Hedgerow gold

A reduction linocut

'Hedgerow gold' is a reduction linocut inspired by bright crab apples in a dark hedgerow; sometimes I spot a blackbird amongst the branches...

And here are some of the sketches and prep for the print. The idea was swimming around in my head for quite a while...

A charm of goldfinches original print

Here's another drypoint with chine colle, a charm of goldfinches (a couple of versions). We seem to have lots here at the moment! Hope your Christmas break (if you've had one!) has been all you wished for, and that 2016 brings health, happiness, and lots of art!

Spring arrival at Wicken Fen

My latest print, a reduction linocut: Spring arrival at Wicken Fen. The swallows are starting to arrive, spring is here and summer can't be far away!

Reduction linocut on Zerkall 210gsm paper using Caligo Safewash inks.

Long-tailed tit drypoint print

Here's a recent little drypoint print, based on a post-mortem study I made last year of a sadly deceased long-tailed tit. I really like it, though I'm not sure how well 'dead bird art' goes down in general! What do you think?

 Printed area is approximately 6 by 5 inches.

My latest linocut - lapwings

Here's what I've been up to over the past couple of weeks - a three-colour reduction linocut.

If anyone can come up with a better title than 'Lapwings', please do let me know!

Little owl drypoint

Here's another print for my 'Bird list' project, inspired by the birdlife I see/hear around the house and garden.

This is a Little Owl (Athene noctua). I sometimes see these guys flying about at dusk, but more often hear them - they can be quite noisy!

Drypoint sparrow with watercolour

I've been experimenting with adding some watercolour to a few of the house sparrow drypoint prints...

Drypoint sparrow

More inky fun - another drypoint, inspired by the birds I see and hear around the house and garden. Here's a cheeky house sparrow.

Printed area is approx. 6 by 8". This one was printed from an acrylic plate, which is more robust than the acetate sheets I've been using up to now. Again, it's the wiping and leaving of ink on the plate for tone that really makes the image for me, and I love the fresh sketchy feel you can get with the actual etching.

Goldcrest drypoint and chine colle

I've been playing with the baby etching press some more...

I printed an edition of six; because the plate is inked and wiped for each print, they are all slightly different (plus I was playing around with varying the amount of ink I left on the plate). The chine colle is the gold crest of the little bird. Printed area is approx. 5 by 8".

This was the first print, nice crisp lines.

This was the last of six. The lines aren't so dark and crisp after six inkings, wipings and journeys through the press. You can see as well the difference you can make in how much ink you wipe, and how much you can vary the tone.

I was fairly pleased with the way these turned out, but it's not easy to judge just how much ink to wipe off! I guess it comes with experience, so I'll keep on keeping on with these!

I'm planning a series of prints, using various techniques, based on the birds I see and hear from the house/garden here in Cambridgeshire. Calling it the 'Bird List' project, not very inspired I know! (Let me know if you think of a better name...) Should keep me going for a while...