So the new woodblock I’m working on has been cut and is now out in the shed drying after a coat of shellac and methylated spirits in a 50:50 ratio. It needs two more coats to seal it properly so I hope to be able to take a first proof from it sometime on Friday.
I’m in printmaking mode at the moment, with a woodcut and a silkscreen in development. This woodcut will hopefully be ready for an event at Swansea’s Cinema & Co this Saturday, November 9th. It’s a free event with a screening of the marvellous film “Set Fire To The Stars“, poetry, music and new art throughout the building……
I’d better finish carving this block pronto ………
I did this suite of portrait heads based on drawings from my first visit to Pakistan a few years back. I used polyurethane foamboard, the sort used by signwriters, instead of lino or wood. The block below is the one on the left in the middle row above, inked up and printed.
They’ve never been exhibited as a group before but they will be very soon, in Swansea’s Cinema & Co from this coming Saturday, November 9th.
Here’s a digital drawing of a strange little fella. S/he will be appearing on Twitter tomorrow on #MacroinvertebrateMonday. Check it out 😀
Liek many artists, I supplement my income through teaching part-time. One thing that’s become very obvious over the years is that so many people genuinely have no idea how long it takes to make an artwork. There’s a popular image that artists sit down (SIT? I wish!) and go “bish, bash, bosh” and behold – a painting (sculpture, etching etc…)
No concept of the huge amount of work that goes into each piece. Starting with sketching (because I’m old school) to explore the subject and get used to it. Then some colour studies to work out the hues, tones, tints etc… That’s where I’m at now. I’ve still got a fair bit of work to do on this digital drawing before I move on to the final medium – either watercolour or collage – I haven’t decided yet.
Carrying on with my digital drawing of three weird squashes, I started adding some shadows and details using my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and a free Markers app. One of the advantages to digital drawing is that you can hit the SAVE button frequently and get a record of the drawing as it develops….
I spent the afternoon down at Swansea Print Workshop, working alongside other artists, heads down, printmaking. I worked with two others, preparing silkscreens with Azicol photosensitive solution. I’m going to make a photoscreen from a drawing I did recently, of a seagull during a drawing day at Swansea Museum.
I drew a stuffed seagull from their collection of antique taxidermy. There are loads of seagulls around here. They steal people’s food from their hands. They’re getting bigger. And more intelligent. One day they will take over the world!
I’m carrying on with the digital drawing of my three wacky squashes I started yesteday. It’s a primitive drawing package, but it’s fine for what I want it for, quick little studies. I used my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with a free Markers app.
In the beginning …. is the sketch. I have been given three wacky squashes and I’m going to have a go at a still life; not sure what technique yet – watercolour, collage? But first of all, some sketching to really study the weird vegetables and understand how they’re made up. I’m using my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 tablet with a free markers app and drawing with the stylus using the continuous line technique. A few more quick sketches and I’ll be ready to start on something more polished.
Didn’t do art today. Had a planning meeting this morning with a fellow artist to organise two public access art collaborations – I made shortbread, I think meetings go better over homemade cake or biscuits. Then I was teaching all afternoon. Then more planning early evening and the admin stuff. This is the reality of being a freelance artist – so many things to do that are not about the artwork. Never mind, I’m privileged to be able to do it.
For the second time in a few days, I had a visitor who brought some very fancy squash. The Turk’s Turban arrived over the weekend and the two small ones today. They last for ages so there’s no rush to make art from them before they go off.
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