First steps back into practical creativity

Where to begin? The Oak Tree, my chosen subject to investigate.  Such a dominant tree in the English landscape and something which I have been very aware of when I am out walking in the fields surrounding the village where I live.

I chose a significant sized oak tree with a circumference of 3.2m.  The tree was located directly in the field directly opposite my house.  Armed with rucksack containing roll of lining paper, graphite stick, drawing pins I battled with a high wind to secure the paper round the circumference of the tree.

I then worked my way around the tree, using a graphite stick making a frottage from the rough surface of the trunk of the tree which also was host to an ivy at one point.  This created a variation in the mark making.

A few days later, using the same tree, the exercise was repeated using a wax candle to make the frottage. This was then taken back to the studio where a wash of ink was brushed over the entire image with the wax then being removed with a heated iron.  

Close up of wax resist frottage presented horizontally

The fun then began with concepts of presenting the images in a studio environment.  There was a great contrast with the light, almost airy marks created using graphite stick and the wax resist which was dark and was a more realistic representation of the oak tree trunk bark.

            

Interesting to perceive how work interpreted in such a different way when mark making presented vertically and then horizontally.  Connecting to the ground firmly when cylindrical rolls placed upright and taking the form of 3d ceramic containers/vases.  Whereas the work when pinned high on the wall cascaded down and gently rolled onto the floor creating a more transient movement.

   

     

Early stages in the project so just feeling my way and using whatever is at hand to get some marks on a surface that relate to the subject. Below are a few experiments using art application on Ipad, generated from my photographs. Two created using layers and the third freehand.

                                   

First attempts at brush and ink referencing photographs, cropped and presented horizontally.

Its has been a long time away from the studio and I am eager to continue with this investigation. Creative time is at present hard to find which can be frustrating when I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head. Trying hard to apply my ACT approach and be mindful.