Trying to glimpse the light

So here we are, 01 February 2020, bigotry and ignorance seem to have “won”. Let’s hope those responsible enjoy their “victory” and not too many people suffer from the consequences. Many glimpses of light needed to even attempt to keep my spirits up.

Sketchbook, exploring burnt sienna in its many shades and tones

A weekend away in the woods

Seeing fantastic 300yr old trees

Beautiful mediaeval floors, and new kneelers based on the floor tiles

Progress on the drum - an image from a children’s colouring book, coloured, then manipulated in imaging software, printed and glued to the drum. Some smaller seahorses to be added at some point, but this drum is now an active part of Extinction Rebellion.

Reading

•  “The Binding”, a terrific novel, based on the possibility of having our bad memories removed
• “How to Lose a Country” read and weep, and then take action
• “The Man With No Face” a reissue, but the parts about the UK in / out of Europe still so pertinent
• “A Most Wanted Man”, excellent novel, showing the consequences of the supposed “war on terror"

Signs of spring are all around

Grey, but rainbows to follow

So the day I decide to take my camera out is the one where the fog doesn’t lift

but there are great textures to be seen up close

Luckily the sun was shining when I took these photos of the back the heart quilt

Bodies and trees

Another morning of life drawing, 5 minute, 3 minute and 15 minute poses with both wet and dry media.

Holding a brush and sitting on a stool, although the holding a brush looks more like spear-fishing and I’ve made the beautiful model look rather squat and rather heavier than she was.

The brown ones are done by another member of the class. The two on the right hand side and the pink one, with the brush, are mine.

Combining or overlaying the 3 minute poses on one sheet of paper.

Wet ink and charcoal, seated.

Struggling to cope with the strong pink wash to get enough contrast between light and dark

Happiest with this one.

After a rest and lunch, off to Highgate to see the works by Richard  Downer, the father of our tutor.  Richard’s drawn work will be known to all of us in the UK who used phone directories between 1967 - 1985, as his drawings were on the front cover of every local directory.  This exhibition focuses on his private paintings of trees, their life, demise and regeneration. Very striking and with echoes of Paul Nash in the series about the aftermath of the Great Storm of 1987. On until 23rd June and well worth a visit.  Great views walking down Highgate Hill are a bonus.

 

Journal quilts - talk to the trees

The journal quilts this year are to be 8 x 10 inches, with the first four containing a piece of purple, no less than 1/2 inch square, the second four containing s piece of orange and the last four containing a piece of green.

A walk in the Isabella Plantation a few months ago was the inspiration for my first four. It is many years since I have visited, and besides the improvements to disabled access and the better paths, I was struck by how many of the trees, even rather ordinary looking ones, not just the ancient oaks, have numbered tags.  I hope this isn’t indicative of how worried the parks are about the state of these trees.

Using fabric i already have, ( tray-dyed, repurposed linen sheet; Procion P painted cotton, dyed pelmet Vilene) this series was the result.  Called “Counting the trees"

Treasure

Natural

Natural and man-made

Man-made

found, abandoned, here

Rusting projects ahead, inspired by Alice Fox.

 

Over a month since the last blog post.......

…...but lots has been happening.  Quilt exhibition, which was very successful with over 800 visitors and a hugely popular visitors’ choice.  I treated myself to a lovely pincushion , made out of a mustard pot.

Drawing continues, with one session in the gallery of the Islamic world at the British Museum.  What a treat to really immerse ourselves in the iconography of a different culture, and intriguingly to see that there are images of birds and animals in 16th century Islamic art.  I was fascinated by the use of script as a decorative finish on tiles.

Then for the past two weeks, working on a still life, in charcoal, with glass, tissue paper, reflective surfaces, hard and soft edges - so difficult, but I did enjoy the process.

Evolution of a drawing

Drawn from this, with two different levels of light between one week and the next.  I am happy with the result with the exception of the tissue paper , that needs lots of looking and practising in the sketchbook.

And in between, visits to Dorset

and inspiration from several exhibitions: Jerwood Drawing Prize

the thirteen textile group

Kara Walker at the Victoria Miro Gallery, and the usual challenging pieces at the Parasol Unit.  Always a pleasure to see the work in the courtyard at the Victoria Miro Gallery

Kusama spheres

Charles Avery, Tree, which was at Edinburgh when I was there in August.