cunning
The body of work encompassing the Cunning collection of images is designed to focus on elements of Atwood’s novella The Penelopiad from narrative motifs connected to wisdom or magical cunning which are symbolised via bird’s and their plumage.
Click an image to browse the collection gallery.
The titling, again in Greek with additional naming conventions of colours supports association with themes and concepts such as ‘Metis’ from Greek Mythology translated as ‘wisdom, skill or craft’ where geese, owls and other birds offer guidance, faithfulness, rescue, comfort or strategy and often help female characters through difficult times.
The process for these works was initially to bring together soft small bird and larger bird plumage and washed-up twine gathered from the beach which were laid down horizontally, used to brush the monotype plate or to simply allowed to fall and land at will, to convey the idea of a bed or scape of feathers.
Sometimes their imprints are left intact on the plate or disturbed to develop marks and colours as a palimpsest to build on notions of softness, gentle delicacy and ephemerality and for textural transitions.
Colours selected for the monotype prints are based on more muted tonality.
Once transferred to the digital realm these abstract ‘scapes’ are developed to build on symbolic connotations associated with the behaviour of feathers in the air, floating and collecting in piles as they descend and drift, overlaid with transparent glazes.
Again, final Giclee limited edition images are printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper tailored for Fine Art printing which preserves and enhances depth and textural qualities.
work in progress: Yellow Ochre Metis
Revealing the complex process to develop Yellow Ochre Metis, documenting the original monotype seen here on the studio table ready for mounting, which captures textures and feather imprints. Other images show test peach and white variations as prototypes to explore scale and colour.
Final test strip quality checks ensure perfect reproduction for truth to detail, textural quality and colour hue which can be seen in the film of the image with close ups.
work in progress: baby blue pintos
The film shown here displays the multiple variation of this image and close up shots panning across the image reveal the pattern, texture and gentle delicacy of the art work with other digital pastel washes over a neutral feather bed.
Other images show the development of test monotypes using different layering of feather imprints with floating and ghostly echoes of colour and marks built up with multiple registrations and thin colour applications of faun ink.
