to love slugs. She tells us that the ‘slug’s role in the ecosystem is to keep the tide of green at bay. Without them, we would be drowning in half-rotting vegetation. They are the garbage collectors of the garden’. I am still not convinced and wonder why they pick of a perfectly healthy seedling or my magnificent hosta.
While I will not be a convert overnight I will try to look at these slimy creatures in a new light … so meanwhile a split second snap of flowers that will, I am sure, soon be nibbled to death by my new found ‘best friends.’
Monday and a question or two
In a few weeks I go to Brazil; I have gathered together the stuff required for our stay and also the items for my daughters home. We have almost exceeded our luggage limit and now I am thinking about nice things to take.
I have as you know began a life as an artist; my aim is to make prints. However, I have discovered to make prints one needs to be an accomplished artist so I have been learning a few of the basic skills.
This weekend I did some drawings of a basket; hoping to make a rather smaller wood engraving at my workshop next week.
To cut a long story short I find myself painting the basket: and wondering …
If I could take some paints with my pencil and paper when I go to Brazil?
When I did some research as to the cost of travel sets of acrylic paints, I find they vary in cost and size and then I wonder do I need all this?
Few paints in box? bag?
The few paints I have are old and need replacing
Then there are many manufacturers! What do I know? Is there a basic, better or best?
Who knows?
I would value thoughts on the best paints to take and how? Brushes and or pallet knives?
I don’t plan to paint all the holiday but it would be nice to continue my practicing in a nice environment.
Silent Sunday
Saturday and the new improved journal!
This week has been short and pleasant; beginning on a Tuesday is sometimes a good thing. Especially when a ‘works’ outing to Douai Abbey is planned. Although it was little like a busman’s holiday those two or three hours were a refreshing interlude away from the desk. I will be documenting it later next week for the Special Collections Blog. So, work went on pretty much as usual. At home I managed to complete a few drawings. After my lesson on Monday I fetched out a couple unfinished sketches. While they are not ready to grace the walls of any academy they are in my new and improved journal that was this time last week was waiting for some ‘action’ …
Coat Hanger Doll's House 