Inspiration is a delicate, indulgence and sometimes we need to just work. It is a luxury to have inspired thoughts, ideas for creative working, they seem to come out of the blue – but can be traced., like dreams, to random connections of activity or events or notes, sketches, from long past or just this second. Ping.

This concertina sketch book is the second in a series, for painting observational studies of the flowers that grow in my garden. The first book took about five years to complete and was sold at a charity event last year. This one was hand made, by me, with good watercolour paper, to give myself another four or five or six years of inspiration free project. To work on and in when inspiration is absent. It is a relief to have a task ongoing that does not require that dammed elusisive inspiration.

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When a drawing or painting is made onto a surface that allows it to be transfered to another surface – it can create a monoprint. If the surface that the drawing is made on is flexible, for example a plastic sheet. It can then be transfered to another surface, maybe a gesso board, or a canvas, a wall or a piece of paper. Size or surface is not restricted. This would not be possible if you needed to put the image through a press to get the print…

The ‘why’ is for you to fathom.

I am going to use just my hand pressure to transfer the marks I make. The perspex and plastic could also be put through a press if I wanted, but the glass can not.

I used a sponge to cover the plastic with an even covering of ink. And the roller to cover the glass.

The subject, a seashell that I had picked up from the shore at Arbroath. I particularly like this object because it is not complete. Its sides are eroded to reveal the inner structure.

I am not using the press for these pieces so the process is entirely possible without big investment equipment. But it helps to have soaked paper – as that aids the transfer of the ink and better absorbs some of the detail. If the paper is too damp/ wet it can creat havoc. Just like with watercolours. The dryer the paper the more control and detail possible. But if the ink and paper are too dry you might get nothing shifting. And more damp encorages unpredictable, exciting effects and sometimes complete chaos.

The image is Lways reversed by printing, that is generally unforgiving of an unbalanced work. And of course makes the monoprint unsuitable for famous city skylines… Though there is always a solution. Draw the image onto tracing paper first, turn it over and use the reverse to create the monoprint. Any how, I never tire of what the mono print/ transfered mark does to a drawing/painting. It arbitrarily changes details and offers unexpected gifts, the smudges and accidental changes that occur through the process. Sometimes magical and delightful – and sometimes smeared and slippery rubbish, or even nothing, absolutely nothing at all.

This time of restrained activity has the potential of positivity and good working practice. But as always that requires self diciplin. It is so easy to be diverted on a mild windless day by the garden . There are so many enjoyable tasks to do out there. That is not to say I don’t thoroughly appreciate and enjoy working in the studio… I love being in there, drawing painting, preparing – but the affair is complicated. It needs my full attention, it is demanding and rewarding, frustrating and anxious – whereas the garden is much less complicated and an easier friend.

This could be a time to turn a difficult situation into time positive.

Time to practice things we say we wish to improve… But never find the time.

Maybe sketching using different materials. The same view or objects over and over. Observing more and translating it differently – being led by the varying qualities of the medium. Wet or dry, sharp detail or soft suggestion, full colour, black and white or monochrome.

Practicing takes the pressure off. But another good practice is to revisit past works. To see if they resonate or rekindle a dialogue. If not, edit out any good bits and disguard the rest. I find lighting a bonfire with them works for me.

A drawing and painting class. The last in the studio before lock down…

We started with drawings. Working toward a good composition that could be translated into watercolour painting.

The drawings were really engaging and most people worked on them longer than I expected. Starting with a linear composition and adding three tones of shading. Looking for areas of close subtle tones and also counterchange. Light against dark to dark against light drama and contrast.

It was a really enjoyable lesson. The most difficult part, translating the sketches to the watercolour paper was achieved well in most cases.

The progress through the last few week was quite visible. Still maintaining good flat and graduated washes. Wet in wet. All that, as well as more complex subjects and composition. They did well. (And had a good time.)

Watercolour terms such as Wet in wet, wax resist, transparent, Opaque or body colour, make the language that is specific to its subject – and can sound pretentious and rather inpenetrable. But like all language that is specific – it is actualy pure and discriptive and really essential to describe the activity, if you have the interest.

Over the last two weeks we have covered these basic watercolour techniques and this week we pulled them together with the help of some cheerfully coloured tulips.

Good practice, lots of clean water. Fresh unfussy colours.

All three classes this week responded well to the brief.

My challenge is to maintain and even raise the level next week.

Classes have started again at Mill Farm studio. A new year and a fresh look at familiar techniques.

Graduated washes. , I believe to be one of the hardest watercour techniques. The need to control the ratio of paint to water, while using the right sized brush for the scale of aplication. Keeping an effortless look to the work while carefully reacting to what is happening.

Some colour pigments flow more evenly. Lighter toned colours are easier to graduate than dark, some colours stain and are unforgiving of any error. But no blood is spilt, only dirty water.

We practiced painting flat washes and then adding water to the pool of colour to lighten the tone. The lightest colours can be so delicious. But a fear of being wishy washy, too pale: or even insipid, often leads to them being lost to a desire for bold, bright and eye catching.

By layering the palest of tones it is possible to build up to richer colours and greater detail. Starting with washes that underpin and unify the picture, the image can be developed and detailed while remaining connected, cohesive and convincing.

Walking in the landscape most every day. Watching for the small changes that signal the next season. A few Aconites have pushed through a debris of leaves and snowdrops show a slit of white at the spear head of the stem. 

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Sketching outside is where I feel most connected. To the landscape, nature, to the elements of weather and most importantly to the drawing. I went out on Sunday to Breamar ( and beyond) with painting buddy Sarah. It was cool – but we found a couple of spots to sit out and draw the hills and river valley.

We always had the intention to visit the Fife Arms and it was a wonderful place to warm up, restoring body and soul. It is tartan, gothic Scottish, ancient and modern. Brimming with stuffed birds and antlers. And Picasso, Freud and Louise holding court.

The food was fab and worth every penny. A destination to lift the spirits.

The dates for the workshop 10th – 13th February. Just under a month away so I am preparing in spite of the possibility that it will not run.

I have perfected the recipe for jelly plates so a couple of people can work on those at any time. The premis for the workshop being ‘press free’, though of course there will be presses available. I learnt my mono print techniques before I owned a press and want to show how much can be achieved without using a print workshop or purchasing expensive equipment.

Any means of transferring marks from one surface to another is monoprint – the different surfaces dictate the paints or inks that can be used and the quality of the detail that can be achieved. Printing using hand pressure or wooden spoon. A car or a load of people. The boundaries are only imposed by our imagination and our own ambition.

Low sun, short days, a contemplative mood, resting or waiting for something. In a creative tunnel with no light shining. Patient. Making Sketches and working without inspiration. It is a fallow time, it happens after a rich creative seam is mined and comes to an end. It feels like depression but is really a nessesary winter with the belief of spring to follow.

I have a number of ways to kick start, but being too needy can be inhibiting.

Watercolour sketched out.