Methods of drawing - still life in pen and wash 

Trained at Loughborough art college and went into teaching. Drawing was not taught in schools. Tried to get people to draw at speed, which is necessary in graphic design.

 

Nick used a piece of OHP acetate held against a clear board with a grid and holding it up, used a permanent marker pen to ‘trace’ an image of the pot, cup and saucer. The image was traced using a light box and then turned over onto watercolour paper, using a red pen on the reverse to transfer the image onto stretched watercolour paper. 

 

Nick explained that he used white and black cards at the sides to reflect and absorb light, to provide shadows where he wants them. 

 

He erased some of the traced image before reviewing it from life, redrawing various parts from pencil.

 

Nick spoke a little about Cleeve Press which is a traditional letter setting print works based in his garage, mainly used for small projects. 

 

Nick said he likes to work in pencil because it is flexible and you can erase it but finds pen gives more definition to the work.  He likes to make copies - as with Andy Warhol, make multiple artworks that are all slightly different. 

 

Moving to watercolours Nick took a vibrant green to which he added white to use as a base colour, which he initially used as a wash on the pot. Dark brown was added for the darker tones. Nick said that according to the impressionists, an opposite colour should be used for shadows in place of black and brown was the nearest he was prepared to go to red! He did follow up with some Payne’s Grey for the darkest shadows. 

 

Nick moved to rice paper, which apparently is made of mulberry bark. This contains mould marks showing how the Japanese made using a grid of bamboo. The image was traced onto the new paper. A Rapidograph pen was used to outline some of the drawing and then watercolour was used. The rice paper absorbs a lot of colour and also crinkles a great deal. 

 

Nick suggested making a sketch pad using different papers including brown paper, newsprint and handmade papers that are available at a reasonable cost from Artsaver (online shop).