I have continued to work on reduction linocuts, based on a technique shared by Jazmina Cininas. Here are two recent examples:
1. The Hiroshima project- a reworking of a well worked theme
2. The ruined watch tower
I have continued to work on reduction linocuts, based on a technique shared by Jazmina Cininas. Here are two recent examples:
1. The Hiroshima project- a reworking of a well worked theme
2. The ruined watch tower
I have recently completed a print project which I have titled ‘The Armchair Traveller Portfolio’ (I am sure you can see a trend here).
The project has focused on two key exemplars: the missionaries Mildred Cable, Francesca and Evangeline French, and the explorer Aurel Stein. In view of China’s growing emergence as a major power, it is timely to review how the motivation for these travellers influenced how they were perceived by the Chinese people, both at the time and now (e.g., were the missionaries selfless heroes or patronising meddlers, was Aurel Stein a tomb raider or inspired archaeologist?). This is to better approach future interaction.
The work is based on images that convey the key theme of travel as a means of arrival/escape, and what this means in the context of life journey, self-definition and development. The work includes:
The works of two key artists have been major influences on this project:
The print portfolio consists of an integrated set of 9 linocuts. The 9 linocuts consist of 3 sets of interrelated works. Each row relates to a specific person/set of explorers. Each column relates to particular life milestones or decision points.
– Row one relates to the life story of the missionary trio Mildred Cable and Francesca and Evangeline French.
– Row two relates to me, and shows my major life decisions at similar ages to those taken by the missionaries and Aurel Stein
– Row three features the key stages of the life of the explorer Aurel Stein
I am participating in a print exchange with 23 other artists. The only common element is the paper size (15 x 20 cm). After much trial and error involving multiple linoplates, a Dremel engraving tool and Japanese wood block knives, I settled on the following image. The plate was printed using black letterpress ink, as an experiment to trial different inks for their stickiness. The letterpress ink on Somerset Velvet Buff 250 gsm created a lovely velvety black tone. The use of the engraving tool enabled the impression of a grey toned figure in the foreground.
The image is titled ‘The Armchair Traveller I’.
I have continued to explore the use of monotype as a technique to produce images. For this series of work (the armchair traveller continued), I have created 3 layered works. Layer 1 is a map underlay, based on a carbon paper tracing of a Cable and French map of Central Asia. Layer 2 is a form of background (eg, Gobi desert from an aerial Google earth view, or various views of the Jiayuguan fort at the edge of the Gobi desert, or Aurel Stein photographs of camel trains in the desert). Layer 3 (the top layer) is based on the armchair.
I have continued to explore the fascinating world of monotype, since introduced to the various techniques in a class held by Rona Green. Below are two recent examples, painted using watercolor paints and printed on Dutch Etch (250 gsm) paper. These images are part of a ‘Travels from my armchair’ series.