General – Page 14 – Annwyn Dean

Book Making, Embroidery, General, Uncategorized

The Past is always Present – 23rd January 2020

January 23, 2020February 23, 2020 annwyndean1

Over the last couple of months I have been exploring, along with ‘Unpicked Seams’ the theme of ‘The Past is always Present’ and I have now completed two editions of 2 and 3 books.

I began with a piece of Indian embroidered silk which had been imported into England in about the year 1620, this is one of my earliest textiles, and I then developed ideas concerning its design, which evolved into chintz, something which we all know today. see here

However, during an email conversation with a fellow artist in Australia, thank you Fiona, a new twist emerged. A few weeks before Christmas I dug up in my garden a stone canon ball dating from the English Civil War 1642 – 7. It will sit in my palm and has a polished bottom to stop it from rolling about. There had been a skirmish in the village and I have several lead musket shot from those days. I should say that my house, although old, hadn’t been built then.

So it just shows that the past is present!!

Here they are.

Book Making, General, Printing

Bringing it all together – 7th January 2020

January 7, 2020January 8, 2020 annwyndean1

The prints that I began back in November, see ‘Picking up the Threads’ November 25th were dry enough to begin folding and making into books.

As the plates were somewhat complicated with one having open spaces flowing out of the 6cm body of the plate and the other having punched holes off the top and bottom of the plate (to suggest the design continuing beyond the design), I had decided upon variations of concertina folds.

Over the years I have worked out many different book formats, this is my drawer full of various constructions – these are frequently the starting points for a new book.

I have made the covers for an edition of 3

And this just goes to show that when you are told to ‘test first’ then it is a good idea!! I had been considering sealing the book covers with Acrylic Wax but it didn’t like the printing ink from my pad.

Exhibitions, General, Printing

Gallivanting Again – 14th October 2019

October 14, 2019December 18, 2019 annwyndean1

We have just had a trip to Tuscany – I can just about still feel the warmth on my back and it is easy to recall all those olive trees and lines of vines, the views were splendid

and there was some art – this is Leonardo da Vinci’s shell notebook.

Before and after the trip I had been following through ideas around ‘The Collection’, when we have been to see a Collection/Exhibition we all want a postcard, so I have made some from the printing plates that I had recently made. My Collagraph printing plates are made by building up different papers and fabrics onto grey board card so it is simple to cut them to the sizes that I require for the 10.5 x 15.0 cm postcards, a bit like reusing expensive fabrics to meet new needs.

I have just heard that I have been selected to take part in North Yorkshire Open Studios next June. I have often taken part in the past but last year I couldn’t so it is lovely to be a part of such a great event again. More details will filter through over the coming months, so let’s hope that the ideas also percolate through.