Reduction linocut, stage 4

Another, darker, gradient across the image from brown at the left to grey at the right. The orange on the previous layer looks much less gaudy now.

Reduction linocut, stage 3

A vertical gradient, for a change: orange-brown on the left blending to darker grey on the right.

Reduction linocut, stage 2

A gradient from blue at the top down to grey at the bottom.



Already, a lot of the details are appearing.

Regular readers might find this image familiar.

Reduction linocut, stage 1

Here we go again.



Two distinct areas printed. Some pale blue in the sky, and some bright red in the foreground (it's a bus). Though the red is a relatively dark colour to be on the first layer, red is very transparent and difficult to print over other colours. So this time, I'm printing it first. Hope this works...

Life drawing catch-up

Just a few drawings from recent life sessions. All pencil on paper, approx A3.

Sissinghurst

Ninth layer on this reduction linocut: dark green across the entire image.



Sissinghurst. Linocut, 30 x 24 cm.

It's the view of the rose garden from the tower at Sissinghurst Gardens in Kent.

Finished at last.

Holiday time

"Have you done anything for this week's Illustration Friday challenge yet?" asked Clarissa.

"No," I said. "The theme's intention. It's too difficult, and I'm too tired to think of anything."

"You need a holiday," said Clarissa.

I agreed. Actually, we both need a holiday. Trouble is, we like different holidays. I started to draw our favourite holidays.

Clarissa likes to go camping...

...in tent. I, on...

...the other hand, prefer five star luxury.

"Oh look," said Clarissa. "You've done it: in-tent-I-on!"

Reduction linocut, stage 8

At last, the ink on the previous layer is dry. The white that I mixed in with the blue was a different brand (Lawrence's) to my usual one (Gerstacker), and it must have been that that caused the slow drying.

So I've printed another layer, in dark green:



The image pops into life. Hopefully, one more layer will complete it.

Watching ink dry

The blue ink that I printed last week is still not dry. It usually takes 24 hours before I can print the next layer; this time, it's five days and counting.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Bore da! Cousin Myfanawy Rabbit came all the way from Llantwllcwningen to see us to celebrate St David's Day. So I drew this picture of her in her traditional Welsh costume: a red cape, and one of those hats that are nearly as tall as her ears.

When Welsh rabbits go mining, they don't dig for coal; they dig for carrots. Here's a picture that I drew of Cousin Llewellyn Rabbit in his mining gear, with one of the tasty carrots that he found.

And here's the Welsh Dragon.

Sydd yn ei ofni y ddraig goch fawr? Who's afraid of the big red dragon? Not us, when he's got such a big friendly smile.