Thursday 20 March 2014

magpie business .....

It feels a bit like pulling teeth but I am getting there.  I think that one of the reasons I am having such trouble with this book is that for a very long time, I have been way more interested in mark making, suggesting traces of images, a sense of narrative rather than revealing a whole story and so forth.  With this book, the story will seem more succinct - more readable and apparent.  This has been a problem for me in working within a more realistic manner and finding a balance between the 'drawn' image and the slightly more abstract.

I am happy with where this imagery is leading though each page I print seems like an enormous effort.  Truth be told, I will be glad when the book is done and I feel quite confident that I will be far more in touch with my printmaking skills at its conclusion.  At the moment it is a struggle!

















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21 comments:

  1. Roberta Warshaw20 March 2014 at 22:24

    This work is so wonderful. So much texture! I can't wait to see it to it's conclusion!

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    1. susan bowers21 March 2014 at 09:48

      Thanks Roberta .... I too am LONGING for its conclusion! Possibly for a different reason :-)

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  2. Olga Norris21 March 2014 at 00:47

    Something as beautiful as this must be worth the effort!

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    1. susan bowers21 March 2014 at 09:48

      Thank you Olga - these comments are really helping me push forward.

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  3. Fiona Dempster21 March 2014 at 09:09

    I can't begin to tell you how in awe I am of this work - your efforts are totally worth every minute. I love how there is so much life and character in there, fabulous drawing and just those expressive marks as well. Big sigh.

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    1. susan bowers21 March 2014 at 09:47

      Thanks my friend - you have no idea what this comment means to me - it is giving me the courage to keep going. Many thanks x

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  4. Jennifer22 March 2014 at 04:22

    What Fiona said. I'm too in awe to construct an intelligent comment so I'll second what Fiona said if you don't mind. Simply exquisite.

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:33

      Thank you Jennifer - all these encouraging comments are certainly welcome and I will proceed. Think I will jsut have to keep doing the artistic work and then worry about how the book will come together! x

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  5. ArtPropelled22 March 2014 at 14:26

    Your magpie is spectacular. So worth pulling teeth! The colours are beautiful and the fine feathers around the beak tug at my heart. Love the egg page too!

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:36

      Thanks Robyn. I am thrilled that the little feathers around the beak caught your attention! My background is in drawing and design and so I am comfortable drawing jsut about anything .... as an artist though I have been choosing to make marks which give the sense of things rather than drawing all the details. Hence my frustration with this project methinks!

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  6. Leslie Avon Miller22 March 2014 at 16:21

    Wow Susan, you have taken mark making and added it to readable imagery and done a spectacular job of keeping the mystery while telling the story. You are an inspiration!

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:41

      Leslie, you always find a wonderful way to say things .... thank you. I am glad that my 'readable' image is not a boring one and still retains a sense of mystery. At this stage I am still struggling to find a story to tie the book togehter but as it is a collaborative book, will be able to passit on to Fiona who will no doubt find a way with words to weave it all together. I can't seem to find my own ...

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  7. jac22 March 2014 at 18:23

    these prints are beautiful, colours and markmaking work so well together

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:43

      Many thanks Jac. I am pleased the colours are working - I was am trying not to just make a black and white magpie book seeing that is my comfort zone!

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  8. Arzigogolare23 March 2014 at 05:06

    All I can say is - wow! Your struggle is not evident - only absolute, exquisite beauty...I loved seeing closer and closer details of the bird, and the eggs & backgrounds of those pages are equally lovely. I wonder if the memory of the difficulties will recede (or even disappear?) once you hold the finished book in your hands? I hope the process begins to feel a bit more "comfortable" at some point - it's difficult when you feel as though you're practically holding your breath with the effort it sometimes takes to create something (no matter how beautiful/rewarding)...

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:46

      I hope you are right Lisa - and that once I am toothless, at least I will be happy with the book! I have decided just to keep going with the imagery and trust that Fiona will find the words to pull it all together and then finally, I will be pleased.

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  9. Charlton Stitcher23 March 2014 at 08:20

    A struggle maybe - but what beautiful results! I'm sure the final result will be a joy to see.

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:48

      Thanks Charlton - Fiona and I usually find that when our two books meet, which this time is on April 23rd which is World Book Day, we are delighted with the end result of both books.

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  10. OilofCloves24 March 2014 at 14:41

    Fascinating and beautiful! Just lovely to see and think about the detail.

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    1. susan bowers25 March 2014 at 11:49

      Thank you for following the progress of this story and enjoying.

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  11. Velma Bolyard25 March 2014 at 20:45

    looks very very rich.

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I appreciate your comments - thank you!

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