The 75th Anniversary on 8th May will provide our nation with an opportunity to reflect and to remember all of those courageous people who have given their lives in battle. Such enormous sacrifices were made to preserve a way of life and the freedom that we enjoy today and so often take for granted. Unfortunately the celebrations that were taking place up and down the country have had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus and I know it doesn’t feel like we are enjoying these freedoms at the moment, but life will go back to some sort of normality, maybe even a ‘new’ normal!
‘WINSTON’
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer – Churchill was a British politician, army officer and writer who became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 – 1945, when he led Britain to victory during the second world war.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” Sir Winston Churchill.
‘DEAR FRIEND’
The first world war was coming to an end, but there was one last battle. A final pigeon named Cher Ami was released with a message, part of this message read a desperate plea “for heaven’s sake stop it”.
Badly injured Cher Ami returned home, having saved what they believe to be 197 lives. Becoming one of the greatest hero’s of WW1, this brave little bird was awarded full honours and died on June 13th 1919 and is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
These pieces of artwork were created using a combination of collagraph printmaking and mixed media.
After finishing my design I then go about making the plate (the collage) it’s a lengthy process from sketch to finished piece.
– I use a combination of recycled food packaging, cardboard, textiles and poly filler, and lots of other textures and start to build up the design.
– Once dry and varnished, I use intaglio etching inks, using relief and intaglio techniques, wiping away and layering the ink.
– With my watercolour paper soaked and blotted, I then press from this plate using my etching press.
– It takes a few weeks to dry, I then take my work to the next stage; working with a combination of acrylics, inks, watercolours, oils, pencil crayons, gold/silver leaf.
Working into the design building up the layers until I have the finished piece.
I often, repeat this process to get a few more images from the plate, sometimes I print only once, but no two are ever the same, and the lengthy process continues.
These designs are never reproduced into a fine art giclee print. However we do print onto cushions, coasters, bags, glass chopping boards and greetings cards. Printed at the studio and are exclusive ONLY available to buy from the studio.
The original framed artworks are hanging in the gallery at my art studio.