Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drawing. Show all posts
Monday, March 13, 2017
Gaspard
I bought a very small printing press recently and printed a an old drypoint plate yesterday. The smudged printing ink around the plate gave me the idea for this digital development. Apparently this fellow is called Gaspard. I scratched the name into the plate when I originally drew it.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
On The Desk
Today I am mainly still messing about* with my parasite drawings
* when I was at art college, one lecturer always told us off for saying 'messing about'. We should say 'experimenting with'. So of course, I always say 'messing about'.
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| print + ballpoint pen |
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| ink + ballpoint pen |
* when I was at art college, one lecturer always told us off for saying 'messing about'. We should say 'experimenting with'. So of course, I always say 'messing about'.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Two Books
I made two new books for the Artist Book fair at Limerick School of Art and Design.
I'm not entirely happy with either of them for the reason that I don't think there is a complete synergy between the idea, the form and the execution.
You can't really just decide to make a book without thinking everything through and then thinking it all through again, then starting and always being willing to abandon an idea if it isn't working. I think artist books teach you to have a very elastically creative mind but then giving up on an idea, especially when hours of work are there in front of you, is very difficult. I gave up some ideas but never really started again from scratch and I think these books aren't 100% because of that.
Book 1: Irish Bus
A set of 11 postcards detailing a bus journey from Hospital, Co. Limerick to Oranmore in Co. Galway wrapped in a hand-reproduced bus timetable for route 51. I love travelling by bus and kept a diary, recording conversations, things overheard on the radio, and things I saw. I also took photos and made 11 little scenarios out of my notes. Currently Bus Eireann is in severe financial difficulty and may not survive for too much longer so these anachronistic postcards my turn out to be a record of an anachronistic journey.
Book2: To See Your Own Light
I often listen to Hildegard von Bingen while drawing and made a drawing into a single page book, housed in a folder. The outside of the drawing has one of her pieces of writing that I thought especially pertinent written on it;
I'm not entirely happy with either of them for the reason that I don't think there is a complete synergy between the idea, the form and the execution.
You can't really just decide to make a book without thinking everything through and then thinking it all through again, then starting and always being willing to abandon an idea if it isn't working. I think artist books teach you to have a very elastically creative mind but then giving up on an idea, especially when hours of work are there in front of you, is very difficult. I gave up some ideas but never really started again from scratch and I think these books aren't 100% because of that.
Book 1: Irish Bus
A set of 11 postcards detailing a bus journey from Hospital, Co. Limerick to Oranmore in Co. Galway wrapped in a hand-reproduced bus timetable for route 51. I love travelling by bus and kept a diary, recording conversations, things overheard on the radio, and things I saw. I also took photos and made 11 little scenarios out of my notes. Currently Bus Eireann is in severe financial difficulty and may not survive for too much longer so these anachronistic postcards my turn out to be a record of an anachronistic journey.
Book2: To See Your Own Light
I often listen to Hildegard von Bingen while drawing and made a drawing into a single page book, housed in a folder. The outside of the drawing has one of her pieces of writing that I thought especially pertinent written on it;
We cannot live in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is take back our own listening. To use own our voice. To see our own light.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Sunshine
Sunshine is my Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross. He is the greediest creature I know. He actually trembles when he is watching you eat. When he has eaten his dinner, he is as round as a barrel.
He has no coat to speak off. No fur hardly on his chest and just bare patches under his 'arms'. In winter I put jumpers on him which he likes but he is so small and wriggly that they usually fall off him again. I drew this quickly when he was sat up in a purple jumper like a little man watching me. His head really is that small.
He has no coat to speak off. No fur hardly on his chest and just bare patches under his 'arms'. In winter I put jumpers on him which he likes but he is so small and wriggly that they usually fall off him again. I drew this quickly when he was sat up in a purple jumper like a little man watching me. His head really is that small.
Monday, July 4, 2016
An Occasional Print
Printing has become an occasion rather than something I do regularly. I have to give myself a day, get change for the toll, then drive for a leisurely hour up the M9 past Mullinavat and Knocktopher and then find money to park the car on Horse Barracks Lane, right next to the Smithwick's brewery in the centre of Kilkenny.
In summer I often park outside the very lovely St. Kieran's College because it is free and walk through the city and although this takes about 15 minutes, it is worth it because Kilkenny City is a wonderful place with narrow Kilkenny marble pavements and groups of tourists and hustle and bustle and charity shops to divert the footsteps, unless I'm carrying paper or heavy rollers in which case I am too tired and sweaty to be diverted until I reach the studio, put down my load, turn on the radio and begin.
This drypoint print is based upon drawings I have been making somewhat obsessively of late and is for the Blackstack Studio 2016 box set.
In summer I often park outside the very lovely St. Kieran's College because it is free and walk through the city and although this takes about 15 minutes, it is worth it because Kilkenny City is a wonderful place with narrow Kilkenny marble pavements and groups of tourists and hustle and bustle and charity shops to divert the footsteps, unless I'm carrying paper or heavy rollers in which case I am too tired and sweaty to be diverted until I reach the studio, put down my load, turn on the radio and begin.
This drypoint print is based upon drawings I have been making somewhat obsessively of late and is for the Blackstack Studio 2016 box set.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
20:20 Box Set
I printed an edition for the Hot Bed Press 20:20 box set this year with Blackstack Studio in Kilkenny. I missed doing one last year and for 2015 returned to my figurative theme. This is a drypoint on acetate with hand colouring around the figure. The figure is a sulky model from Vogue turned into a mauve madonna.
I am really beginning to love drypoint for its spontaneity, fine yet fuzzy line and the cheapness and availability of acetate.
I am really beginning to love drypoint for its spontaneity, fine yet fuzzy line and the cheapness and availability of acetate.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Panic Mode Initiated
I got a part-time job one week before I went on holiday. The holiday took up the best part of two weeks and since I got back I have had one day off from my so-called part-time job. I have a solo show coming up in December in Limerick and although I have been thinking about it all year, very little actual work has been done. And now I wake up every night and lie there lamenting the lost time in a print panic, wondering what I will have to sacrifice to keep the job and produce a good show. Because I need to keep the job for the money and I need to produce a good show for myself.
Somewhat ironically, the show is going to be based on some of the writings of the Upanishads, ancient Sanskrit texts which form the core of the philosophy of the Hindu religion, so my sleepless worryings over time and attachment to money seem even more pathetic.
Nevertheless, here are some ideas so far. I am currently obsessed with my hands. Tomorrow is a rare day off from breakfast rolls and americanos so I'm off into the print studio with rice and stencils.
Somewhat ironically, the show is going to be based on some of the writings of the Upanishads, ancient Sanskrit texts which form the core of the philosophy of the Hindu religion, so my sleepless worryings over time and attachment to money seem even more pathetic.
Nevertheless, here are some ideas so far. I am currently obsessed with my hands. Tomorrow is a rare day off from breakfast rolls and americanos so I'm off into the print studio with rice and stencils.
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| Idea for artist book |
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| drawing/rubbing |
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| rubbing |
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| digital photo |
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Making Books for the Dublin Zine Fair
I am drinking tea and writing this post. And after I have finished writing this post, I will go and put together some more books for the Dublin Zine Fair, where I have a half table next Sunday.
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