Shalford Mill

A couple of days ago we were walking below Shalford Mill on the river banks, It was lovely, a picnic and a good friend with us; just about perfect with hardly any mud at all to contend with.

I have started another boat sculpture, this one is a fun one, and is an imaginary dingy which a young lady typist would have with her on holiday, that is if she found difficulty in leaving work behind. I have spent the last forty-eight hours or so making her typewriter out of paper; it is about an inch cubed in size and has been slightly challenging to construct. I did the typewriter first as I knew that it would be the most tricky part of the work to construct. It all sounds crazy and it is, but I was offered an exhibition in the new year a couple of days ago, with a particular request that I included a couple of my boat sculptures in it. So at least a fun one and a serious one must be exhibited.

So now I will undercoat (paint) the typewriter and then a terrible annual event will continue. Liz insists that the studio is spring cleaned at least once a year. Yesterday my desk was completely stripped naked, washed down and repainted. Today all my book shelves are being washed down. The studio being cleaned is one thing and that's ok, the hard bit is finding everything again. Everything is slightly out of place.

See you soon.

 

I was in Andy's cafe yesterday and got talking to a lady about drawing with ink. She told me about this tree, she was pleased when I told her that I knew about the tree which she was talking about. The tree in question is situated above the Silent Pool, near to Newlands Corner. So I am using it to illustrate a point.

Remember that it is all pure black line and that lighter strokes are produced by holding the pen lightly or at an angle to the paper; a little easier said than done, but with lots of practice it does work.The aim of this image is to show the dappled light moving across the picture, slightly problematic, as light areas in the image are produced by not placing any ink, or applying very controlled small amounts of ink there. Its all about very strictly controlled contrast in a disciplined manner, One way of keeping control over this contrast is to always work with light strokes and building contrast up slowly, with much crosshatching and plenty of constant thinking thrown in.

It all takes time and lots of practice, but when you can make it work, it is such fun; slightly challenging as well. It all keeps the mind working and keeping us young at heart. Incidentally with regards to the aging process, I live in a constant state of happy denial.

See you all soon Duncan

What a fortnight it has been, a wedding, a conference and a few days r and r, spent painting, with lots of adventures thrown in. A ten thousand word essay would not do the events justice, so I shan't bother to try. The few days r and r, were taken at Dungeness; we stayed in a super b and b, right on the shingle shores edge, the weather was perfect.With Liz's blessing most of each day was spent sitting on the shingle amongst the old decaying fishing boats, mainly doing watercolours paintings; but tonight I am showing you an ink drawing, which I love. Do you know; I actually relaxed!

I am aware that people like coloured work, to me that is fine and I can produce that work. But where my heart is, and my main thrust as an artist must remain, is lying in my hands with the pen and ink. Somehow this medium is so expressive, I can say how I feel, when holding a pen. It is me. So I will do other things and work in other mediums, but please allow me to return often to my pen.