crowned cranes, senegal – woodcut prints hanging to dry
I’m teaching myself how to edition what previously seemed quite complicated prints to repeat. I’ve tended to get to the point where I’ve taken an idea to a place that satisfied me..getting the feel I was after, but then not following through on the editioning. With a rise in understanding of what my brother has called ‘making the unmeasurable measurable’… using some of that to push my printmaking language. Separating out the technical from the creative to some degree and finding it really enjoyable…
crowned cranes, Senegal – woodcut
In dark, wet December UK revisiting these crowned cranes on the Djoudj marshes in Senegal. I’m trying to better juggle some of the elements that I’ve found interesting in woodcut printing… using floating elements and masks. Really this now a pretext to resume blogging…
fox cub- allotment bristol – ink pen – c. A4
First sighting of fox cub on the allotment, basking in the sun with its mother. We’ve been seeing her quite a bit, heavily pregnant when snow was on the ground and then a couple of weeks ago with distended teats. They were at the far end of somebody’s garden surrounded by dandelion clocks and forget-me-nots. Mother grooming the baby.
mining bee in nestbox- allotment bristol – ink pen – A6 sketchbook
First mining bee nesting in the box I bought a year or so ago.. perspex sides let you look in and see what is happening. Over the last week or so she has constructed 10 mud walled cells. Filling each one with pollen, she has a ritual of returning from pollen collection, chewing over some of the previous batch (I wonder why?) and then scraping off the new load from the underside of her abdomen using bristly hind legs. When the cell is 3/4 full of pollen she lays a single white sausage shaped egg and then seals it up.
Seeing several species of mining bee including ashy and tawny. I’m not sure of the one in the box, maybe buffish?
I’m sending 3 pieces to an exhibition of artwork, part of the Second North Of England Curlew Festival in the Great Chamber, Bolton Castle in Wensleydale. That will focus on Curlew and other waders that are currently under threat.
https://www.boltoncastle.co.uk/tc-events/curlew-festival-8th-10th-june/
curlew,redshank & shelduck – northumberland – indian ink & wash – 38 x 56 cms
I’ll be teaching on the annual course along with Darren Woodhead, Kittie Jones and guest artist Esther Tyson. The course and bursaries are fully allotted for this year but details on how to apply for future years are here.
I’ll be running a 3 day Monoprint course at the Tryk2 printmaking workshop. on Bornholm. 8 places available.
Ud i det blå – ‘the great outdoors’ – Field Painting course on Bornholm, with Ben Woodhams and Greg Poole
full description from the link above.
-For a short description or to book a place go to this page
Field Painting course on Bornholm
This course will use drawing as a way of ‘active looking’. Staying with our subject and getting to know it more intimately. Testing our understanding and exploring different means of interpreting what we see and feel. As long as this process is part of an honest investigation of what we are experiencing there can be no such thing as a ‘bad drawing’.
‘On Migration’ An Exhibition by the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA)
Lovely exhibition space with diverse SWLA artists showing work on the theme of bird migration.
Waterston House, Aberlady, Scottish Ornithology Club Headquarters
17 FEB – 4 APR 2018
OPEN DAILY, 10AM-4PM
FREE ENTRY
More details available here
9234 courting newts
bristol
wax crayon
c. A3
After the big freeze I thought the pond might be a desert. There has been carnage amongst the amphibians.
The pond was iced up for days and i could see frogs still coupled up under the ice but I figured they knew what they were up to.
I broke the ice a couple of times early on (which apparently you shouldn’t do… causes detrimental vibrations or some such..) come the thaw at least… 20 dead frogs…. 5 dead newts…
Worse was to come when new male frogs came in and starting coupling up with the dead females…. I had to prise them off to get rid of the bodies…
Web searches weren’t that helpful explaining how to help in future…. but apparently it isn’t the cold that kills them but the build up of noxious gases under the ice… and the answer is to make some kind of air pocket using a float with a concavity on its underside.
9238 frogs spawing 10/03/18
bristol
ink pen
A4 sketchbook
Better news since then… a new batch of frogs came in and now there are 1000’s of tadpoles.
There were at least 10 newts moving around in little convoys, much whipping and fluttering of tales. I still find them very exotic for a garden pond. Several pond skaters skimming over proceedings.
There were at least 10 newts moving around in little convoys, much whipping and fluttering of tales. I still find them very exotic for a garden pond. Several pond skaters skimming over proceedings.
9231 courting newts
bristol
wax crayon
c. A3
(picture: Ben Woodhams)Drawing and painting outside can be both exhilarating and daunting.
This course will use drawing as a way of ‘active looking’. Staying with our subject and getting to know it more intimately. Testing our understanding and exploring different means of interpreting what we see and feel. As long as this process is part of an honest investigation of what we are experiencing there can be no such thing as a ‘bad drawing’. It is all part of a never ending process of trying to understand our world better.
The physical challenges of being outside in all weathers can generate a vibrancy and creativity in our mark-making and creative output that can sometimes be lost indoors. Sustained observation and full immersion in the natural environment is the theme underlying this course. In all weathers and for extended periods of time, course participants will embrace Bornholm’s fantastic natural environment, as we attempt to sketch, draw, and paint under the open skies.
common carder bumblebee & toadflax – Greg Poole
For some the work made outside might normally be a way of collecting raw material that will later be developed indoors. For others the work on the ground may be taken to a finished piece there and then. We will look at how both a quick sketch or a more laboured piece can have their virtues. Both are part of an ongoing process leading towards greater understanding. Working with others exploring similar themes in divers ways gives an inspiring sense of ‘safety in numbers’ as well as a great group dynamism.
Led by Bornholm resident and artist Ben Woodhams and the experienced and highly regarded English printmaker Greg Poole, the course leaders will take you on a journey through the Danish island of Bornholm’s diverse and wide ranging landscape. Visiting some of the lesser-known sites on the island, we will attempt to record and interpret the birds, plants and landscapes that we encounter, in a meaningful and creative way.
During the course you can expect a wide ranging introduction to field painting, natural history interpetation and ways of working outdoors. The pros and cons of different media, techniques, and outdoor kit will be discussed and investigated. How can we maintain a confident approach when faced with the complexity and dynamism of the natural world? How is it possible to capture the essence of a bird in movement, or the hugeness of the autumn sea?
picture: Ben Woodhams
The course will be taught in English (Greg and Ben) and Danish (Ben).
The Venue
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island situated in the Baltic Sea between Poland and Sweden. A veritable paradise for naturalists and geologists, The island offers a rich and varied natural environment, with deciduous and coniferous forests, farmland, sandy shores and rocky cliffs – all within close proximity to the course headquarters. In September the bird migration will be in full swing, with the island a popular stepping stone in the route south. During the week we hope to visit many different sites on the island, depending on the weather and the wind direction. Højskole – the venue for the course is located in central Bornholm, close to farmland, forest and wetland areas. Cranes and ravens will be foraging just a few minutes walk from the Højskole . On the sandy southern coast huge flocks of geese mingle with waders and terns on passage. In the rocky north, gulls and peregrine falcons wheel amongst the granite cliffs. If time and weather conditions permit, we may even find ourselves on the rocky and windswept Ertholmer islands off Bornholm’s Eastern coast, a minute archipelago where over 275 bird species have been recorded.
Højskole
This course is hosted by Bornholm’s Højskole, a remarkable educational institution situated in Bornholm’s forested centre.
Denmark’s ‘Folkehøjskoler (folk High Schools) are an idiosyncratic and very Danish educational movement, initially created in the 1850s to educate Denmark’s peasantry. They now offer a wide range of residential courses to adults from all around the world. Bornholm’s Højskole is a cradle of creativity and inspiration. Participants from the week’s courses eat evening meals together and can join shared social events At the week’s end course leaders and attendees will present an informal exhibition of the week’s work that will be open to the general public.
You! – The Participants
Course participants need not have prior experience of working outdoors, and we expect and hope that attendees will come from a variety of different backgrounds and abilities. This course is all about being outside and looking. Process will be more important than end results. A diverse and supportive group dynamic is what makes a course like this extraordinary and unforgettable. The positive energy that a group of field painters can produce has to be experienced to be believed!
Us! – The tutors
Ben Woodhams
Much of Ben’s work centres around working within a self-imposed framework for his focus whilst painting or drawing. In his latest project he has pledged that every Friday of 2018 he will walk a pre-planned length of the Bornholm coastline and draw/paint what he finds. Setting parameters in space and time are maybe what most typify his approach. Ben brims with enthusiasm for the natural world. He is able to take on the depiction of vast changing skyscapes and then swap to studying the minutiae of insect behaviour. He has a quick eye for picking up nuances of form and great technical skill in handling the subtleties of watercolour. Seemingly laid back and amicable, Ben’s resolve in following through on projects is steely. As a teacher he is empathetic, approachable and sets a great example of learning by doing.
picture: Ben Woodhams
For more information on Ben see here: http://www.benwoodhams.com
Greg Poole
A practiced and knowledgeable observer of the natural environment, Greg manages to capture the essence of a place and its wild inhabitants with a few bold and perfectly measured marks. Originally trained as a zoologist, the apparent effortlessness and simplicity of Greg’s field drawings and studio-based prints belies many hours of careful field observation. Greg’s exploration of field-based mark-making is complemented by his technical skill in print making, all resulting in a vigorous and dynamic approach. Both supportive and candid, Greg is happy to share his experience and knowledge, forged from decades observing and drawing in the field. A passionate communicator, Greg is equally at home discussing the specifics of depicting a kittiwake’s bill or contemplating broader subjects such as composition or form.
sparrowhawk on feral pigeon, monotype. Greg Poole
For more information on Greg see here: http://www.gregpoole.co.uk
The Practicalities
Bornholm in September can be balmy and mild, but it can also be stormy and cold. We could be painting in our T-shirts and shorts or wrapped in full rain gear in a freezing gale – it will be important that we are prepared for all eventualities!
Full board and lodging is offered by the Højskole. Participants can choose from double or single bedrooms, with or without ensuite facilities. Bedlinen and towels are provided, and all meals are at least 50% organic and prepared with local ingredients whenever possible. There is Wifi and clothes washing facilities. There is an art studio, conference rooms, as well as a huge canteen and evening bar area.
Transport within the island during the course is provided by Bornholm’s Højskole in the form of a bus, which will drive us to, and collect us from, the various sites we will visit. In the event we are able to visit the nearby Ertholmer Islands, participants will be asked to pay their own way on the ferry (approximately 250kr/£POA/34Euro)
The price for the course (including all tutoring, transport during the week, three meals a day and accommodation) is as follows:
Double room (two single beds) w/ ensuite – 4,750kr (approx. £POA or 640 Euro) per person
Double room (two single beds) w/ shared bathroom – 4,250kr (approx. £POA or 570 Euro) per person
Single room w/ shared bathroom – 4,700kr (approx. £POA or 630 Euro)
Note: students and young people aged between 18 and 25 years can claim a 1,000kr (approx. £POA or 134 Euro) discount
Bornholm residents wishing not to use accommodation can claim a 500kr discount
Registration and payment
For more information about the course content, please contact Ben or Greg directly (info@benwoodhams.com and gregpoole60@gmail.com)
Book a place https://bornholmshojskole.dk/kurser/field-painting-course-on-bornholm/
A few days after registration you will be asked to pay a 1,000kr non-refundable deposit. An invoice for remaining payment and more information on the course will be sent 8 weeks before the course starts.
NOTE! The course is limited to 20 participants, and places are offered on a first come first serve basis.
Getting to Bornholm
From Copenhagen Airport, there are several direct planes every day to Bornholm (Rønne airport) with DAT (Danish Air Transport – https://dat.dk ). If you can manage to book well in advance and find a cheap ticket that can match your arrival and departure times from Copenhagen, this is the easiest option (cheapest return tickets from approximately 850kr/£POA/115 Euro) .
Alternatively a bus and ferry combination to Bornholm leaves directly from the airport several times a day. From the airport, the bus drives through southern Sweden to Ystad, where the ferry takes you to Rønne on Bornholm. The whole journey takes less than three hours. This is the cheapest option (September prices yet to be fixed, but likely to be less than 500kr/£POA/70euro for a return).
It is sometimes difficult to get a grip on the whole travel arrangements, so do let me help (Ben)!
Gatekeepers on scabious, crayon & gouache – Greg Poole