Recent Fridays in the studio have been wonderful collage inspired days, raiding my colleague’s fabric box to explore a selection of linens, cottons and silks. These three material based mixed-media collages developed over the past few weeks and were finally mounted onto 300g paper yesterday. All are approximately A2 in size un-framed.
A few quick sketches that committed some ideas to paper have recently been influencing the layout and development of three new paper cut-out collages.
Beyond the frame: a developing series of experimental collages expanding around Polaroid instant film images. Drawing upon a diverse range instant photographic materials, including Polachrome/Polapan slide, SX70 and type100 film bases, these mixed-media works seek to expand a view beyond the confines/borders of original instant photographs.
Recent sunshine has aided the development of some new image making using cyanotype treated cotton fabric with its rich deep ultramarine hues. The photograms collectively connect with a sense of loss, of passing and quiet melancholy that can be glimpsed lying just under the surface of contemporary experience. This is not so much about sorrowful songs but more the realisation of the existence of a new reality: the ‘new normal’. Ideas and images develop against the backdrop of a contemplative blues tinted landscape.
cyanotype #fabric #blue #lensless #photography #photogram #sunprint #dadartistsathome #covid19artistsathome #eastcliffcreatives
Developing some ideas on paper following an inspiring frottage and monoprint workshop led by Amanda Thesiger for Dover Arts Development as part of the Doverprintfest 2020. Old carved woodcut blocks under newsprint provide texture to rub with conte pastel.
There is a tangible sense of achievement once a sketchbook project is concluded, a process has taken place from start to finish; from cover to cover. In reality however, it is never really completed, as there will always be ‘that’ little detail or textual element to enhance or embellish.
‘La Montagne’ is my most recent sketchbook, exploring geometric mountain-like forms, collaged onto a pre-defined booklet supplied by The Sketchbook Project in Brooklyn NY. With paper cut-outs assembled and mounted into position, my sketchbook was registered onto the project website to obtain its unique searchable barcode, before being placed in the post to commence its transatlantic voyage to the real-life library in New York.
This is quite an emotional feeling, a parting in as much as I will never see the sketchbook in its physical form again – or be able to add anything further to the ideas / collages mounted within. It will now reside on a different continent, catalogued and viewable within the offline library there, before being scanned into the projects’ online library and finally viewable worldwide across the web. Although never to return home to its studio of origin, I will see updates from time to time about its interactions and the places it visits, so we will never really lose touch.
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