A drypoint teabag
I have been experimenting with both drypoint and linocut techniques. At the moment, drypoint is more appealing ... perhaps it is the neater, finer lines that holds the initial appeal (my ability to carve lino needs significantly more practice!).
I decided something small and everyday was a great place to start as I experimented with both techniques. So, hello teabag! I think I could venture into a more complete piece for my next effort ... although I do so love the small, simple, everyday pieces of life. In a complex world the idea of a teabag sitting on the bench holding the promise of a cup of tea and a crisis resolved is so very reassuring.
Linocut version of the teabag ... I think I will come back and try this again ...
She emerges ...
It has been a while since I spent some time painting faces. I have been (happily) side-tracked with leaves and flowers and other shapes and forms. However, while I initially intended this painting to be more of the same, her face just fell out of my brush. She's not really finished yet but I think I will let her sit and be for a while.
Leaves, flowers and acrylic ink
Yep, it's official. I am still thoroughly enjoying playing with acrylic inks. I'm enjoying painting leaves, making marks and experimenting with flowers with the acrylic inks. The inks are fun if not altogether forgiving. Once a mark is made, it stays ... and that's OK. That keeps the process interesting and challenging too.
Drypoint printing
My Monday "Introduction to Printing" class has introduced us to mono printing, linocut printing and now to drypoint printing. This particular technique is fascinating. I love the opportunities to bring depth and life to a print with just one pass through the printing press.
I am looking forward to experimenting with this technique. It could be the fine lines combined with the ability to manipulate the ink on the plate that appeals ... or it could be the possibilities of adding a resist that is intriguing. Either way, I think I will play with this technique again before this class is finished.
Wanderlust 2017 - week 7
Such a lovely, lovely inspiring lesson for Week 7 of Wanderlust 2017. Artist Clair Bremner shared her art and inspired me to rethink my ideas about fine detailed work dovetailing into abstract art. Her use of leaves to inspire her mark making and paintings is something I can see me incorporating into my work. Her work is beautiful, restful and almost ethereal. Even the warm up exercise of painting leaves make for a lovely page in my journal.
Carved flowers
Back to art class today to enjoy the second lesson in linocut printing. The work done by my fellow students was amazing. There was such a variety in the approaches taken by everyone. My turtle prints didn't work as well as I had hoped ... I put them down to a learning experience. :-)
I did some flower prints which worked better. Lino cutting is definitely an art form that requires some practice on my part. (In other words what I imagined in my mind didn't translate to what I produced on paper). Still lino cutting is a meditative practice and I'm not upset about having to do some more practice.
Lovely layers of linocut printing
Back to art class today. This time, in the Introduction to Printmaking course I'm taking, we learned about linocut printing. Loved it. Loved the idea of printing in different colours; layer on layer. Loved the format of the class too ... all about experimentation and mark making. Not searching for perfection just being creative and learning about the technique.
Let's learn monoprinting
How exciting! Yesterday I attended my first lesson in a Semester long "Introduction to Printmaking" class run by the Brisbane Institute of Art. It has been a while since I have made time to attend an art class ... and now I am wondering why it has taken me so much time to do so. It was absolutely fantastic to be able to spend uninterrupted time creating and making.
The first lesson looked at mono printing. I will admit I approached it like a painter ... thinking about layers and colours like I was working in my art journal. And that is the magic of stretching skills; it was fascinating to think about picture making in a different way. I drew on my latest art journal page to form a basis for the mono print. It didn't translate to print as I imagined but that's OK. I'm here to learn.
Flower play
My worlds converged. I have been enjoyed learning about gardening this month. (On a side note, the final part of my new Vegepod arrived today; so gardening begins in earnest this weekend!). I have also enjoyed the art journal lesson from last week's Wanderlust 2017 lesson.
And so, my Australia Day (or at least the morning) was spent painting flowers and thinking about how my garden looks. Great way to spend the day.
This page is painted on a gesso-prepped page. Using mostly acrylic ink and acrylic tube paints. Fun.
Wanderlust 2017 - week 3
Wilna Furstenberg is so inspiring. I love her art and her approach to her art as well. It was an absolute pleasure to work on the page for week 3 of Wanderlust 2017. I love using acrylic inks but hadn't really used them in Wilna's style. Loved it. I am truly inspired to go and work on a number of pages drawing on her lesson.
Here is my 2 page creation:
