Friday 6 August 2010

Nest Forms


Nest Forms (etching, 12.5 x 21 cms)

Another week without painting. In a spirit of a glass half full, let's call it a period of retrenchment and reconsideration, rather than a block.

Some time ago I made myself a promise to have framed a small collection of prints I made at University. The actual framing has taken much longer than anticipated, but yesterday I collected them from Gallagher & Turner, the framers who've framed almost all of my work since I began to get serious about it.

This etching has always been a favourite of mine. It shows the influence of Graham Sutherland, I think, which is unsurprising given that I was about to write my dissertation on his Pembrokeshire landscapes. It was based on some drawings I did in what was then the Hancock Museum but which has now become part of the Great North Museum:.

Here's a relevant page from my sketchbook;


Bird objects (Rotring Art Pen in A4 sketchbook)

6 comments:

ian said...

I like this etching Harry. I can see the link to your sketch books, but for some reason I also see an influence from comic books.

My printmaking so far has been largely restricted to collagraph or monoprint - my one attempt at drypoint was not a success! I'm doing a couple of days on solar etching over the next two Mondays (in Poole) and I'm hopeful this will give me a way to tie my digital prints into my other work. Persuading people in the art world that digital prints are 'real' prints is something of an uphill battle, even though those same people are selling so-called 'giclee fine art prints' by the lorry load. Ho-hum...

harry bell said...

I was big fan of Marvel Comics throughout the 60s and 70s, but also was a constant cartoonist from the 60s to the end of the 90s. Might explain what you see in this etching.

I suppose the argument in favour of giclees over digital prints is that they're copies of something created by hand (usually), while digitals in a sense don't exist until they're printed. I accept the validity of digital prints in the same way I accept giclee prints - they're a reality, get over it. But I like them less than traditional hands-on printmaking.

Kevin Williams said...

LIke them a lot.

Glad to see that the umpteenth ''gentle'' reminder with Gallagher & Turner was finally effective.

We should go back to that part of Pembroke sometime.

Kev

harry bell said...

G&T were very contrite and I accepted their reasoning (and discount).

I'd love to go back to Pembrokeshire sometime.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed these drawings Harry. They make me think of Max Ernst, a bit.

--
Bruce T.

harry bell said...

I can see that, Bruce, especially the Loplop connection.