For the past month or two I have been experimenting with different media to use for my latest project and develop a new style - but that’s a dirty word on the MA I am currently studying on so instead I will use 'visual language'. What’s nice is that it all happened by accident - or was it? One thing lead to another, a trip to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge to see Quentin Blakes new exhibition inspired me to buy Neo wax crayons and whilst in the art shop I bought some Sumi-e rice paper, as one does! I was staying with mother who had a lovely old scrubbed pine table, and whilst drawing on it, I noticed the wonderful grain of the wood coming through. As my project involved a forest I decided to use the grains of the wood for the bark of the trees. Weeks passed and back home in the New Forest, I bartered my old water tank for a load of huge logs from my neighbour - perfect for my project and our wood stove next year! Textured ceramics by Johnathan Garret (bears coat), leaves and sisal mats were all used to get texture with wax crayon rubbings. I experimented with loads of different papers too.. until I found the perfect combination and settled on a good Japanese rice paper, thin enough yet tough It's been a frustrating process but also hugely fun. In the past, I illustrated with pen, ink and watercolour and finding a new 'visual language' has felt liberating and tremendously satisfying. My tutor Pam encouraged me to keep going and experiment, make a mess, make mistakes (although she didn't say it as politely as that!) and let go. I did and here is a piece of art work finished late one night, whilst listening to Podcasts of Desert Island Discs with Terence Stamp, Dustin Hoffman, David Bailey and Bill Nighy not to mention Julie Burchill keeping me company. Bill had the best music taste and it has to be said.... a lovely voice!
