Linocut

I have been getting rather frustrated that drawing takes so long! Silly I know but I also wanted to be able to reproduce successful drawings in bulk.
So I started looking into printing techniques. A lot of them I am very familiar from doing art and design since college. The problem is, which is the least messy and doesn't involved a big ol' silk screen!
Linocut!!!! Brilliant. So I went ahead and ordered a small kit produced by Abig on Amazon.

In the meantime, I was at an event in Saint Albans and there was a guy with a pushbike and table set up promoting linocutting! What are the chances eh?! He is part of a pop up workshop called The Culture Cart
I had a little chat with him and chose one of his pre cut templates, a pair of scissors, inked up and produced a wonderful print.
Chatting to him allowed me to have a refresher and some tips on linocutting.
He suggested I have a go with softcut..... I went away chuffed to bits and on a mission to get some of this softcut.

I found softcut on various website and decided to go along with Jacksons Art Supplies, as recommended by The Culture Cart guy.

The kit from Amazon arrived and I have done some experimenting today.........
I looked up how to cut the lino as I know it can be dangerous business if not done carefully. One tip which was helpful was to warm up the lino before cutting, so I had a lamp handy and left it close to the lino. It did work and helped a lot. This was great information provided by Happydragonpress.co.uk, thank you!

I am super happy with the results and looking forwards to the softcut to arrive as I think it will be even easier to work with.

Card for Colin

My partner Dan asked me to draw a card for his Dad, Colin, to celebrate his birthday.
I went epic and did a large square card!
The work of art took me a week to do, I drew little bits each day which meant I could reflect on what I did, it is easy to to get engrossed and a clouded mind when focused on work, having a look feeling tired and thinking it isn't that great.... You come back to it and your mind has changed it's opinion! So taking breaks and re looking at the work was just magical and exactly how I have been taught to draw.
It is not a race but put time in and something wonderful will appear!
Enjoy...... I certainly did!

Plant Inspiration

Plants and nature are my all time loves as inspiration for drawing.
I went for a little walk on our grounds of Balls Park and picked up items which screamed pattern at me!
Just a little insight into how my mind works.... I don't always see an object for what is is, I look at shape, pattern and colours. I believe this is how my mind has been trained since I have been heavily involved in art and design since College. I love extracting patterns from everyday objects.

I am currently getting back to basics on my drawing and coming on leaps and bounds. I feel I have come full circle and honing my skills as an artist. I wanted to specialize in print at University but tutors urged me to go down the knitting route, I am glad I did but I have a hunger for detailed pattern which quite frankly you cannot get in knitting. So I am now looking at printing up tea towels and cards.... Coming soon!

So onto my drawings I have been getting on with.....

Card designs I have drawn up so far.....