More Mark Making

Dark stormy days can make you shut down your creativity.  In a practical sense,time has to be spent removing broken fences and gates, checking buildings and making your home safe.  However, when the wind is whistling through cracks and howling through gaps in the doors in the dark days and nights your frightened soul can merely try to keep itself calm in the present moment. Sleep is a comfort if it will come but if you can just hold yourself tightly until the worst has passed it is enough. The sketchbook remains guiltily unopened, paint brushes and pencils lie in anticipation but remain ignored. It is as if you need to protect your mind from even imagining what may be going on outside the security of solid walls.  If you were to surrender to your imagination who knows what demons may rush in to grip your heart into a tumult of dread.  It is better to close down and escape into a self-inflicted dormancy until the light returns.

So, before I begin, I must celebrate the coming of the sun. This morning was frosty and bright.  People began to emerge from their houses. Shaking off the dust they took to the pathways and breathed in the clear new air. Life is returning with a grateful clarity of vision.  The imagination is ready to lose itself to play again.

First the camera emerged, capturing the flooded fields. A walk along the river lifted the spirits and recent fears were soon forgotten. Returning home, the sketchbook became more accessible and brushes and pencils more enticing.  I was ready to begin:

Processes and materials used:

Foam roller (edge);
Foam roller dabbed on and layered;
Side of foam roller dragged;
Dragged foam roller with the end of the roller dabbed on top;
Painting with pussy willow;
Dabbed pussy willow.



    Paint stroked with paper roll
    The rolled edge of the paper roll
    The broad end of a kebab stick
    Drawing with the narrow end of the kebab stick
    A patterned sponge hair roller
    The plastic end of the hair roller













    Kitchen roll

    A plastic cork