Artistic Explorations: Intaglio Printmaking (4)

My visit to Isle of Harris (Na Hearadh in Gaelic) in November continues to give me new ideas for art projects. This time I chose one of my photos of a ruined chapel as my starting point. It was taken along the Scholar's Path. This path was once the main access (on foot) to the crofting townships along this stretch of coast, before the "Golden Road" was built closer to the shore.  It was used by school children to walk to the school at Grosebay on the other side of the peninsula, and then to Kyles Stockinish when a school was built there.

Ruined chapel along Scholar's Path ©Fenfolio2014

The vibrant colours in the picture above are the result of one of the creative features on my compact camera. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't as in this case. It just didn't represent the right atmosphere so I edited the photo into a more monochromatic one by using a few apps on my Ipad. In this way the rich, earthy textures of Harris' dramatic landscape are the main focus.

Edited photo of ruined chapel ©Fenfolio2014

Back in my studio I created a collagraph plate on a 20 x 20 cm grey board and used various materials such as netting, wood shavings, black lava gel, natural sand, Asian paper, scraps of woodchip wallpaper, scraps of fabric and dried grasses. I also scraped into the grey board with a etching needle.

Once I sealed the plate with Shellac and taped up the back with parcel tape, I inked it up with Caligo waterbased ink (sepia). Before I ran it through the press I placed pieces of my own handmade paper from an old blouse (see: Artistic Explorations: Handmade Paper (2)) with some spray mount facing up onto my inked plate. This is called Chine Collé. Finally I placed a sheet of Somerset Soft White printmaking paper on top of that and this is the final print.

Collagraph print with chine collé "Na Hearadh I " ©Fenfolio2015

For the second print I used brown/black ink, orange and green kozo-like paper and Somerset White Velvet printmaking paper. A completely different result! Now I'm vary curious to see how it will look when I use coloured inks combined with chine collé so that's what I'm up to next.

Collagraph print with chine collé "Na Hearadh II " ©Fenfolio2015

Summer in The Cairngorms

With temperatures of 22 degrees, Scotland was even warmer than some Mediterranean countries yesterday. How lucky for us that we both had booked a weekend away, this time separately. Jaap went down to Fort Augustus for the Great Glen Fest and improve his canoeing skills. I went to Kingussie for a trip organised by the ski club. Although we weren't able to do any skiing at all, the weather couldn't have been better for a hike in the Cairngorms.

We started our walk to Ben Mheadhoin at Coire Cas carpark. After 8.5 hours and a total of almost 2,700 meters of ascending and descending we came back, tired but exhilarated by the magnificient views and great company!

Area map

Elevation map

After our first ascent

Descent to Loch Avon

I'm looking quite tired already after a very steep descent!

Fascinating rocks and tors

The landscape looked quite surreal!

Beautiful rock textures

Finally at the top of Ben Mheadhoin

The lightest person was able to ski down on his boots from the smallest patch of snow

After a good night sleep in the hostel Woodlands, I decided not to tag along for another hike, but instead go for a bike ride on my own. I started at the carpark along the river Spey in Aviemore and followed the Speyside Way through Boat of Garten, had a lunch break at Loch Garten and then cycled back. A total distance of 37 km. My blisters were fine, but at the end of the day my buttocks were the problem.
I finished a perfect weekend with a well-deserved soft ice cream in the village, aahh....Life's good!!

Area map

Derelict trainwagon

Sculpture in forest

The Speyside Way meanders through beautiful moorland

Me an my bike

Woman and horse enjoying a summer's day

Birch forest

Boat of Garten station

Tranquility at Loch Garten

Lunchbreak on the banks of Loch Garten

Path through Abernethy Nature Reserve

Views towards Cairngorm Mountains

Artistic Explorations: Highland inspiration

 

Last week we enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Poolewe, North-West Scotland, where we stayed in a very cosy and spacious eco-lodge Coille Bheag with stunning views over Loch Ewe. It inspired me to make a few paintings in acrylics.

Loch Ewe ©Fenfolio2012

Loch Ewe in acrylics ©Fenfolio2012

Loch Ewe, abstract version ©Fenfolio2012

The first few days saw quite good and mild weather. We were able to make a sea kayak trip (the last time was in September 2011) from Cove along the North Coast and explore the rocky shoreline and see some otters!

Kayaking on Loch Ewe ©Fenfolio2012

Going through natural arch ©Fenfolio2012

Making tea with a kelly kettle ©Fenfolio2012

Kayaking along the WWII batteries ©Fenfolio2012

Other days we made long walks such as from Melvaig to Rubh Re lighthouse which has an excellent visitors centre, Flowerdale waterfalls and arboretum near Gairloch and Firemore beach close to the lodge.

Horses in shed ©Fenfolio2012

Rubh Re lighthouse ©Fenfolio2012

Walking along rugged coastline ©Fenfolio2012

Firemore beach ©Fenfolio2012

Whereever we went, I saw something that caught my eye; colours, compositions, textures and shapes in nature, derelict buildings and objects. I'm sure these images will be very useful when I start the photography and art sessions with the youngsters in a few weeks time.

Contrasted branches ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture I ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture  II ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture III ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture IV ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture V ©Fenfolio2012

Lichen I ©Fenfolio2012

Lichen II ©Fenfolio2012

 

Lichen III ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction I ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction II ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction III ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction IV ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction V ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes I ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes I ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes II ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes III ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes IV ©Fenfolio2012

Curved I ©Fenfolio2012

Curved II ©Fenfolio2012

Curved III ©Fenfolio2012

Patched I ©Fenfolio2012

Patched II ©Fenfolio2012

Tide line I ©Fenfolio2012

Tide line I ©Fenfolio2012

Corroded I ©Fenfolio2012

Corroded II ©Fenfolio2012

The last few days of our holiday we saw a lot of rain. More the reason to stay inside, chill-out in our lovely lodge, read some books and and create more paintings. I'm currently working on a relief project which involves powder filler and sandpaper!