Some Spontaneity…

I did some more drawing on my new Mari Lwyd linocut, it is almost finalised, and I got on with some more carving today. I rarely complete the drawing before I start carving because I often want to change some of the design when I see it starting to take shape on the block. SomeContinue reading “Some Spontaneity…”

Shaft Of Spring Sunshine.

I started to carve into my large lino block this afternoon and a shaft of Spring sunshine glowed across the room and onto my work space. The strong shadow made the cutting difficult, but I thought it made a good photo. I’m using a Flexcut gouge and traditional grey, hessian-backed lino.

Drawing Details.

Over the past few days I’ve been carving details of my new Mari Lwyd linocut design into a small piece of lino to see how they work out, so now I’ve started drawing details onto my full size block. There’s a way to go yet though before I start carving…

Ribbons And Bells.

I’m carrying on cutting my practice piece, carving some bells and ribbons that will adorn the head of the Mari Lwyd. The bells are quite a challenge. I’m using Flexcut tools kept sharp with a Slip Strop into traditional grey hessian-backed lino. I drew directly onto the lino with a Faber Castell Pitt drawing pen,Continue reading “Ribbons And Bells.”

Blooded Myself…Again!

I’ve cut the little eye of the Mari Lwyd, a practice run for my next large-ish linocut. I’m using traditional grey, hessian-backed lino and Flexcut tools and a Slip Strop to keep them sharp. I blooded myself today! Still do it after all these years!

A Bit At A Time…

I’ve made a start on my next Mari Lwyd lino block, but instead of carving straight onto the full size block, I’m trying out different bits of the design on smaller lino blocks, to see how they work out. First up, is the Mari’s eyeball, quite a mischievous eye, but some find her quite sinister.

Transfer To Lino…

I traced my Mari Lwyd sketch onto tracing paper today, flipped it over and drew it onto my lino block, like we used to do with maps back in my schooldays, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. It’s a very basic outline, I’ve got to do some studies of the bells and ribbons, flowers and eyeballsContinue reading “Transfer To Lino…”

Ribbons And Bells: 1

I did a rough yesterday in monochrome washes of a new thing I’m working on which will eventually be a lino cut based on sketches of some of the Mari Lwyd / Hen Galan celebrations I’ve been to over the past few winters. I like the overall composition but it’s very rough, so I’m startingContinue reading “Ribbons And Bells: 1”

Starting Something New…

This is the first sketch, trying out an idea for a new linocut based on the Welsh Mari Lwyd tradition. I like the format, 21cms x 42cms, and I like this composition. I’ll probably try out a few more variations and I want to sharpen up some of the design stuff, like the ribbons andContinue reading “Starting Something New…”