Some Moles

I like moles. They are yet another addition to my list of the much maligned creatures, who I feel are unjustly disliked for some bizarre reason or another. Eels, snakes, insects, frogs, nightjars are not high on natures beauty parade, are they?

My great delight in moles though is their subversive, subterranean activities which signal a bold two finger gesture to those nice green lawns and the dreadful golf courses. Go moles!

I was prompted to make this print after seeing a poor little dead mole by the roadside. I cant quite remember why I didn’t pick it up but I think it had something to do with not having anything to put it in, except my very small shoulder bag. I am such a lightweight. I should have just walked on with the mole draped over my shoulder or dangling from my belt. I may have also hesitated because I know that mole fleas are BIG. Still it’s no excuse for being so faint hearted.

Anyway mole sketches and a small print have followed, to get me back into printmaking and the blogs too.

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Sketchbook pages A5

 

First proofs of pale grey and darker grey plates

First reasonable print.. my registration is getting better…2 colour lino 4 x 6

More mole stuff to come …

Spring Blossom

In my garden the wild cherries are blossoming at last. The wild cherry is my tree following tree for this year. They were chopped back severely in the winter but still they are covered in the tiny pretty white flowers. The bees love them which is one of the few good reasons to have this tree is your garden.

As part of the tree following project I am intending to make a small print based on a twig of the cherry each month, to reflect the changes of the seasons. I have images for Jan and Feb when nothing much happened although in Feb there was snow. In early March the buds started to swell, followed  last week by the white blossom. Already some of the petals are falling in these strong March winds. So March will be the buds and April will be blossom and bees.

Eventually I hope to bind them in into a small book so the printing has had to be carefully worked out with a registration plate and each of the printing plates cut approximately to size. The project is really a vehicle to try out different print techniques on a small scale.

These are a few of Jan Feb and March trials… nothing quite working well enough yes but good practice.

The white flowers are giving me a problem because I need to use the white paper for the white. White ink is not very satisfactory unless really opaque. It might work better if slightly tinted. But I am using quite thin translucent layers so am persevering with the cut away shapes ( very fiddly and patience trying).
Some first proofs with various colour trials

 

Printmaking is pure alchemy, every combination throws up new possibilities. Frustrating and rewarding in equal measure. This year is all about experimentation in print, bookmaking and in developing ideas for the coursework.

It is all equally frustrating and fascinating!

The Pretty Partridge

Spring seems to be at last waking things up and I am continuing with my printmaking experiments for our Gidding Wood project and focusing on wildlife that makes “music” of one sort or another.
However  I don’t think the partridge’s rusty clucking is very much like music.. except to other partridges of course. You can hear it on the RSPB site here.

So this is one of my planned bird portraits. I chose the Red Legged Partridge because it is so pretty :). I saw one, a few years ago now, at Heligan. It was nesting in a hedge by the office.
So far I have a few notes and quick sketches and have cut one block. It’s small, about 4.5 inches square. 

More progress this week I hope. 

Long tailed tits [Aegithalos caudatus]

Theses lovely little birds are usually heard before being seen as they roam along the hedgerows in small groups, zig- zagging along and calling to each other with a  high pitched twittering.  They aren't common here but as I write this  I can see one  on our peanut feeder in the garden [wonder where the others are] and walking  through the Jubilee wood last week  a small flock joined Poppy and me as we enjoyed the Spring sunshine.

Graphite and coloured pencil sketch

 

I have heard them described as a ball on a stick which just doesn't do justice to these wonderful creatures, but with their long tail [the longest of any British bird in proportion to its body] and their habit of puffing themselves up when its cold,  I  can see why!

 

Hazel [Corylus]catkins in the late winter sunshine Jubilee Wood, Great Gidding

 

Golden male catkins are quite fascinating structures  made up of many small flowers whilst the  female flower is very small and has red styles which  you can find close to the buds at the top of the male catkins.  I've read that the name could come from the Dutch for kitten because they look like kitten's tails - not sure if that's true but  really like the idea!