My Mark Making

Cyanotypes - Alternative Photography - Mulberry Paper

The left one, is the reverse. This was in a clip-frame up against the window for about ten-days, baking in whatever sun came our way. The little finger is very faint as I was silly enough to disturb the glove! Not fully understanding the chemical processes, I opened the side ever so slightly to space that one finger. This was day one, but light and sun had done it's thing! Another lesson learned by mistake!

Using this paper becomes quite delicate when rinsing to rid the paper of chemicals.

Tap on the picture then zoom, you'll just make out the pinky!

Alternative Photography - Cyanotypes on Old Damask Cloth

These were in clip-frames held against the window. They took about ten-days to reach this stage - not that much sunshine ! The first two are Wet Cyanotypes, with a sprinkling of Turmeric. Maybe I'll add more next time? The bottom two, are a straight forward dry method. Tap each one to enlarge, then you'll be able to see the pattern in the cloth.

Trace Monotypes - Mid-Winter - Printed on Sumi-e paper

Spent a whole afternoon in the kitchen without being disturbed - marvellous!

Because I over-inked the plate, I had to resort to using pastel to lighten some areas and the odd corrections. Regardless of this, I had a most enjoyable time that was so therapeutic. My last post is more lightly inked without having to use pastels. I hope I've imparted a cold night with snow.

Sandgreen - Caravan Holiday Park , facing away from the sea.

Did so many drawings of this area, and thought of making this a linocut, but had second thoughts, wanting something quicker - or so I thought!

Free time and the kitchen to myself, to mess around with printing inks - what fun!

The next posts are an attempt at developing the above image.

Alternative Photography - Anthotypes

Even Scotland gets enough sunshine for this method! I think children would enjoy this method with a little help.

HALLOWEEN - created with ArtStudio 🦇

Out of the darkness they come, evil hearts entwined with malevolent deeds afoot.Together they stalk this night, searching for souls and hearts to steal 🦇

Cyanotypes - No5

Mulberry paper. The paper colour looks like a deep purple-brown. This smaller piece was fragil when taking it out of the water, resulting in some damage. I'll find some way to use it!

Cyanotypes - No4. Lunaria.

Mulberry paper.

Yellow-mulberry paper. This came out almost black !

Cyanotypes - No3

On thick-drawing paper with a frame of green-mulberry paper.

Cyanotypes. No 2

A green mulberry paper gives a much darker blue, almost bottle-green.

Cyanotypes - No 1

My first attempt at this fascinating process I did yesterday. I've decided to show them singularly so they can be liked or not. This will help me determine style,content and colour.

Craigie Knowes 1990 Size A3 Front aspect - pencil - 1990

This was a poor photocopy of a drawing -

long gone that I've just altered.

Long Ago...

Photocopier Drawing - A4 cropped from size A3. This was then re-worked with Oil Pastel with some scratching-out, also the use of a Mars Lumograph pencil-8B.

Trace Monotype ( the negative ) taken from off the plate.

A3 Hotpressed Paper

Clematis - yellow lanterns with tassled seedheads

The positive trace was a mess! Perhaps too much ink on the plate or the mulberry paper was unsuitable? I took a print from the plate and was quite pleased to have salvaged something! Thought of colouring the background with pastels, but then I quite like those white lines, so I'm happy with this. Still practicing!

Daffodils - Drypoint on Sumi-e paper - without a press.

Another attempt at this method of printing! Started in springtime and had to shelve this project until now. Placing 'Perspex' over my flower drawings for tracing-off the picture, then inked the plate with a dolly/dauber then wiping certain areas for highlights. Scribing this much detail, gave me RSA ! ( repedative strain injury ) me thinks, I'll not be doing these too often!

Ardwall Isle.

One of the Fleet Islands of the Carrick Bay - Galloway. Coloured pencil.

Not guilty for poor photography, our son took this which is a bit blurry! He asked me to draw this scene from a photo, which was many years ago. An area just up the coast from where we live. Quite a favourite area with all the family.

Torrs Farm - 1991

Location sketches from different angles.

Drawn in an A4 pad using a Rotring pen, colour added at home. Not shown these before.

Used to love sitting in this field, spending hours watching the wildlife and always with a sketch pad - happy memories.