Just a quickie from the studio

I wanted to fire a picture up here from the goings-on in the studio today. I'm busy busy crushing out this woodblock print for my HGS exchange. Had a little set back with a paper order gone bad, but found a different source for Japanese washi paper and I'm now in business. I've so far completed 80 of the 100 prints I'm making for the edition... they are layering up all over my work table to create a lattice of printed goodness! Here's a little peek...

Melbourne Week Three

I was walking about Melbourne's laneways which are filled with smart little cafes when I happened upon an art shop. I decided to take Laine's advise. When you're frustrated with what you are working on, put it aside for the moment and do something else. I got a sketcher set and sat down to spend a sunny afternoon people watching and, well, sketching.

I love drawing glass. What a challenge!
















I spent my Sunday at the National Gallery of Victoria with some really great paintings. I love walking through galleries that are not what the critics would call 'world class'. You still get the collections but the paintings from the masters are usually studies or not fully formed ideas - not quite yet the polished hero that they would become known for. It adds to their biography in a really lovely way for me.



Madeline Green - detail - Glasgow













Nicolas De Stael - Nature Morte

Progress in the Kitchen

I just wanted to pop up a little update on some progress being made on a couple of the soft-ground etchings I'm working on... oh yah, and a little snap from the studio where I'm working out of.

Both have now been taken from sketchbook to metal etching, and are both currently unfinished works, but with a few more steps they should come together. I've used soft ground for the overall image, aquaforte for firming up the line work, aquatint to fill in subtle variants in shade, and will hopefully bring a touch of spit bite into the mix for a few select areas of atmosphere. Lots of process involved!!! That said, even before finishing these I'm already pushing on to others to keep the energy rolling along.

I find that working on lots of different projects at the same time really helps to keep old ones alive. As soon as I get sick of working on something then I can easily switch over and have something fresh to follow. Just like a fine wine, every work in progress needs time to breathe!

Japanese Print Exchange 2010

So for many of you who know me, you'll probably remember that every year I exchange an edition of about 100 prints with a woodcut group that I'm associated with in Japan. This group has some really incredible artists and craftsmen and I'm always humbled to take part in the annual exchange. I thought I'd post a little sneak peek at what I'll be sending off this year. Of course this is not the final print as it's still going through stages of setting perfect registration as well as getting just the right colours. That said, it's a pretty good proof of the final.

Melbourne Week Two

I am toiling away quite slowly. I think I am having such a hard time finding my footing with the palette because I am not terribly focused on the work at this point. This is the first time I have tried to paint while travelling and I am not sure it is as easy as just packing your set and jetting off. I'm starting to see some form come out but I am still unsatisfied with the colour. I'm working with a new set of paints and am not used to these new pigments. Albeit a frustrating thing - I feel as though it is a good challenge because it is forcing me not to rely on templates I've already made in my mind, forcing me to work harder. When I look at this image right now all I can see are how chapped his lips are - but fear not - I just did not get to finish them before I left today!

Meanwhile, I have been afforded a weekend out of the city! These shots are from Portsea and Philips Island respectively.

Makin' Salad

Here's another drawing from the current series I'm working on. Admittedly things have been a little slow going to make prints from them as I've shifted attention to do some woodcut work the past week and a half.  

Melbourne Week One

Landed and finally settled in Melbourne. After a week of jet lag and working straight since I got off the flight, I have found that opening the paint set was constantly pushed to the back. I have touched brush to paper finally! Starting a new painting is really tough. Self doubt pops out and you question almost every second whether or not you can do this. One challenge that I am facing right now has to do with colour. My last portrait was in black and white, which meant I really only thought about form and shade. Going back to colour has confused me and I have to take small, considerate steps to get a palette sorted out. This is where I am now -



Anytime we travel, we are consumed by our new environ - of course. I thought it may be neat to add some photographs of the things I am seeing while here, which have peaked my curiosity and as well are surely influencing me.

The Baker

Continuing along with some more drawings for this print series I'm working on,...