Repetition/Beardie Men with Wooly Jumpers

Hello,
 

I finally got around to finishing up this month's (cough, last month's) art work for Art Club which was, 'Repetition'. 

 

I was back in Scotland in July last year and came across a curious little book all about traditional knitting patterns, see here.  In the book were some pretty groovy looking guys that were modelling the jumpers. I loved their cool haircuts and the facial hair combos, as well as the beautiful patterns of the jumpers.  I took some photos of the book during my visit for use at a later date, and ta-dah, I found a use!

I started this project way before Christmas by doing some ink drawings using brushes, and being quite free.  I loved the marks made with the ink and the quality of the line.  After playing around with a few different faces, I settled on this fella to make into a lino print.  I originally began drawing his face onto the lino via the tracing paper method (in reverse etc), but soon realised that the lovely quality of the ink was lost.  I then had a brainwave - why didn't I just draw with ink directly onto the lino surface!  I wasn't sure if it would dry and not smudge, but it worked beautifully.  It was such an obvious technique that I was annoyed for not having thought of this much, much sooner!  I think I have found something that will really work for me.  I love both drawing and printmaking, but so often feel that the 'stiffness' of lino can work at odds with the drawings.  If I were really clever, I could carve into the lino without drawing any lines on there directly, but I am simply not brave enough and I also know that I distracted very easily!  Alas, I found something exciting!  I also like the idea of taking blocks of lino out and about on drawing excursions then carving back at home.

 

'Repetition' can describe the repetition of the patterns on the jumpers, or the very repetitive act of lino carving and printing.

I am pretty happy with this chap and plan to do some more lino cuts based on other ink drawings that I made.  I like the idea of having a series of these beardie men in cool jumpers!

 I hope you like it!

 

Printing...

 

Lino detail...

 

I made a few drawings using black ink....

The original ink drawing of the one I took into lino...

 

Original source photographs from the book (with Gracie hovering around)...

Porcelain Playing

Over the last few weeks I have been playing around with some porcelain clay for fun.  I even tried using the wheel for the very first time, which was a bit scary but also quite good fun.  It's so difficult!  I watched a few Youtube clips and had a go.  There were quite a few disasters, but I made two pieces which I kept - the yellow plate (this was in regular clay) and the small white porcelain bowl.  As you can see from the photographs, I like yellow....I like yellow a lot!

For most of the porcelain (everything except the decorations) I glazed with a clear glaze.  I am planning to give these out as little Christmas gifts this year, but I might also keep one or two things for me.

These are my Christmas decorations this year!  I decided to stick to only hearts.  This year I invested in a few new doilies for rolling and pressing into the surfaces....

All strung up and ready to be hung....

I also had a go at making some spoons in the porcelain.  They are very wonky but I have realised that I rather like spoons lately.  I am always drawn to spoons and markets and in shops.  Don't know why, but I just like them.  

This is one of the smaller dishes that I made.  They are most definitely not perfect, but kind of cute in my opinion....

This is my first attempt on the wheel.  It has a VERY heavy base, but I am thinking I could use it for dips/olives/salt or something pretty.

You can see all the different doily patterns here....

Here are some making shots....

For the bowls, I slumped them onto metal cooking dishes when air drying...

I also stamped in my surname onto the bottom of some, with a stamp kit...I kind of like this!

Bow Ties...For My Dog!

A few months ago I made Gracie, our beagle a little bow-tie, following the instructions here.  After looking to buy one, I decided that I could and should probably have a go at making one myself.  The first one I made is pictured here - the pink and red polka dots.  

Gracie looked so cute with a bow-tie that I decided to make her a special Christmas, tartan bow-tie.  There are a few other dogs in the family so I am making a few extra for those lucky pups as well!  I just started making these today, so watch this space for the finished results.

The black and white fabric will perhaps be her New Year's Eve bow-tie?!

Partridge Christmas Cards

Here are some photos of my 2013 Christmas cards!  They are based on the 12 Days of Christmas song, and the line 'A partridge in a pear tree!' A few years ago, I decided that I should always make our Christmas cards and this is this year's design.  I am rather happy with them!

I printed onto a creamy-oatmeal paper with a forrest green ink.  The lino cutting took about 4 hours and the printing took about another 4 or 5 hours, which made around 50 cards.  Each card measures 15 x 15cm when folded and 15 x 30cm when flat.  I packaged each card in a nice brown envelope, which I found from a seller in Glen Waverley, Melbourne for a bargain!

These little cards are currently flying all over the globe to friends and family, and some are still to be written.  

The lino....in reverse from the final print of course!

I like the envelopes, am so happy I found them! 

Christmas Fabric Wreath

Now that I am on holidays I have had some time to make some crafty projects for Christmas.  I like making stuff (as you may know) and Christmas is a perfect excuse in my opinion.  

I found instructions for my fabric wreath here, and I found the fabric at Lincraft.  I opted for funky, non-traditional Christmas colours.  I also decided to use chicken wire that we had lying in our shed, purely because I didn't have a metal coat hanger, however, after completion, I think the 3 dimensional shape of the chicken wire gives the wreath a 'fuller' look in the end.

The wreath certainly brightens up our rather ugly fly screen on our front door.  It looks quite funny I think - like a shaggy, colourful dog....or something!

Pre-cutting and knotting.  I bought half a meter in each fabric and ripped them into roughly 3cm wide strips, of about 20 length.  It doesn't need to be accurate - just go with whatever shape and size your fabric is.  

POCKET MURDERER - ART CLUB SUMBISSION

Hi everyone.  As you know, this month's Art Club theme was 'Device Vice'.  I have to be honest - I struggled to think of what to do this month.  Somehow I got onto the idea of Axe Murderers - the device being an 'axe' and the vice being 'murder'.  A long shot I know, however, this idea lead me to find out about Henry Lee Moore who was an American serial killer in the early 20th century.  He was rather viscious with an axe, and killed his very own mother and grandmother, along with an entire family.  You can read more about him here.  Out of all of the axe murderers that I could find online, Henry Lee Moore had the most interesting face and hair!  This recent interest in axe murders combined with another recent urge to try painting a 'pocket friend' on stones lead me to making a pocket murderer.  My submission this month is a very miniature artwork.....hope you like!

Pocket Friends

Last night I had a go at making some of these Pocket Friends! I think they are very cute and will make a nice little gift for friends. 

I saw the idea on Etsy and couldn't resist having a go myself!   Ill spray them with clear varnish to seal the paint.

Working on a small scale like this isn't usually my preference, however, I really enjoyed it.