Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

A Happy New Year to you. Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi. Here’s my latest Mari Lwyd, a linocut with chine collé using the foil wrapping of the very popular (in the UK) Tunnock’s Tea Cakes. I like the way the stripes of the foil interact with the stripeyness of Mari’s ribbons. She’s a little early, as her night is January 13th, Hen Galan, but that’s a Welsh tradition so I’m using her to greet the world today, according to the modern calendar 😀

I’ve had a bit of a blog holiday over Christmas, trying to have a rest, but back to normal now for 2024.

A Month Of Maris #10

A monotype with chine collé.

We’re at that time of year when the old Welsh tradition of The Mari Lwyd / Y Fari Lwyd, is awakening from her slumbers ready for her night, Hen Galan, on January 13th – the New Year in the old Gregorian Calendar. This monotype with chine collé is based on a sketch I did when the Ystrad Mari visited Gellionen Chapel in 2017, here’s the sketch below…

I think the sketch is quite funny, about as jolly as a horse skull can be, but the monotype is much more sinister. The chine collé is paper made from recycled saris and it’s very fibrous.

A detail of the eye showing paper chine collé.

The First Cuts.

I’ve made the first cuts on from the first lino block of the project I’ll be working on for the next couple of months. I’m experimenting at the moment, trying out different ideas and ways of cutting into the lino. This is a small detail from a drawing I’ve done. I’m using Flexcut tools and traditional grey lino.

A Month Of Maris #9

I can’t work out if I think this Mari is sinister or funny, there’s an edge to this drawing. I drew her at Gellionen Chapel in January 2018 when it was visited by Mari Ystrad from Ystradgynlais.

The chapel is over 330 years old and set in isolation on Mynydd Gellionen Mountain, with spectacular views of the Swansea coastline way into the distance. I drew with black, sanguine and white conté crayons into a brown paper, spiral bound Seawhites sketchbook.

Detail through Adobe Photoshop Smudge Stick filter.

A Month Of Maris #8

Another of my  Mari Lwyd artworks from the archives that I’m posting up to her night, Hen Galan on January 13th. I did this in 2019, working from an original drawing, cutting into grey traditional lino and printing using the technique of chine collé.

A Month Of Maris #8.

This is another Mari Lwyd from my archives that I’m posting through December and early January up until her night, Hen Galan on January 13th. This “live” sketch was made late in 2016 at an appearance by the Mari in Gellionen Chapel. All the Maris I’ve seen have different looks and personalities, I think this one looks quite goofy and a bit daft.

A Month Of Maris #7.

Lino block and lino print.

And another little Mari Lwyd, this time a linocut which became little Xmas cards two years ago.

A Month Of Maris #6

Here’s a monotype Mari Lwyd from my archives. I’m posting them through December and early January up to her night, Hen Galan on January 13th. I did this very early in 2017 and it was based on a “live” sketch I did the previous month at an appearance by the Mari in Gellionen Chapel. I used chine collé to add colour and texture.

A Month Of Maris #5

Here’s another of my archive Mari Lwyds that I’m posting through December and early January up to her night, Hen Galan on January 13th. It’s the old New Year, which doesn’t make much sense until you find out it’s the Julian, or pre-Gregorian, calendar. This sketch dates from 2016 at Gellionen Chapel and is drawn in white, sanguine and black conte crayons into a brown paper sketchbook.

A Month Of Maris #4

Left: Cutting the design into lino. Right: taking the print with a wooden spoon.

I’m posting my archive Mari Lwyds throughout December and early January to get us all in the mood for her night, Hen Galan. This one was carved and printed at the end of 2019 to go out as a New Year card at the beginning of 2020, we didn’t know that Covid19 was about to hit us. The original design had a second Mari in the background, but I decided it would look too cramped. I printed them at home using HoSho paper, Cranfield Safewash Relief ink and a wooden spoon.