Interpreting Place Textures 2012 The Grampians

Interpreting Place by Deborah Brearley | Make Your Own Book

The Textures 2012 is fast approaching...starting to get together the work for the exhibition and pack the bags.

Return to the NEST

Today when having a sort through one of my folios I found a drypoint etching from 1997 with a favourite motif, a NEST. It seems we return, loop, travel in circles! There seems repeating patterns in history as well as repeating patterns in our lives.  Round and round we go. It is always a comforting pattern though to return to the NEST!

Drypoint is a beautiful form of intaglio printmaking. Lines are drawn into metal or in this case a plastic with a sharp instrument. The plate is inked up and then cleaned and the ink stays in the grooves. The lines are 'soft' and some ink ( plate tone ) can be left on the plate before printing to create a more painterly effect to the finished print.

We will be doing a Summer School, Introduction to Printmaking, in January 2012. The drypoint technique will be covered, as well as techniques of relief printing. Printing, with and without a press will be explored in the workshop. There is a one day drawing class before the printing workshop with an emphasis on drawing approaches that link with printmaking. 

More Monochromatic Musings

                                            Chinese ink on Arches paper with  Isabey brush

Monochromatic Musings

Having a play with calligraphic markings using fabric printing paints and one of my favourite Isabey brushes. Was VERY careful not to let the paint dry in the brush!

Dragonflies

I have been working on a body of work for my exhibition titled,  Interpreting Place, to be held at Halls Gap in conjunction with the Textures Forum in February 2012.

During my research for the exhibition I came across an article that mentioned that a small dragonfly or more correctly a damselfly, called Ancient Greenling had been found in the Grampians/Gariweld. Over the years I have used the image of a dragonfly as a symbol of resilience. The insect is found today in much the same form as in prehistoric times, only smaller. It is a stayer as they say!

It was interesting for me that the insect again was beckoning me! Not only as any image to be included in a new body of work, but that I was about to return to the form of the quilt, to stitchery.  Of course, the paintbrushes and drawing equipment will not be deserted, but the lure of fabric, to print dye, cyanotype and stitch, is where I want to be right now!  That an actual dragonfly came to visit and stay awhile confirmed my direction!