I finally took my sketchbook out into the garden.
The shed bed (10 mins) |
This is a quick sketch of what we call the "shed bed" but it lacks focus and definition. The sun was high in the sky so shadows were almost non existent. I put some colour on to try to rectify things but I'm not impressed.
Mark making for specific flowers - water colour |
Bugs eye view of daisies in the meadow - pastel pencil |
Bugs eye view was an idea I had after seeing the work of Anthony Pegg (1) artist in residence at Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire. Pegg works in oils but I used pastel pencil with very few colours. It would have been more successful if my stems and grasses followed a more diagonal line - there would have been more movement.
I'll have to have another try but I feel the beginnings of an idea for a collograph print. First though I'll try a similar thing using collage.
Possible materials - old card envelope and a variety of papers |
My idea is to use what is basically rubbish to make my collage. I have assembled a variety of papers including the backing from some Bondaweb which gives a lot of texture. I plan to use this to turn my old envelope into an earthy background.
Labels from clothes |
I keep lots of things that might be useful one day and clothing labels come into this category. I have cut off the knots from the ribbons and strings and think they might make "flowers".
My carrier |
I practised flowers with a Q tip in my sketchbook and decided on just a swirl of red with a touch of white to suggest poppies. The stems worked best in pastel stick. The daisies I anticipate will be the knots I've cut off.
Daisies and Poppies in the Garden |
What I didn't count on was the bumpiness of the moistened background paper which interfered with the smooth running of the pastel. I thought the knots would look too insignificant so decided to paint them in. From a distance the lightness of the label on the envelope looks like light on the horizon - a happy accident.
This is a style I rather like. Angie Lewin (2) is a popular textile designer and artist whose work appeals to me and I realise how influenced I am by such people.
Coneflower with Spanish Seedheads - Angie Lewin - watercolour |
These aren't exactly botanical studies but they are accurate representations offered in a highly stylised way.
Some time ago I did a day long collograph workshop with Carole Eason (3). I developed this a little after the workshop and it formed the basis of my work for Part 5 of Exploring Ideas. I'll have to revisit how to do it but I'm going to try again (4).
I made my collograph plate with an off cut of mounting card and built up the layers with odds and ends.
My collograph plate |
The plate is well covered in PVA so that more than one print can be taken. My only suitable printing ink is a water based one. I followed my previous instructions and damped my paper but when I pulled off the print everything began to disintegrate; both my plate and my paper.
A less than impressive print. |
The damp paper had made the printing ink run. I think my plate was too fussy and too much in relief. I tried another two prints in desperation and then decided to call it a day.
The used plate |
My first reaction was to throw this work away but experience tells me that sometimes the strangest things come out of a flop.
If I'm to pursue this idea I need to buy some oil based ink like I used with Carole.
(1) http://www.anthonypeggartgallery.com/page3.htm
(2) http://www.angielewin.co.uk/collections/my-work
(3) http://carolaeason.bigcartel.com/
(4) http://iburkitt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/collograph-workshop.html
I really like the accidental light source in Poppies in the Garden.
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