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!
