Work In Progress: Miner’s Wives 3.

Finally, the third version of a screen print transparency I’m making about the glorious South Wales Miner’s Wives from the 1984-1985 strike. It’s based on some pen and ink sketches from contemporary press photos and I’m trying out different materials to redraw the image onto Mark Resist film. This last version is drawn with Faber Castell Pitt drawing pens, which are lightfast, necessary for the photographic screen process. Here are the three versions below.

I need to crack on with this because of a tight deadline, so I’m going to try and combine the best of all three, maybe as a fourth version but more likely, I’ll choose one of these to work into, combining all three drawing materials into a final version ready for transfer to a photo-screen.

Work In Progress: Miner’s Wives 2.

Here’s a second version of a screen print transparency I’m making about the glorious South Wales Miner’s Wives from the 1984-1985 strike. It’s based on some pen and ink sketches from contemporary press photos and I’m trying out different materials to redraw the image onto Mark Resist film. This is drawn with Lihtographic Tusche and an Isabey squirrel brush. 

I like the tonal qualities of it but there’s nowhere near enough detail. I’ll need to work into it with some pens,

Grym : Power.

The rough hewn cut-marks gouged into the lino form cloisons that enclose shiny jewels of metallic watercolours. The block is printed in the deepest black oil-based ink onto a Japanese HoSho paper and when dry, watercolour paints are applied with the finest Isabey squirrel brushes.

I’ve been working on a collaborative project with the multi-disciplinary artist RUFUS MUFASA  and nine other women artists in Wales – ANGELA KARADOG, HANNAH HITCHINS, RHIAN ANDERSON, FRANCESCA KAY, HELEN MALIA, KARLA BRADING, ELIN REES, VIVIAN RHULE, LYNNE BEBB and me, ROSIE SCRIBBLAH. Our work is exhibited in Swansea at GS Artists from the launch on Friday February 16th, 18.00 – 20.00 and continues until February 23rd.

Collaboration!

I’ve been working on a collaborative project with the awesome Welsh rapper and multi-disciplinary artist RUFUS MUFASA  and nine other women artists in Wales – ANGELA KARADOG, HANNAH HITCHINS, RHIAN ANDERSON, FRANCESCA KAY, HELEN MALIA, KARLA BRADING, ELIN REES, VIVIAN RHULE, LYNNE BEBB and me, ROSIE SCRIBBLAH. Our work is going to be exhibited in Swansea at GS Artists from this Friday (February 16th) 18.00 – 20.00 and continues until February 23rd.

The exhibition is a prelude to the launch of Rufus’ bilingual album ‘Tri(ger) Warning(s) and unveils the collective response of ten accomplished female artists from across Wales, interpreting key Welsh language words that steer her album. I have chosen to interpret the Welsh word “GRYM” which means power.

Work In Progress: Miner’s Wives1.

I spent a few hours down at Swansea Print Workshop this afternoon, trying out some more ideas for the print I intend to make about the glorious South Wales Miner’s Wives from the 1984-1985 strike. I have already made some pen and ink sketches from contemporary press photos and I’m trying out different materials to redraw this image onto Mark Resist film, a step in the photo-screenprint process. This first one is drawn with Indian ink and a script dip pen – it has a little blob on the point. I haven’t used one before and it’s fun. I tried some lettering too. I also used a little Soft-Ground Tusche (for lithography) applied with an Isabey squirrel-hair brush. It’s giving some interesting textures.

This is a start – it was very wet and needed a while on the drying rack so I got stuck into some more experiments. I’ll work into it with other wet and dry drawing media in the next few days.

Faking It (Again)

A few weeks into the first Covid19 Lockdown in the Spring of 2020, the artist Ed Sumner started the “Cheese and Wine Painting Club” every Friday afternoon on Facebook Live. It was open to anyone, from anywhere, all ages, free for those who couldn’t afford to make a donation, and over the long months of Lockdown, a world-wide community built up. Each week we copied a painting by an historical artist. Now the world is back to “normal”, Ed has carried on teaching online through Zoom tutorials and I did one a few evenings ago, a portrait of a cat in a garden, inspired by Gustav Klimt. Here it is at the halfway stage, there’s a bit to do yet.

Metallic Bits …

I’ve been working on a typographic linocut recently, a collaboration with the awesome Welsh rapper and multi-disciplinary artist Rufus Mufasa and nine other women artists in Wales . She’s about to release her new bilingual album Tri(ger) Warning(s), which has been steered by a number of key Welsh language words. Each artist has chosen one word to interpret and here’s a snippet of mine. I’ll reveal the rest during the next few days, in the lead up to the exhibition of these artworks at GS Artists in Swansea, launching on Friday 16th February (18.00 – 20.00).

In a departure from my normal printmaking practice, I’ve used metallic watercolour paints to add colour – and sheen – to the black and white linocut print. I’m really liking the effect.

Plygain Scribbles.

Husb and I went to a Plygain this evening, a traditional Welsh Xmas celebration. Well, okay, it’s a bit late for Xmas, but the Blackbird choir, Cór Aderyn Du, had a hectic itinerary at Christmastide. I drew some of the choristers as they sang, it was interesting to sketch the contorted faces.

The Plygain also had a visit from a very naughty Mari Lwyd, Y Fari Madarch Abertawe / The Swansea Mushroom Mari.

Smiling And Splendid Women.

I’m still trying out some ideas for my next artwork, which I’m basing on the South Wales Miner’s Wives in the Miner’s Strike of 1984 / 1985. I’m taking inspiration from a documentary video made at the time by the late Professor Jen Wilson. The film is on YouTube and although a bit clunky by today’s slick news standards, it’s fascinating to watch.

Brand New …..

…PAINTS!!!!!!

I love unwrapping things! I bought these months ago but decided not to open them until I needed to ….. and that was today. Look at the lovely packaging/

I’m going to tease you and not let you see these luscious little beauties in all their glory until tomorrow. Mwahahahahaha 😀 😀 😀