This was the sketch I was working on when the virus hit. My nose was running while I was bending over the paper. I tried to ignore the symptoms and finish the picture. The aches, pains and tiredness caught up in the end.
Cat drawing
Tag: Art
Sweet Peas
The old people used to say they grew sweet peas because you don’t have to bend far to smell the blooms. This is the first time I’ve grown some for a few years. The last attempts ended with little stems surrounded by slug trails.
Today’s drawing of the sweet peas might inspire the usual questions: “but what will you do with it when it’s finished?” etc. Well, since you ask, parts of it might be used for a family tree project. The little spirals are interesting, and could be a useful link between the names and dates of the more complex ancestors.
Applause
I sketched a few pairs of hands, thinking maybe one of the sketches would summarise the warped conditions of various workers.
The shortest day
Shortest day of the water tiger year. Apparently it’s best to gather energy during the winter, to be ready for spring.
Green Fuse
There’s often an imaginary gallery in my dream landscape. Various prints and drawings appear on the walls, some of which I recycled years ago. A few months ago, this woodland scene was on display. I didn’t like it but it kept getting in the way of my dreaming walk around the gallery. Maybe if I make a version in the real world it’ll disappear from my dreams? Cutting the lino took a long time. A drawing would’ve been much more direct but it wouldn’t have looked right.
I’m very fond of folk tales and legends. The thought of making pictures of tree spirits didn’t appeal, there are enough around already. I suppose this is a depiction of the life force of the planet we live on. We don’t think about our connectivity until it’s under threat.
The theory of bad workmen blaming their tools comes in again. Blunt cutting tools won’t cut fine lines exactly where you plan them to be. Badly made rollers/brayers won’t pick up ink smoothly. I thought I’d use a second roller to add blue to the upper corners of the tree. It didn’t pick up any ink at all…
Sometimes a tiny detail isn’t in contact with the paper. A wooden spoon or the edge of a coin is useful to rub that section more closely. My usual beach pebble had disappeared so a piece of lapis lazuli was employed instead.
Sunset
I thought I’d make a quick splashy sunset picture. It took longer than intended. Some of the layers reminded me of making a lithograph.
The photos I worked from were taken while smoke blew across from a recycling fire. I didn’t notice the black clouds at the time.
Red Blue Green
This drawing has been lying around for ages. Today I added the central figure. The paper has suffered various accidents but it will be ok.
Road
Birds in progress
Drawing. Graphite, charcoal and pastels on orange paper.
Water droplet
berry daines 