More cicada wings

After the print exchange with the UK, we next are going to make a
handmade book to put our prints in.

The theme continues, but can be different. I still did wings but have
made them more mixed media.

By collaging wings onto gelatine plate printing backgrounds, then
adding silver, gold or copper leaf, they are more individual and
abstract concepts.

Print Exchange - from Australia to the UK.

I did finish a project this year, being included in a print exchange overseas.

'Summer's song' shows a silver leaf cicada wing as a museum-inspired display
tag. It has a suitably aged piece of twine attached, and has been made more rustic
by the addition of tea wash.

 The wing is enclosed in a perspex window. 

 It shimmers with the addition of silver leaf.  

 The combination of text and art.

My poem

Summer's song

Cicadoidea. 

Season's minstrels,

sing an exceptionally 

strident song.

Membranous
cellaphanous wings 

shimmer, 

and unfold.

Freedom, 

after emergence, 

 from slumber 

deeply entombed.

The printmaking company I keep. Helen's wonderful coastal scene incorporating 

real seaweed printing. Lorraine's owl portrait. 

Gelli Plate workshop

I ran a class of 12 for a Gelli Plate workshop with stencils.

Half the group were printmaking or art buddies, the other
half crafters.

It was held in the Catchy Crafts store in my town of Hornsby.

 I started to set up at the head of the table, got there nice and early.

 Today, making cards with Gelli prints.

Cartooning and caricatures

Over the years I have had to put drawing skills to work as commissions,
 of caricatures, and sometimes cartoons.

This work sometimes is a gift, or can be put on all sorts of surfaces, including
cakes, Tshirts etc.

Figurative work

I spent many years doing Life Drawing, and used many
mediums.

Here is a selection.

 Ink and wash.

 Ink by brush sketch on pastel background. 

 Pastel and charcoal pencil.

 Pastel and charcoal pencil.

Pastel and charcoal pencil.

Pastels at Thom's

Thom, a good friend and fellow artist, and I did some nice
pastel art together.

One is of a Wiseman's Ferry scene, referenced from his photos.

The other is a Firework Grevillea. It is more design, or decorative
art.

More Gelli

Here is the second lot of  Gelli print journals I have been covering.

Some are ruled for writing, some plain for drawing, or even are art
paper inside.

I purchase carefully, raw card is best, some softer covers become
more substantial when covered and glued.

If they have coloured inside cover pages that is nicer. I try to avoid
plastic product covers because then I have to use super glue, or
contact cement. Too messy.

I did however, want to include my illo on one. That did require the
tougher bond. I'm playing with all sorts of combos of colour and
texture.

 I have since drawn in detail on the epear, it looks much better. Pic to come.

 This has a little wooden detail. Just experimenting.

This is a new book, pear detail with feather, and the drawn in pear detail.

 Silver, real feather prints. This art paper book is winging it's way 

to Darwin, a gift for a friend's birthday. 

 The back of the book is important too, I try to wrap around the print. I have my 

artist's signature here, and relevant details about the paper.

Silver, and black and red together are nice.

The first book, and now my illo from the 70s? on one.

Back of books detail, description of construction, and email contact. 

Gelli printing and pears

I think I may become the 'Andy Warhol' of pear art.

This colourful and repetitious sequence is quite psychedelic baby!

Gelatine plate printing, with combing, texture added and penwork.
No two exactly the same.

 First create printed papers. 

 Then stencil a metallic gold pear shape. 

 Finally, black penwork is hand drawn in.

Melbourne Art

There is so much to see and do on a colourful, creative theme
in Melbourne.

These shots are with my girl Sam.