Reflections on white

I’ve been reflecting on the significance of my focus on white yesterday. White has so many meanings – there is of course the religious or spiritual meaning, the pure, clean and simple meaning, and for the artist the meaning of blank or empty as in the empty blank white sheet of paper or canvas that confronts us –

I love a clean new white sketchbook but it can also create a sense of panic too! Where to start, what to do, suppose I make the wrong mark – and so it goes on until a creative block stifles any further work! I have been wanting to get back to some drawing and have been avoiding it – it is much easier for me to take photographs but I look and see differently when I draw……

so today I found a simple white sketchbook that I’d made a few months ago – just 8 folded pages bound with a simple bookbinding technique – these are quick and easy to make – I have resolved to fill it this week with working drawings of trees  from the printmaking class

The drawings are not finished – I will continue working into these first two. On my walk to day I left my camera behind and took a small notebook with me – I did a few tree rubbings and may use these in my drawing tomorrow. I’d love to hear any thoughts on creative blocks, blank white pages and drawing!

I hope you are all having a creative week!

A new medium

My printmaking class started a couple of weeks ago and I have been learning etching. These are some of my first attempts based on some drawings of trees in Australia.............. and a dream!

First print was on cream heavyweight paper of a good quality - subsequent prints were made on proofing paper
I experimented with hard and soft grounds
The final print after 4 different grounds and now ready to add aquatint! Watch for the next post!

A long walk home

In this part of the world we have 100 inches of rain a year so when we have bright sunny days like today it is best to take advantage of it! I feel very privileged to be able to do this – I neglected the sorting, unpacking and general admin of moving into a new home  to start exploring my locality! I took a local bus to Tavistock my nearest town and then walked home……….

7 miles  (11 kms)

I started here in the park where lots of families were enjoying the sunshine  and catkins and spring blossom were showing their splendor

I felt buoyant and full of the joys of spring!! 

Once out of town I arrived on Roborough Downs

these ponies roam wild in this area and on nearby Dartmoor – I love the stocky ones with short stubby legs, gentle eyes and shaggy manes!

and the elegant white ponies (maybe this is a unicorn!)

 

there were some perfect stones where I could sit and eat my cheese and pickle sandwiches!

A day of long shadows

 

Maybe a lunch time stopping place next time!

Or maybe here……………………….!

or at the aptly named ‘Double Waters’ where the Rivers Tavy and Walkham meet……………….

Across the old bridge…………….

And up another Devon county lane …..

I’m still fixated by trees! This time an English one!

And guess what else?

I fear I am repeating myself!

A perfect final resting point just 20minutes from home!

3 and a half hours and I was home to a well earned glass of wine and hot bath!

See you on my next ramble!

From Alice Springs to the Western MacDonald range and gorges

I continue to be fascinated with the trees and rocks in Australia and they just seem to get more magnificent  each place I visit – on the advice of my Melbourne friend Kate I took this trip out to the Western MacDonald ranges and here are some of the images I took – i have had no time to edit the photographs in anyway so they are straight from the camera. This is where I was heading

the first stop was at Simpson’s gap – a waterhole several kilometres out of Alice Springs then on to Stanley Chasm

Yes the sky is really this blue!

Tree bark- the river gum tree

The ochre pits below are a sacred Aboriginal site where they obtain the red, yellow and white pigments for skin decoration – the pigments are mixed with fat to intensify the colour.

I love the way the pure white bark of this tree protrudes from the red rock face

Heavy rains a few weeks ago have caused the waterholes to be unusually full and rivers to flow – a rare event in this part of the world! This is Glen Helen Gorge below.

And finally some tree images of course!

Can you believe the bark on this tree – I thought it looked clothed!

Tree art at St Andrews

This is what I’ve been up to over the last few days – as I said before I have been rather obsessed by the trees and as you can see I wasn’t joking!!!

I used gum from nearby pine trees to fix the red leaves in place

I love the drawing quality of the Spotted Eucolyptus tree bark

it was fun working in the Australian bush and I feel I understand more about the country – especially the insect life!! The mosquitos round here seem to think an English woman is a good reason to have a banquet!!!! I itch alot!

Australian trees

I have been rather obsessed by the trees over here and these are just a few of the MANY photographs I have taken

 

  

the last photo of a Scribbley Gum tree is a taster of what is to come ………soon!