Once I have printed a number of ‘proofs’ or the whole edition with extras as ‘proofs’, I can then set about experimenting with handcolouring techniques and colours until I decide on the final result I want to achieve. Often I … Continue reading Handcolouring testing – ‘Regeneration’ – Waratahs Linocut Part 1
This is the completed handcoloured linocut – ‘Regeneration’ – Waratahs – linocut. I have called it “Regeneration”. After the destruction that occurs in bushfires the waratah ‘regenerates’ from a ‘lignotuber’ which is a type of starchy or woody swelling found … Continue reading Handcolouring testing – ‘Regeneration’ – Waratahs Linocut Part 2
Having finally carved, printed and now coloured this linocut (after working on the original drawing over a year ago and the pre-sketch ideas over 2 years) I finally have finished! I had hand painted the emu above as you can see but it felt a bit empty so added a graded wash of ‘Australian Red Gold’ which I am quite pleased with. I must say this one of my favourite watercolour pigments as it just seems to have a glow about it. I think the background colour can make a huge difference to any work and often it may take … Continue reading What a difference a background colour can make – Emu Linocut
For my work I chose to print my linoblocks with one colour – usually black and then hand-colour. The main reason I have made this choice is that for my chosen subject matter, I want to be able by hand-colouring my designs to use graded and blended colours – essentially to use watercolours or occasionally guache not simply as flat colour but in a more painterly fashion. For me is suits the style I have developed and how I want to portray Australian flora and fauna. I use the linocut in black to create a more dramatic structure within to … Continue reading Handcolouring Linocuts – Tawny Expressions – first hand coloured drafts
After completing the linocut then the framing decision had to be made. This is always a tricky and very subjective issue. People can get very ‘iffy’ about what frames are used and what one person likes another doesn’t. I must … Continue reading Framing Decisions – what a difference a frame makes…
I am very fortunate to have two studio spaces I can work in. I didn’t always have the luxury of these two studio spaces to work, but as the family has been slowly been getting smaller I have been able to spread out a bit. Even the outside shed for printing is relatively recent – previously I took over a section of the garage with my print table and press. This was very difficult trying to keep clean – one of the aspects of getting spot free printing is to have clean surfaces and surroundings so dirt and dust is … Continue reading Studio Spaces – Print Studio and Working Studio
Systems can be very useful – not the kind of obsessive ones but just relevant and ordered so you can at least find what you are looking for – well mostly…. Every so often I re-order my studios – I … Continue reading Developing Systems to keep things filed and ordered
I take all my own source photos for my work but there is the question – how do I get this to work so they are quickly and easily accessible? My solution is to use photo boxes. I make cardboard … Continue reading Filing … Paper and Digital Photo Database
As many of you know it is extremely difficult to survive on just income from being an artist. Essentially when people have spare money they will buy work and when money becomes a little more difficult to come by pictures for walls become a luxury. So I have tried to ‘value add’ to me work a little. I have done this largely to this point with quality commercially print wildflower card designs. They allow people the luxury for a small amount of money to have an image of your work – in fact many people who cannot afford the artwork … Continue reading Design work – value adding with commercial projects
Wildflowerings Linocut & Art Tutorials 