Coasting

I've just had a wondefully relaxing break on the Greek island of Kefalonia. There was the opportunity for a little drawing

and time for lots of swimming and reading. There's a couple of my favourite sketches posted under the 'Sketchbook - Coast' page...

Etching - below the surface

The surface of one of the lanes I walk regularly has gone through some rough treatment this last year or so. There are loads more lumps, bumps, ruts, puddles and often rivulets of water to negotiate. (Even now in July!) The surface has been excavated in places, stones have appeared and channels have been eroded.

Fascinating drawing fodder. This sketch provided the impetus for the etching below.

'Surface layers' - etching 40 x 20 cm

The top half stays true to the sketch while the lower half of the plate allowed me to explore the whole notion of surface.

This close up shows a dramatic aquatint intervention which tries to convey the idea of lower layers under the surface becoming exposed.
Fun to move beyond the sketch.

etchings with an edge

A couple of weeks ago I caught this wonderful exhibition of Jason Hicklin's etchings at Eames Fine Art in London. These moody etchings evoke the brooding power of nature; the markmaking draw the eye across sweeping stretches of water and threatening skies.

They are full of foreboding yet mesmerising beauty.

The techniques used make the viewer feel that the prints exist on the edge of the possibilities of etching. The surface of the plates are deeply bitten, the image is worn into the plate adding to the illusion of depth and distance.

An inspiring exhibition visit.

Re-purposed prints

I've been having a sort out; loads (and I mean loads!) of old prints. What to do with them?

I've got a great book about Barbara Rae's printmaking. In it, she describes cutting up old/experimental prints and collaging them back together to create new ideas.

A bit of mono-screenprint helped to kick start things,

cutting and experimenting,

playing with wash backgrounds... and discarding elements, cutting up more prints...

'Spring Woodland' 30x30cm, intaglio and screenprint collage

...and then this woodland fell into place.

Wotton Gallery had an open submission exhibition coming up and I sent this off. How lovely to now hear its going to be included in their 30x30 Exhbition, opening very soon.

Open gardens

Avening village had an open gardens afternoon on Sunday - what a treat it was to see the beautiful spaces people create - some of them gave Chelsea a run for its money...

Always a privilege to see the gardens at Avening Court opened for the day...

Time to wander home after the enjoying the shady wisteria at the Highwayman's cottage.

a minor gale and a sketchbook

Last weekend I left the house in some very undecided weather conditions - black clouds against blue skies and a gusty breeze. As I got to my drawing spot the breeze had turned into a horizontal gale accompanied by very brisk drizzle.
I sheltered under a tree and the dog huddled by the wall and I promised him I would do a quick sketch.

A few minutes later - Its intriguing just how much weather conditions can affect drawing. I have to admit that I didn't purposely draw all of these marks. The minor gale did its work in lifting and buffeting my sketchbook against my pencil.

The wind 'drew' some lovely free lines which descibed the view very well!

A mark-making treat, but I won't be wishing for more bad weather.

Sketchbook - wave watching

We've just had a fabulous week in Cornwall, couldn't have asked for better weather - great sketching time!

One sunny, but windy, day on Constantine Beach the surf was really up and the waves were crashing into the rocks. The 15 feet high 'splashes' cried out to be drawn; something I hadn't attempted before.

It was great fun to draw. Amazing how the wave rhythm became somewhat predictable - I could concentrate on splash patterns. In fact so much fun I had another go...

...sitting closer this time! Of course the waves weren't so big for the rest of the week but I'll look out for big waves again.

I've added a new sketchbook page which will build over the next few weeks. You'll find a couple more Cornwall drawings there.