Reflecting - its not rocket science

I have been reflecting on the course so far. At first I was disappointed. I seemed to have been working for a long time and to have achieved nothing or rather very little of any account. Mainly due to changes of mind and lack of focus on what I wanted to achieve.

However, have realised that I already have a good idea of what I want from the second project - the urban landscape - therefore my sketching and information retrieval visits will be more productive and provide more relevant material to inform the next piece of work. 

I also feel I would benefit from being more efficient. By thinking ahead to the next projects rather than exclusively focusing on the work in hand, I can make use of those small pockets of time that I have to draw, sketch and work up ideas and also better utilise the resources such as using the inks mixed for one printing to perhaps explore and develop ideas for the future.  Not rocket science but a light bulb moment for me. So the course has already informed my thinking.

I have been looking at dry-points again - a medium which I have always loved to do but also always seek out in exhibitions.  I found two artists that I hadn't come across before - Elizabeth Reed Smith - her dry points of trees are very beautiful especially "Arboreta 11" and as a result I have had yet another rethink about the medium for project 1. I have decided to use dry point - I love drawing trees and dry point is such a drawing medium that I should be able to convey my feelings towards the cedars with this medium where I have been struggling and dissatisfied with lino and woodcut.  Check out her work at www.elizabethsmithprints.com

Another artist I came across was Paul Niemic Jr.  He also uses dry point but in a different way - his image "Wingbeats" of Canada geese taking off is also very beautiful - you can hear the wings clap against the water. His work can be seen at. www.paulniemiec.com

I hesitate to talk about my dry points in the same post as the wonderful artists mentioned above, but  I have been working on a dry point using the portrait from my last post.   I have given the poor model after-eight shadow because I was too heavy with the shadow around her chin but am pleased with the marks in the hair following the form and as a first - a portrait in dry point - I am not too embarrassed to show it here. I have learnt a lot from attempting this so resolve to use the work from life drawing to do more prints - it is a good way of developing techniques in all the print medium without the pressure of thinking it is project work.