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
Elephants are one of the most magnificent animals on earth. They have such awesome power, yet also have deep intelligence and a genuine caring nature. They are one of the few animals that mourn their dead, holding vigils for members of their herd that can last days. They live in female led groups, consisting of a matriarch, her sisters, daughters and their babies.
To try and capture this complex and emotional society, the focus of this piece is a mother and her child. I have also tried to reflect the different natures of youth and maturity via the different body language of the subjects. We were lucky enough to get to see African Elephants in the wild during a trip to Kenya and I was really struck by their sheer power and obvious intelligence. As a result elephants continue to big a big source of inspiration for my art.
