Sketchbook Archives: 29

Here are some little scribbles from my sketchbook that I posted back in June 2013, gosh, 12 years ago already, back in the pre-Covid days. I’m not sure what people are doing in the first few sketches, maybe it was an art event? I like drawing people who are in unusual positions, it’s good practice.

Of Artists And Seagulls

I was strolling along the street with my friend and fellow artist Chris Bird-Jones and she stopped me and pointed to this smear of seagull poop on the road (above). She thought it looked a bit like some of the figures I drew during my German residency last year (below). She could be right, y’know!

Sketchbook Archives: 28

Looking through old sketchbooks from June 2013, I found these from a visit to Aberdulais Falls, near Neath. It’s a National Trust property and very scenic, it was once painted by none other than the great Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1795, although the industrial heritage goes back to 1584. I was going through aContinue reading “Sketchbook Archives: 28”

#Caturday Archives: 19

Here’s a little scribble of Sparta Puss from my sketchbook archives way back in April 2013, when she was just 3 years old. She was still naughty though! She’s sitting on top of our gas boiler looking out of the kitchen window at the amelanchier tree which is just starting to bud. On the leftContinue reading “#Caturday Archives: 19”

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.

Sketchbook Archives: 27

Back in May 2013, I visited the USA to do a residency at Wingtip Press in Boise, Idaho. Here are some of my sketches from that visit. It was a fascinating journey, Idaho is the Wild West and the culture and geography are so different to the UK. I’m used to wet Wales and BoiseContinue reading “Sketchbook Archives: 27”

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!