UN-LTD

It's been a while - busy with other things and a bit of a lean time studio-wise. Currently working on large drawings (which are taking ages!!) and also considering how best to approach the whole limited/ unlimited drawing/ print thing. I haven't finalised anything but above is a bit of a sneak preview of some of the un-ltd possibilities...

Palomino Blackwing pencil...

I am having a much needed studio day (well half day) and what better way to start it than with the delivery of some new pencils. I've been reading about how great Palimino Blackwings are for a while and now they are back in production had to give them a try. Love the aesthetics - the rubber is looks really neat - I shall give them a proper test later. They do appear to be pretty black in comparison to a standard pencil...

'The Mark' Exhibition, Harrington Mill Studios, Long Eaton

If you're in the sunny Midlands during the month of June pop along to the Harrington Mill Studios to see their latest exhibition 'The Mark' which I am participating in. The opening is on June 1st at 3 pm.

Hybrid Drawings and 'The Mark' exhibition

Hybrid Draw #3 (Fade), 1016 x 1372 mm

I've finished a couple of Hybrid drawings - both from the 'Fade' series using a ballpoint pen on top of a digital drawing. The first was on an archival print and the second (above) on an uncoated matt paper. The coated paper was (as expected) a nightmare as the pen lifted the coating is I wasn't really careful - the uncoated was much easier (and I shall be interested to see if the print fades alongside the biro). What was unexpected was how the same biro mark looked a completely different colour on the different papers. The uncoated paper gave a  red sheen to the drawing. I imagine it will fade to a brownish colour - but who knows? I intend to do more hybrid drawings ...
On a different note I will be exhibiting in 'The Mark' at the Harrington Studios in June. Curated by David Manley it will be a group exhibition of large drawings and I am very excited by possible other artists who will be exhibiting alongside me whose work I have wanted to see for a while. More info can be found here and I'll update once the other artists are confirmed.

The decision is made....

digital drawing

digital/ ballpoint pen (in progress)

digital/ ballpoint pen (in progress)

I've been fretting for a while now about my digital drawings: editioning, perception, lack of audience knowledge, etc. etc. which is a sure sign that all is not well. Recent test drawings and thinking about the fading or visible trace/ echo of a touch has helped resolve this (at least for the immediate future). I have finally made a decision - to only produce 1 of each large digital drawing as a giclee print (i.e. no editioning) and to develop the idea of multi layered drawings (hybrids) alongside this. Not only does this mean I am much more comfortable about how it fits into the body of work but the different media will behave differently over time and as a result the drawing will change - giving rise to more ideas about multi layered marks/ repetition. Yesterday I took the plunge and started drawing on top of a large digital drawing with ballpoint pen (I have 2 of this particular print on different papers). The drawing was archivally printed on a photo rag paper and as a result is the most expensive piece of paper I have ever drawn on and the coating is causing some problems but I do feel much happier about where I'm going with all this.