Back to the studio

Finally have done some work in the studio. Up against deadlines as the grandchildren are back at the end of this week. Finally had a go at whiteline in preparation for a Xmas card. A local church. The angelic minstrals are stone carvings inside the same building, I thought they looked rather fun all playing away together instead of being stuck up on separate pillars as they are in reality.

White line

Have been to France for the last few weeks, and found some interesting ideas. In Avignon in a small collection, found some work by Gleizes and white line prints by Derain.

Will post later with more news. If anyone is in London, the British Museum Print Room has a stunning free exhibition of Chinese prints from the earliest Diamond sutra to contemporary. A must see if you can.

Exhibition

Dorset Art Weeks exhibition is finally over, and the packing up is nearly done. Good to get feedback and to see the work up, but not a lot of visitors or sales. Still it is good to review the work and to see where I've been and plan where to go!

Madrid and British Museum

Came across these Japanese style cloud trees in Madrid. Most unexpected! We looked at some wonderful art there.

A recent London trip saw us at the Van Gogh exhib, well worth even the 2 hour queue. The on to Cornelissen the art pigment people to stock up. The good news is that they are planning to set up a website with ordering: http://www.cornelissen.com/ It is a small shop full of character (and helpful staff). I always half expect Turner or someone historic to walk in.

On to The British Museum print room to see Mexican prints. Stunning collection, and of course upstairs to the Japan rooms.

t

Stockton, NSW Pelicans

Finally this is the result of hard labour. I used a machine made Hosho paper in the end. It has really not turned out as I wanted as I seemed to have slipped backwards in the technique, perhaps I am getting over ambitious. Next time I will go for something smaller!

The image is of Pelicans who have come to roost in the early evening. The lights are solar powered, and the place is at the entrance to Newcastle harbour, about a 100 miles north of Sydney.

Pelicans

Here are the blocks for the Pelicans at Stockton print. (Newcastle NSW Australia) Am trying out various papers and may have to buy as I have little that goes this large. Will keep posting when I have an image that is presentable.

Power carver

I have a new toy. I wanted to use these large ply boards which have been sitting around the studio for far too long. However, the sheer size was daunting, so Tara! enter the power carver into my life. I love it, and can use it with either hand, which is a bonus.

If any reader can give any hints and tips I would be grateful especially about sharpening. At the moment I am stropping on my leather barber's strop, each time I change the blade, but I don't think it will enough in the long run. I have Japanese water stones, and the Tormek water cooled sharpening system available to use.

Am working on an image of the Pelicans sitting sentinal along the Stockton Breakwall looking over to Newcastle NSW Australia. We visited my brother who lives that way. Will post when more is done.