Description
The Print
Only the finest materials were used to make this limited edition print, which I have produced myself. Both the paper (Somerset Enhanced Velvet) and the inks (Epson UltraChrome Pro) are of archival quality, meaning the print could last up to 400 years.
The Technique
I draw with Bic biros on raw linen canvas. To prepare the surface I lighten the canvas with a white oil paint wash. Once this is dry, I draw with the biro, as I would with pencil on paper. After the drawing is complete, it’s varnished (to fix the ink in place) and more white oil paint is used to add light and finalise the composition. The Bic ink is actually surprisingly versatile, in terms of its colour. If I want a blue tinge to the work I can smudge it, and a sepia tinge can be achieved by layering white oil paint over it. The paint interacts with the ink as it dries, changing the colour.
The Inspiration
“Titchfield Haven is very close to where we live and is a beautiful nature reserve. It has many bird visitors and one morning, it was black-tailed godwits that really caught my eye, they really were extremely beautiful in the morning light. They also kindly arranged themselves in a wonderful composition, that only required a few tweaks from me to make this piece of art. It’s a very simple composition, leaving the space to do most of the work in creating the calming atmosphere I love so much and seem to return to again and again in my work.
Un-primed linen canvas, stained with a diluted gesso and white paint mixture, is used as the base for a biro drawing of the subject matter. White paint is then applied to the canvas, adding brightness, tone and drama to each work.”
