A second sketchbook

After I had shown you the pages in my sketchbook from Laura Kemshall's sketchbook challenge, I started another sketchbook.  I wasn't totally in love with what I had done in the first one, but I will continue with it.  There was a vague theme of Venice but I haven't totally thought it through yet.

The second sketchbook has text as the theme.  Last time I showed you some of the gel plate monoprints I had made.  In September I started doing Text - Texture - Textiles at Littleheath Barn and my theme was walk which is also my word for the year.  So with this second sketchbook I thought I would use walk as the theme again.  I printed out a few black and white photos that I took in 2019 on a walk along the Stratford Canal.

I've scanned a few of the pages so you can see where I've got to

This is a photo of a piece of text work I did at a Simon Sonsino workshop

I've been going back through the sketchbook using stencils (bottom right)

I kept to a colour palette but I think I need to go through and put a brighter complementary colour on some of the pages.  Probably orange!

All of the videos are now available for the Sketchbook Challenge so why not join in.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Monoprinting with stencils

I love using my gel plate for monoprinting, but it is veryaddictive.  I usually get out a range of different types of papers - cartridge paper, deli paper and printer paper usually.  I limit myself to around 15 sheets of paper because otherwise I would just keep going.

Two reasons for keeping to a small number:
1.  I don't have enough room for a large number of papers to dry.
2.  there's only so many things I can think of to do with the painted papers.

Actually there's a third reason:
I've found the best prints are those that have several layers so even with 15 pieces of paper I might be pulling 45-50 prints.

This time I knew I wanted to play with my text stencils.  Here are some of the results.

I frequently photograph or scan my monoprints.  This is especially useful if you put another layer on one you really like and don't like how it turned out.  In addition, if you have scanned one you really like, you can use it multiple times.

The other useful thing you can do is change the scale of your print on your computer - larger or smaller - and use the print out for collage.

Next time I'll show you what I did with these papers.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Advent Studies

Advent starts this coming Sunday and continues until Christmas Eve.  It's a time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.

Mary Brack has again set up an Advent study called Advent Words.  You can find all the information on her blog: Found on Brighton.

At church, I have been involved with a series of blog posts which starts this Thursday and takes us through the Christmas story, right through to the arrival of the Kings at Epiphany in January.  Actually all I've done is transfer the amazing blog posts and schedule them onto the church website.  Alongside the written posts, there is a series of videos for children made by our children's worker.  In addition I designed a craft activity for children with adult help.  But there's nothing to stop adults joining in.

The series of seven blog posts is called Light in the Darkness.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice