In the life drawing studio.

  Sometimes during life drawing it’s nice to focus on what’s around the model and we have a terrific old bentwood chair that we use as a prop and it’s good to draw as well. The drawing studio has large mirrors on one wall and this gives a lot more depth and perspective. What IContinue reading “In the life drawing studio.”

Printmaking All Day – Tired and Happy Now!

I spent a long day at Swansea Print Workshop today making a large full-colour monotype. It’s a technique used by the Impressionists – Degas and Monet used to work over their monotypes in oil pastels. I started with a drawing in my sketchbook that I’d done in life drawing group. It’s gone through several incarnationsContinue reading “Printmaking All Day – Tired and Happy Now!”

Wrinkles! [caution – male nude]

It’s nice to work with a veriety of models of all ages, fascinating to see the human body going through different phases. This is an experienced older model whose body wrinkles up beautifully. I know that goes against what’s currently our culture’s idea of beauty, but I like it – great to draw a bodyContinue reading “Wrinkles! [caution – male nude]”

A Corset and A Quickie

Oooh got to go and get my corset and big hat on and go to the monthly Steampunk Meet so won’t have much time to post today. Here’s a large drawing I did from a small life drawing in a sketchbook. I used a large piece of Somerset Velvet, coloured with black and pearlised acrylicContinue reading “A Corset and A Quickie”

Mucky Hands and Monotypes.

I spent a happy morning yesterday making some direct line monotypes down at Swansea Print Workshop. The trick to getting a good result is to roll out your ink VERY very thinly. I used Intaglio Printmakers oil-based litho/relief ink in black and a Japanese rubber roller inked onto apiece of Perspex. Don’t be tempted toContinue reading “Mucky Hands and Monotypes.”

I Knows ‘Ew Luvs Me ‘Coz ‘Ew Buys Me Chips

  This large mixed media piece started as a simple life drawing in conte crayons onto Somerset paper [250gsm] that I had squeegeed with black acrylic System 3 ink mixed with pearlised and acrylic medium. This gave me a dark, uneven surface to work on. I collaged on some interesting hand-made papers I had knockingContinue reading “I Knows ‘Ew Luvs Me ‘Coz ‘Ew Buys Me Chips”

A Recycled Lady!

  I often use discarded prints as the basis for drawing – I raid the waste paper bin at Swansea Print Workshop for prints that other artists have thrown away as they’re usually on really good paper, a Somerset or Bockinford, and often embossed and coloured which makes an interesting starting point for a drawing,Continue reading “A Recycled Lady!”

End Of An Era!

Last night was the opening of the final exhibition I’ve curated at The Brunswick – I’ve been doing it for three and a half years.  For anyone who hasn’t been, it’s a great ‘real ale’ pub in Swansea run by a couple who are keen on art and about 7 years ago they agreed toContinue reading “End Of An Era!”

I Don’t Often Paint But….

I don’t often paint as I have a printmaker’s brain which I think is wired differently to the painter’s brain. I prefer to draw and I get frustrated by dragging a bit of paint across a surface with a brush. This piece started as a small sketchbook lifedrawing which I then worked up into aContinue reading “I Don’t Often Paint But….”