and testing a hairy cow

The first print of McNair

Testing my latest linocut - a Highland coo I've christened McNair. I've been experimenting with my new baren but to be honest I'm quite taken with the results (above) I got using a good old wooden spoon. With both of my fox linocuts now sold, hairy McNair will be making his debut over on Etsy very soon...

in pictures

 A combination of work, holidays and glorious sunshine have kept me away from blogworld recently. It's very easy to take where you live granted and I guess I'm guilty of forgetting I have this fabulous landscape on my doorstep. With the Highland cow lino block finished and ready to print, for the second time in recent weeks I headed for the cliffs and this time took my camera, partly in search of inspiration for my next linocut (I found lots).

 

inking foxes

I've been working late, late at night on my nocturnal padding fox, getting to grips with the process and experimenting with different papers.

The incredibly delicate Japanese Hosho paper wins hands down for crisp, clean prints (and ease of printing too) but I'm quite taken too with the mottled 'happy accident' effect of the watercolour paper. There will only be four Japanese paper fox prints in total - two are winging their way to a gallery in Inverness, two will be coming to my Etsy shop v soon... Just to see how it would look, I plan to hand tint the watercolour version. I'll post it here when I'm done.

Meanwhile, people never cease to amaze me; check out the picturesque wall spotted on my recent travels to the Scottish Borders... nothing mars picturesque quite like lethally lovely six inch shards of embedded glass glinting in the sun.

I guess there's not liking cats and there's really not liking cats, although there's always the hideous alternative that it's aimed at wayward kids rather than furry intruders. BIG pff (and I'm sure it can't be legal).

[Edit: apparently it is. Go figure.]

slow black fox

I should really be working on my next illustration commission but instead (feeling inspired by the linocuts of Ian Phillips and the fact it's so addictive) I'm sneaking in this linocut based on my quick brown fox just for the fun of it. 

I reversed my original fox sketch (so that he prints the right way round) and drew him out roughly on the lino block, then added highlights in white pastel pencil to help me see which areas need to be cut away and which stay (the bits that will be inked up).

For various reasons I'm quite taken with foxes these days - but not least is because the fox appears in numerous folk tales in countless cultures and is such an ambiguous character. I guess that's why I can't decide if this one is going to be paddy or prowly...

Anyway, I want to try printing a few in black ink only on Japanese hosho paper and some more on heavyweight watercolour paper which, depending on how the printing goes, I may or may not hand tint with colour washes... 

printing prints

It's totally rough, and not entirely sensitive to the method or the medium, but it's my first attempt and I have to say I'm hooked...

tooled up

Ooh, am all excited about my new linocutting equipment (it's very, very basic but it will get me started). I'd originally planned a foxy foray into the world of printmaking but, by happy coincidence, I've just received an illustration commission which is so totally suited to linocutting it isn't true. So while there's more riding on my first attempt (a deadline, client and fee for starters!), it also means I've no choice but to stop procrastinating and get stuck in.

And while it'll be too late for this commission, me and a friend are already planning to sign up for this linocutting course at the DCA in May. It's led by Babs Robertson - just looking at her work (below) is inspiring.

Babs Robertson // Linocut

size isn't everything

I'm trialing some new mini prints over at my Etsy shop - I think it's a cool way to collect favourite images, (especially as some of the larger limited edition prints can be quite pricey) and they'd look fabulous framed as a group for a kid's room. I've also found some amazing brown flecked recycled envelopes to go with them. I've got a real thing for all things handmade and recycled at the moment, and am obsessing about uncoated papers just now for some reason. Partly down to Etsy and partly because of my linocutting obsession I think - more to come on that shortly...

work should not be this much fun. part 2

I'm still having fun with the potato print Russian dolls for my next editorial illustration. They have become less spud-like and, although I'm adding finer details, I like the background textures the printing created (even if the smaller one looks a teensy bit like he's about to be deployed in desert warfare, only with added scarf and kite - not especially useful in a combat situation). Anyway, more to come; I've added another two dolls since this photo, but I want to run the concept past the editor first. Talking of which, the Spring issue of Juno is out and includes my tightrope illustration...

 

Meanwhile, if you factor in that the painting is occurring with this in the background, interspersed with a bit of this (and obviously accompanied by an evening glass of this), the fun just goes on and on.

*

*I just wanted to see if I could manage to upload a vid... and I did. Go me. Methinks I may have been a tad influenced by playing this...

work should not be this much fun. part I

As well as making a general mess, I am making potato prints of russian matryoshka dolls for my next illustration project. These are how they looked earlier today (um, you have to use your imagination a little bit), will post more soon. But... it is just too much fun, it's like being 5 again.

 I have also unlocked a secret and moved up a level in the art of curry making....

...and been getting a feel for foxes in preparation for my very first attempt at a linocut (everything has arrived and, incidentally, I thoroughly recommend GreatArt if you're looking for art supplies - super fast, totally efficient and phone person Diane is lovely).

Right, am off to sign an owl with an owl.

new direction [or back to my graphic roots]

I have been messing around with this pesky owl for the last few days now and I think, after a shaky start, me and him have finally reached a tentative understanding.

Right now he's a pen and ink illustration with a smidge of digital chucked in, but I reckon he'd be much, much happier as a linocut. Then again perhaps that's me projecting... I have been having a creative crisis of sorts lately. After much soul searching and angst (mostly involving the poignant midnight munching of mucho Mini Cheddars) I've come to the conclusion I'm in a rut and in dire need of a new and exciting way of working, and printmaking is something I've always had a hankering for. Unfortunately as time, responsibilites and funds don't allow for a 5-day workshop in the Italian hills darn it, I'm thinking some linocutting tools might be the very thing. Watch this space.

But this is by way of preamble, because my little feathered friend is about to become the subject of my fabulous, incredible, spectacular (and wise) 50+ followers owl giveaway, so watch this space x2.