Category Archives: At Home

#Caturday Archives: 19

Here’s a little scribble of Sparta Puss from my sketchbook archives way back in April 2013, when she was just 3 years old. She was still naughty though! She’s sitting on top of our gas boiler looking out of the kitchen window at the amelanchier tree which is just starting to bud. On the leftContinue reading “#Caturday Archives: 19”

Carving The Background.

I’ve more or less finished carving the head of the Mari Lwyd in the foreground so today I gave some attention to the background. I wanted some detail in it, but not enough to compete with the Mari Lwyd. I wanted to have some light showing in the background but I didn’t want a solidContinue reading “Carving The Background.”

#Caturday Silhouette 16: More Stripey.

It’s #Caturday Saturday again and here’s a positive silhouette of Bill aka William ChatNoir, our sweet little black rescue cat. She’s on the same background as last #Caturday. It’s Fabriano drawing paper I prepared with a couple of coats of gesso and then dribbled my home made walnut husk ink onto it. When it wasContinue reading “#Caturday Silhouette 16: More Stripey.”

Some Spontaneity…

I did some more drawing on my new Mari Lwyd linocut, it is almost finalised, and I got on with some more carving today. I rarely complete the drawing before I start carving because I often want to change some of the design when I see it starting to take shape on the block. SomeContinue reading “Some Spontaneity…”

Shaft Of Spring Sunshine.

I started to carve into my large lino block this afternoon and a shaft of Spring sunshine glowed across the room and onto my work space. The strong shadow made the cutting difficult, but I thought it made a good photo. I’m using a Flexcut gouge and traditional grey, hessian-backed lino.

Drawing Details.

Over the past few days I’ve been carving details of my new Mari Lwyd linocut design into a small piece of lino to see how they work out, so now I’ve started drawing details onto my full size block. There’s a way to go yet though before I start carving…

Ribbons And Bells.

I’m carrying on cutting my practice piece, carving some bells and ribbons that will adorn the head of the Mari Lwyd. The bells are quite a challenge. I’m using Flexcut tools kept sharp with a Slip Strop into traditional grey hessian-backed lino. I drew directly onto the lino with a Faber Castell Pitt drawing pen,Continue reading “Ribbons And Bells.”

Blooded Myself…Again!

I’ve cut the little eye of the Mari Lwyd, a practice run for my next large-ish linocut. I’m using traditional grey, hessian-backed lino and Flexcut tools and a Slip Strop to keep them sharp. I blooded myself today! Still do it after all these years!

A Bit At A Time…

I’ve made a start on my next Mari Lwyd lino block, but instead of carving straight onto the full size block, I’m trying out different bits of the design on smaller lino blocks, to see how they work out. First up, is the Mari’s eyeball, quite a mischievous eye, but some find her quite sinister.