Artists' Book Exhibition comes to Bristol 5 Nov-30 November

ARTISTS' BOOKS EXHIBITION
at the University of West of England, Bristol, UK
(Tom Trusky Exhibition Cases, Bower Ashton Library)

Britannica Challenge comes to Bristol
5th November - 30th November 2013
If you missed the exhibition of artists' books when it was on at the Sidney Nolan Trust
it is moving to Bristol next week.

 

See more in the university's Book Arts newsletter...
 http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/newspdfs/85.pdf

 

There are some amazing altered books in the exhibition.  Here are a couple of photos of my book - Volume 21   S-T     'Swimming the Butterfly'.

 

 

Wightwick Manor - monotype

Wightwick Manor is a beautiful National Trust property near Wolverhampton and near the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.  I did some small sketches and took some photos earlier in the summer when the wisteria was flowering.  I have been using these as reference to create a layered monotype today.  

I have printed 4 layers (on top of each other) on the paper (Fabriano Artistico) today.   I can't show you yet... it needs more layers.  Probably at least another 4, maybe a lot more.

Holding your nerve - wait to see what emerges

I spent a fascinating day on a canal yesterday near Bratch Locks researching for a new project.  A sunny warm day, strong sunlight, branches of golden leaves overhanging the water's edge.   People quietly fishing, sheep grazing nearby and two glimpses of a bright turquoise kingfisher.
 Ideas are growing and changing and it's great to have time to let this happen at a gradual pace.  It's good not to have to know exactly what the outcomes will be just yet. With visual art (and other creative endeavours such as creative writing) you need to hold your nerve and wait to see what emerges.  Your previous experiences and skills are a lifeline...

New lino print - deer at Attingham Park (NT)

This print has developed out of a visit to Attingham Park (National Trust property) where there is a wonderful herd of deer.   Mainly they keep their distance, but there is a regular winter feeding time when they come quite close to visitors in the park.

 

 Blue, Graphic Chemical water washable ink on pale blue paper

 Blue ink on golden flecked paper

 Blue ink on flecked white paper

 Cutting lino

 Inked lino

Starting to cut lino - using white and black drawing to guide.

Sketches and sketching - The Big Draw

It's still the period of the Big Draw so I thought I would show some sketches done in different ways and in different places.

 

Brittany 'Pardon' - pen and ink and watercolour wash.  This was drawn over a longish period (30mins-1hr, I can't remember exactly!). I waited until the crowd were fairly static and the procession had started and drew in the cross and people standing around it.  When the clergy gathered at the front I then drew them and the tree and added some splashes of colour.   The procession then walked down to the sea and there was a blessing of the sea/fish/fishermen.  I used a Pilot waterproof black pen and Schminke watercolour pans and travel sable brush.  The moleskin watercolour sketchbook was about postcard size.

 

 

 

 

 Goldfinches on teasels - pencil and watercolour.  I have drawn parts of these birds many times as they frequently come to my garden.  This is a composite of a number of my sketches.  They feed on teasel heads and also on sunflower hearts and niger seed.   Since letting more teasels grow and putting out this variety of seeds, I have increased the number that come to the garden from two to ten birds at a time.  They feed on seeds right outside my studio window or on the feeders and teasels a little further away.  I seldom complete a drawing of a whole bird, with colour, but they are much easier to draw than blue tits that stay for a fraction of a second!

 Pokers - pen, ink and watercolour.
I drew and painted these in the garden this summer in one fairly short sitting (up to an hour).  I love the range of orange and pinks and find them more interesting than the red ones.  I was using Pitt Castell, black waterproof pens.

Moroccan pots - pen, ink and watercolour

I drew this on site with a Pilot permanent ink pen in the Majorelle Gardens in Marakesh a few years ago. Then later, back at the riad where I was staying, added watercolour washes.

On the beach - pen, ink, watercolour.  I drew this on the beach and added the colour to the people on the spot.  I put a wash of colour onto the sea and sand areas later.

I swam with a seal

 

The photos below are of Pwill Deri - seals resting on the beach.

They can be seen around the coastline of Pembs at this time of year.

I was surprised though to be swimming at Whitesands Bay and a seal

swam around my legs and then surfaced right next to me. They are very inquisitive creatures!

 

 

 

Some sketches in Pembrokeshire

A few travel Sketches

 

Bishop's Palace, St David's Cathedral

in square sketchbook with beautifully embellished cover from GeorgieArts

http://www.georgiearts.co.uk/

 

Rock at Whitesands Bay -

permanent pen and Schminke watercolour wash http://www.schmincke.de in Moleskin notebook 

 

Towards Carn Lidi - sketch using Inktense pencils for the first time.

Strong colours. Permanent once they are dry.

 

Strumble Head Lighthouse - watercolour sketch in Moleskin notebook

Sketching in Pembrokeshire -warming up for the Big Draw

I've just had a lovely week in Pembrokeshire, walking, drawing and swimming. The weather was very mild but not always dry!  I was able to draw seated outside and also through the window when it rained.   The sky always seems so big here and the changing light endlessly fascinating.   I've been visiting North Pembrokeshire and walking the path for 25 years now and I never tire of it.