Some Of My Sketchbooks

Just some of them, just a few…. I can’t resist them ……

sketchbooks

Scribbling At Speed

sunday dinner

Sometimes there’s a lot of pressure to always turn out a ‘proper’ drawing but I don’t think that’s what sketchbooks are for. Artists need to practice, just as musicians do and my sketchbook is, for me, a great way to practice. Speed drawing helps to hone skills, forcing you to focus on what’s absolutley vital in the subject. I scribbled this in about a minute earleir today when I was having a pub lunch. The father and his little girl were at the bar and I had to work quickly to catch something as the child was excited and rushing around. I used a ballpoint pen into my A6 sketchbook.

Slow Work

cutting 4

The reality of making a work of art, cutting away at a small lino block using a very small tool and making the tiniest of cuts while hoping that I don’t cut the wrong bit. It’s slow work.

cutting 5

I won’t try to cut every last detail at the first go, I’ll cut close but not right up to the edges and then check to see if it needs more cutting.

cutting 6

I put a piece of tracing paper over the design and rubbed it gently with a soft 2B pencil so I can see how the cutting is going.

Carry On Cutting

cutting 3a

I carried on cutting from my brown lino today, the first stage of a collaborative print with GS Artists and Jamie Reid.

Nephew In A Hoodie

Nathan 2020

Nephew in a hoodie. Like it says on the tin. Drawn with a ballpoint pen into my A6 sketchbook. He’s so cute!

Finally ….. Again ……

prints

I know I said a few days ago that I woudn’t post any more Mari Lwyds until next year, but then I found the little lino I cut before Xmas and forgotten about. So I printed up a few today at Swansea Print Workshop, using Caligo Cranfield Safe Wash ink in black onto Hosho paper. I used the back of a wooden spoon to take the print.

 

The lino block cut ready to print
Taking the print with the back of a wooden spoon

Cutting Revenge

3 cutting
The first cuts

Today I started cutting the little lino block of the word “Revenge” which will be stamped onto the screenprint I’m developing for the artist Jamie Reid and GS Artists.

2 cutting
The drawing ready to transfer to the lino block, in reverse

First, I had to decide whether to cut the block in wood or lino. The MDF is easier to cut and it’s easy to transfer the design using carbon paper, as the surface isn’t oily like lino. But the lino has a slightly rough surface which I quite like when it’s printed up and I think its hardness is an advantage because it’s better for fine cutting. So I went with the lino. I love the little curls….

 

1 cutting
Choosing between MDF wood or brown lino

 

Jamie’s solo show, “Dragon’s Revenge” runs at Galerie Simpson, 217, High Street, Swansea until St. David’s Day, March 1st.

dragons-revenge

Tracing Revenge

1 tracing

 

I’ve started making a new piece of work. It will be an original print in an edition of 75 designed by artist, activist and troublemaker Jamie Reid. I’m producing it at Swansea Print Workshop for GS Artists and the first stage is to cut a stamp from lino or wood. This is where I start, tracing from Jamie’s original with a soft 2B pencil.

His solo exhibition, ” Dragons Revenge, Political Work, 1970-2020″ opened at GS Artists at 217, High Street, Swansea this weekend and Jamie will be visiting to do an “in-conversation” with Rhys Mwyn on February 22nd which includes a vegan lunch for £3.50 – there are a very few tickets left here. You can see the show until March 1st and if you want to get hold of one of the original prints, check them out here …

 

dragons-revenge

And Finally….

Mari Port Talbot

Here’s the last of the Mari Lwyds I sketched at the recent Gower Wassail. This one’s from Port Talbot, the Cwmafan Mari who was bedecked loads of bows. That should be the last of the Mari Lwyds until next New Year …..

The Dim Mare

Mari Gwyr

It’s been Mari Lwyd season here in Wales, an ancient tradition harking back to the worship of the Celtic horse goddess. There have been quite a few Maris stalking the area and they’re all different, they all have their own personalities. Here’s a quick sketch of Mari Gwyr, the Gower Mari. She’s plainer than most and her strange headgear, a cross between a beret and a beanie, make her look a bit dim, in my opinion.