Playing With The Mari Lwyd.

I took some photos at yesterday’s Wassail and Mari Lwyd parade at the Gower Heritage Centre and had a bit of a play in Adobe Photoshop. There were 5 fine Mari Lwyds at the Wassail and it gave me a chance to compose some groups, I normally see them singly or in twos.

Wassail!

I went to the annual Wassail and Mari Lwyd parade at the Gower Heritage Centre today. Last night was Hen Galan, the “old” (Julian) New Year, celebrated in Wales with the Mari Lwyd, but as well as the riotous Wassail yesterday evening (with much local Shed Head Cider by all accounts), there was also aContinue reading “Wassail!”

A Month Of Maris #17

Aaaaaaannnnddddd ….. another one. Here’s a quickie Mari Lwyd sketch in conté crayon into my brown paper sketchbook, from 2016. I think these very hasty sketches show the jollier side of the Mari Lwyd.

A Month Of Maris #16

Sometimes when I’m out and about sketching I have only a few seconds, maybe a minute or two, with a particular subject or pose, so I have to scribble away quickly, and the drawing often becomes very stylised. Here’s a Mari Lwyd from a few years ago, sketched at a Hen Galan pub crawl onContinue reading “A Month Of Maris #16”

A Month Of Maris #14

Here’s another Mari Lwyd sketch from my archives, one from Gellionen Chapel in 2017, back in those heady days before Covid19. we’re creeping closer to Hen Galan, Mari Lwyd’s very own night, which also happens to be the “old” New Year. It’s drawn in black, sanguine and white conté crayons into a spiral bound A4Continue reading “A Month Of Maris #14”

The Difference

  Preparing an etching plate or a wood block or a silk screen is just the first stage of creativity in making an original print. The second creative input comes with the actual printing – the inks, papers and special effects you use. I printed the one above using the ‘double drop’ technique, printing theContinue reading “The Difference”

Metal Marbling

  I’ve done marbling onto paper before but this is marbling onto an etching plate. I spent the weekend at a masterclass in etching at Andrew Baldwin’s Trefeglwys Print Studio in Powys. We covered quite a few processes and I’ve wanted to see this one for a while. Andrew marbles a metal plate with hisContinue reading “Metal Marbling”

The Swansea Open

The Swansea Open, December 8th to February 2nd 2019, Glynn Vivian art gallery. I just heard today that I have had 2 artworks accepted into the Swansea Open exhibition and I’m chuffed to bits as Swansea is full of talented artists and the competition is stiff. I submitted two monotypes of the Mari Lwyd, based on drawings IContinue reading “The Swansea Open”

Exhausted But Happy!

Just back from a very tiring weekend printmaking course at Trefeglwys Print Studio. It was fantastic. I learned so much and came away with a number of prints I’d be happy to exhibit and two new etching plates to edition and an etching plate to work on and finish. Result. I’m shattered now though. TheContinue reading “Exhausted But Happy!”

Chuffed To Bits

  I just heard today that I have had 2 artworks accepted into the Swansea Open exhibition, running from December the 3rd to January the 6th. It’s returned after a gap of about 5 years, while the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery was closed and being refurbished, and it’s great to see it back. I’m chuffedContinue reading “Chuffed To Bits”