Stormy Scarborough

As I mentioned in my last post, we went to Scarborough (Scarbrrrr) last weekend. The surf was freezing cold, even in a winter wetsuit, gloves, boots and hood. We warmed up afterwards with a curry and the boys even went in the next day too (once was enough for me).

Cold waves at Sandsend

This last etching of South Bay, Scarborough, is printed using a combination of two zinc plates, both etched separately. This week we had a lecture on Conceptual art, which got me interested in the idea of Land Art. If I can tear myself away from the print room then that's the direction I might move towards. 

Shifting Sands

Moving towards a different sense of print and image, I'm also thinking hard on the uses of text in art. In the meantime, I met Norman Ackroyd (!) and produced these images this week.

Water's edge

Morning Tide

Banyan Roots

We are off to Scaborough this weekend - cold, cold surf and cliffs await.

Norfolk in Colour

Today, all day, I put some colour onto my Norfolk images. I haven't coloured them with ink, or paint, but with blocks of coloured paper. I kept the tones very subtle. There's a few things I'd change next time, but this is a new technique I'm learning so, by and large, I'm pleased.

Very much looking forward to the weekend - and my lovely friend Sarah's birthday!

Norfolk etchings

I'm juggling cooking with updating this blog so I'll be brief and just post three etchings from the images I collected in Norfolk.

Burnham Overy Staithe Creek

On Holkam Beach

Brancaster Marshes

Norfolk New Year

We spent New Year in a lovely, chilly cottage on the creek in North Norfolk. The wind blew, the geese honked (over 200,000 in Norfolk at this time of year, apparently) and we stuffed ourselves full of food. One of our group, the hilarious Italian Andrea, was adamant that we had to eat lentils and sausage for breakfast on the morning of the 1st - stave off poverty, he said. We duly did. I felt rich in spirit surrounded by the flat landscape and here are a few of my scribbles.

Brancaster creek view

Deserted Holkam beach

Moreston quay

Beached at Brancaster

 As well as hanging out in the cottage, I got to see my lovely friends Sarah, Hannah and Tom - all in all, it was a good start to 2013 and I'm back to college on Monday.

2012 in pictures

 It was tricky, yet fun, to cut from my photos my favourite from 2012, but I did it, and here they are!

Favourite Blake quote

Shack with the best view

Laughed so hard I nearly cried

Mountain air

Sam the ripper

French reflections

Cornish sunset

Mates in Devon

Autumn snow

Shepherd's hut times

There were so many photos I couldn't include! All the weddings, holidays, weekends and general fun had to be left out. It's not often I blog about personal things but I think this will be a nice memory for me of a great year.

Christmas time

 A few snaps from Christmas day are below.

My favourite christmas tree decoration

Feasting table

Handprinted labels in the pile

YUM

... and YUM again

Christmas kisses

What a lovely, lovely Christmas we had surrounded by family and animals.