Thursday, June 21, 2007

lino cut news...

i got a parcel last week from my dad containing a load of test prints of the next four images in my lino cut stations of the cross sequence - jesus betrayed with a kiss, tried by the sanhedrin, taken to pilate, and condemned to death.
my dad had had some trouble with his inks, so a lot of the prints hadn't come out so well, but i was kind of disappointed with even the ones that had printed nicely... something about the compositions i think, but they just didn't quite work somehow. i'm hoping that if i just leave them hanging about for a while, i'll be able to come back to them with a more objective eye and sort out exactly what it is that's wrong with them... joe did one at the same time [he did the drawing, i did the cutting] and his came out really well! what was it that picasso said - "it took me five years to learn to draw like the masters and the rest of my life to learn to draw like a child" [or something like that...]

i do really want to get these prints right though - it's something that'll have to go on the back-burner until after greenbelt as i've a ton of stuff to do between now and the end of the summer - but i am determined to make them work. and i love the process of making the blocks, especially the smell of the lino as you cut it away, so it's a shame that i can't get onto it sooner...

[if i get around to scanning some of the test prints i'll post 'em up here and you can see what's wrong with them for yourselves...!]

last nite we met for a monastic meal - nothing deeply spiritual, but more a chance to welcome esther, james & leesun back from their various travels. it was just good to be together sharing baked potatoes and eating sue's chocolate guiness cake again...

extension news - the first fit electrics and plumbing are all pretty much done now, and a lot of plasterboard is up. two velux windows are in and glass for the three small front windows is due to arrive this week. there is even talk of the shower being fitted soon, whilst bits of toilet and a heated towel rail have been spotted. it feels like progress!

top songs on the iTunes today - 'eighties fan' by camera obscura and van morrison's 'bright side of the road'...

1 comment:

bigdaddystevieB said...

lino printing is something I need to try again (think school was the last time!)...good to hear that the extension is coming on. van's "bright side of the road" instantly makes me think about fay darling (peters) making cooked breakfast on mull for everyone, while we just sat and enjoyed the view (typical!).