Tuesday 27 November 2007

Cloud Cover



Oh, to have an overcast sky every day, just before sunset! It's the perfect light for photos!

I printed the protea lino after all, but I think it needs a bit more. I had an idea of how I wanted to print it, and it didn't quite work. I'm going to try adding some blue to this one, and also printing it again, trying to get the effect I was after.

The other lino is also based on a real flower. It's a succulent, grey-leaved with a long stem holding fleshy orangey flowers. In Afrikaans it's called a plakkie, but I don't know any more than that.

It seems to help to think about a particular flower and draw it from memory, rather than from life or a photo. When I have a reference I get too carried away with the correctness and the details, and for these prints I'm much happier with an approximation. It's also nice to know that this method can handle intricate carving; I've been keeping to simple shapes till now because I wasn't sure.

The plakkie print is listed in my Etsy shop now, along with some other new ones.

11 comments:

Bianca said...

beautiful..I love the shade of green.

Never heard of 'plakkie', even though our languages are related (I speak Dutch)...but I like the name...it means sticky in Dutch, does that represent the same in Afrikaans?

ysolda said...

I don't think it's missing anything at all, love these :)

Unknown said...

I think they're both stunning -- the protea really appeals to me in the cool green, and the plakkie is just sumptuous.

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful Jesse. I love the protea 'stems' and the placement of the individual blooms. The detail in the plakkie print is incredible!

Heather Moore said...

Beautiful!!! I want to come and print with you soon!

Anonymous said...

The protea print is just beautiful. It turned out wonderfully and I really like how the stem brushes the edge of the blossom beneath it. Thanks for showing us!

Sonya said...

I love the way the protea looks, especially the overlap in the stems.

Denise Kiggan said...

You are quite legendary!

Cristina Salgueiro said...

I do like your proteas more than the real ones! Can i order some for my vase? hehehehe. They are beautiful!

Heloise said...

I think they are both gorgeous, and inspired by you I've bought my first bit of lino in 20 years!

kathryn said...

yep, quite lovely. the tea cup styling worked out really well too. thanks for sharing