Pause

This is the second print in my Westonbirt Series, and is called 'Pause'

'Pause' Etching 70 x 35 cm

This print was achieved using the same techniques as 'Wander', shown in the previous post. A combination of open bite experimenting, a little hard ground for the line and a larger swathe of aquatint for the cast shadow down the centre of the path.

The title was inspired by a talk I went to given by Dr Neil Armstrong, a GP who lives at Tremenheere, a large property in Cornwall with one of those wonderful old gardens which gently drifts down to the coast. Armstrong devotes his free time to rejuvenating and developing this garden into a place for people to visit. One of his aims for the garden is to provide a place which will provide the opportunity for people to take time out from the rat race, to stop for a while, to pause. He has built a number of seating areas to encourage this and is installing artworks by well known arists. During the talk he told us about a James Turrell sky space/box which he had just completed and which took the form of a temple like structure. I was very inspired by the idea of providing space to pause, and in this part of this Westonbirt path its possible to pause and look equally both forward and back, where we've been and where we are going.

Its funny how trains of thought link isn't it.... At Tremenheere Armstrong has also commissioned a David Nash installation and the Making a Mark blog this week linked to some wonderful Nash work being done at Kew Gardens. In response to Printed Material's book recommendation on last weeks post I can reciprocate by recommending "Wildwood - a journey through trees" by Roger Deakin, a lovely lyrical book describing a man's passion for all things wood. There is also a fantastic chapter describing Deakin's visit to Nash's studio at Capel Rhiw. Pausing for thought, coming full circle.