"The artist...is also a born adventurer. His explorations, unlike those of a tourist, are rewarded by the discovery of beauty spots unmentioned in the guide books, and with tireless curiosity and an exceptional proneness to wonderment, he will come upon objects of remarkable interest overlooked or even shunned by more disciplined observers."

Augustus John, R.A.




Wednesday 22 June 2016

Curlew print - next colours



Next couple of colours on the curlew print, a mid  brown and darker blue grey. A final dark brow will see it finished.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Curlew - First stages

Started on a new lino print, originally intending it to be of two curlews but after some preliminary juggling around decided to leave the second bird out.




After cutting out the white areas, the first colour above, is a blend of 3 pale greys working from top to bottom.


Next much of the cloud surrounding the bird is cut away and the block inked with a pale yellow brown.


Colour 3 is a pale blue. I thought a lot about how to do this. Initially I was going to do it as a blue to pale blue grey blend as I needed the lower part of the print to look as if it was receding into the distance. In the end I decided on using a flat blue colour, relying on the greys of the cloud in the lower half to shift the appearance of the blue there making it look less bright than in the top half where it sits alongside the white of the paper.


Colour 4. With the sky finished all that remains on the block is the shape of the bird, this is inked in a darker version of the first brown colour.


Colour 5. A darker blue completes the shadows under the birds wing. Should be finished after another couple of colours. Hopefully in time for the Art Market at Holmfirth next weekend. If not it will be finished for the Sheffield Print Fair in July.

Sunday 12 June 2016

Latest works

Been a bit quiet on the posting front  lately but here is a selection of the finished and works in progress so far.


Pendragon Castle, Mallerstang.
Reduction Linocut. 
18 colours printed in 9 stages
Edition of 10



Mezzotint plate in progress. I've been working on this plate on and off since the end of April. I think I've gone as far as I can now and need to take a print from it, to see if what I think is on the plate, translates on to paper. Once I have an impression taken I'll be able to see which areas need further work.


1st stage of a new linocut, a 3 colour blend from top to bottom of warm and cool grey through to a darker warm grey.