Drypoint Etching

Yesterday I learnt something new and exciting – drypoint etching. I’ve always loved etchings but have been put off by the acids and materials used, but with drypoint there are no chemicals – just oil based inks and an acrylic plate. I must admit to being exhausted on Saturday morning after a busy week away, and a coffee or two was required to get me going. I picked up a fellow artist and set off on a 60 mile trek south to spend the day in a lovely converted church. The workshop was run by talented artist Louise Worthy who gave us a step by step demonstration, delicious lemon drizzle cake and lots of encouragement. We composed a little picture in pencil first then transferred it to our acylic plate with a 6 inch nail and sandpaper. Whilst the printing paper soaked in water, we squidged ink onto the plate, rubbed it in and then rubbed it off until it was ready for the final stage in the printing press. Each time the printing blankets rolled back and the prints were pulled from the acrylic plates there was an audible “ooh” , “arrh” , and squeal of excitement/surprise as another delightful little masterpiece emerged! I took inspiration from one of Louise’s photography magazines and did two plates – a farmhouse and a boat. It was quite hard work scratching into the acylic and controlling the 6 inch nail. Unlike linoprinting, which is like working in negative, the etched marks hold the ink and print a dark line. I soon worked out that to get a successful print required a balanced composition and good notan, with areas of dark and light. Achieving this however is another matter – it is very easy to over scratch or leave on too much ink, or over-rub and take off too much! Great fun and I could easily get hooked (if I could afford a printing press!)

ooh, arrh!

lots of little masterpieces

Little boat - 1 of 4

Little house - 1 of 4

58 Degrees North

The weird and wonderful clouds are as much a feature as the stunning landscape here, at 58 degrees north. You can experience all four seasons in one day, the light is constantly changing and with it the colour of the landscape and the sky. At 4pm one afternoon this week I had to inform Titus that the afternoon walk was going to be called off as we watched the heavy black clouds and listened to the rain lashing against the windows. At 4.15pm Titus reversed the decision and informed me that it was definitely still on whatever the weather. I got dressed up in waterproofs and headed for the beach. He was right, by the time we reached the shore it was a glorious summer’s evening of blue sky and white fluffy clouds and I was ridiculously overdressed!

summer's evening on the beach

weird and wonderful clouds

ever changing light

ever changing skies

the need for walkies never changes!

Urges

After a period of inconsolable sickness, my laptop is well again. It was this time last year that I started my “diary without words”, a record of my (almost) daily pochades. The arrival of Titus brought an abrupt halt to progress, but the sale of 3 this week has reignited an urge to start again. The commission I was working on has been completed, posted and appreciated but, before I could get going on the next one, or dig out my pochade box, I had to suppress the urge to paint in order to focus on a build-up of paperwork and a heap of forward planning. That done, I am now so organised and planned-out that I have reached a state of complete inertia today, so Titus is in luck until the urge returns.

Number 47
after puppy training & before everything stopped in October
SOLD

Number 42
just before puppy collection in September
SOLD

Number 35
one of my favourites - "hello sunshine"
SOLD

Number 38
a blissful afternoon at Lamigo Bay in August
SOLD

Number 14
camping trip to Skye in July
SOLD

Number 10
trying out my new brushes in July
SOLD