I have put up a print draw in my shed to clear the window ledge. What can we tell about a person by looking at the things they collect or the gifts from friends?
I only have a few gaps left, so I will have to find another tray and find more wall space, I can't see myself changing a habit of a life time.
thought I would really deeply bite it and left it over night in the ferric. I have managed to completely dissolve two plates, the cow parsley ones from an earlier post!!!
Hey ho, live and learn.
The back of all these plates are counter enamelled in white so that I can draw and
write on the back.
I have at last made the collagraph plates from the drawings I made around December. I intend to make screen prints of strong colour to place behind these two birds.
The plates are made from card, tile cement carborundum and wood glue.
More enamel experiments. I have technical issues with the thinness of the copper, but I quite like the crazing, but I fear it may look like bad enameling to those who know.
I am very excited that it is possible to draw in pencil onto the enamel and fire it on, this opens the way to drawing and writing on to the pieces.
I have also spent a great deal of time deeply etching copper with ferric to work onto with enamel.
I am also exploring screen printed enamel transfers. Using my own photographs, I am working on a series of winter landscapes.
So much to do, so little time.....!!!
I have to say it is making everything look picturesque, but it is very slippery under foot.
I have spent 3 days in my shed, unable to get out and about, but have got loads done, starting 2 collagraph plates and etching some copper to enamel later in the month.
I cleared the snow off my car this morning and miracles it started third time, not that I intend to go anywhere, I have far too much to do now I don't feel so trapped. I have put this picture in for all those who know me and my 2CV...I might use this image for next years Christmas card?
The bird and the moths are collagraph in carborundum and tile cement, the dark blue is a screen print.
Very much a work in progress, I need to redo the screen print to give it more punch.
I quite like the idea of a bonkers colour...like the pink underneath the intaglio.
Lots to play around with in the New Year.
I spent some time doing more drawing in preparation for plate making and trying out this
coloured background thing I have on my mind. Smaller scale than the crows.
I find this time of year tricky, after the festive break it is hard to get going again. For the past couple of years I have solved this stall by having half finished projects to safley slip back into. I hope this plan works again! Happy New Year everyone!!
This year our theme was Found Object Fairy. In the past we have done Scary Fairy, Furry Fairy, Foreign Fairy, Fat Fairy, Flat Fairy...I think I've made the point. This was my offering.
But as usual, I got the better end of the deal receiving this beautifully made, imaginative piece from Caroline, thankyou I am thrilled!! This tradition is now I believe 8 years old and I really feel Christmas is around the corner when I have managed to put together my fairy.
The festive season has effected my sketch book work and why not?
Thankyou to everyone who has been reading my ramblings and a Happy Christmas to you all,
here's to a creative 2010.
All these feelings come at once and is frustrating and exhilarating in equal measure.
There is an excellent exhibition of enamelling on at Cheltenham Museum and Art Gallery called Playing with Fire and is well worth a visit. 
In the mean time I will keep plugging away at the hit and miss experiments and thoroughly enjoying myself.
