virtual drawing group: unimpeded by weather, I work from life

Sunday, March 4, 2018

unimpeded by weather, I work from life

Valentina, oil on panel 30 x 40 cm

It was certainly cold and maybe even already snowing on Monday but I was keen to make mono prints in preparation for my Friday NEAC session. I decided I wasn't going to work backwards and found myself using whatever supplies I had (I had forgotten many) to make quick studies of Emily. I had to use the only paper I had, cartridge, and a metal spoon which, incidentally gets very hot when you rub with it…

Back in the studio I printed the ghosts using release agent, wiping it away to get some pure whites back where I had wiped previously. I also printed one that had been hanging around from the week before, with Esme. That seemed to work!

On Friday, even though we were advised not to travel, I went to London. The morning was spent at the British Museum and after seeing the Victorian photos, I went to the Mall where I made a few prints, following on from Monday. The print below is the best of the bunch and IMHO one of my best!

And on Saturday, I was back in London at Heatherley's for a brilliant painting workshop with Peter Clossick. This time I braved snow and bus replacements, travelling for 7 1/2 hours for the workshop! Still, totally worth it. The suggested technique was similar to the way I make a mono print to begin, putting on a neutral and then removing the light with a rag. I was very susprised how thinly I painted after that, considering I was taught by Peter. I had imagined working in thick paint… I think I never really got the structure aspect of the technique but I was enjoying what the paint was doing and was chasing the light. At the beginning I had decided to make two paintings. Peter stopped me with the top one (reclining nude) about an hour before the end of the session. I didn't resolve the head but it has triggered a chain reaction of ideas. Hopefully more soon!