Having field day!
At last, I can share these new original monotypes! I've been working on them for a long time so it feels like quite an achievement to have them finished, available to view and purchase. People sometimes say that I'm so productive... I wish I were but the reality is that this way of working is quite slow and takes a lot of time and effort. This is particularly true of these patchwork landscapes where there are many layers of subtle colour.
This video (above) shows some of the later stages of printing "Away from it all". I'm sure you'll appreciate that the video footage is heavily edited, speeded up clips for your enjoyment and in no way reflects the amount of time that goes into the thinking, planning and making!
Of the different subjects I've worked on over the years, the patchwork landscapes have to be the most popular with my followers. Perhaps you can tell me why? Answers in the comments below please! My guess is, that the textures and mark-making evoke both agricultural patterns and patchwork quilts. They give the sense of a real view but using a unique visual language that borders on the abstract. They might also remind you of the rolling hills and pylon-free vistas we remember from our youth, happy times with family or blissful holidays away from it all!
In "Looking Through" (above) I developed the theme of seedheads and grasses superimposed on a view beyond. One of the challenges of this kind of landscape is staging the colours from light to dark so that the viewer feels a sense of distance. My rule of thumb, which I've used here, is to use the full range of tonal values: some whites and very pale colours, all the way to the darkest tone. It was very satisfying to over print the dark seedheads and see the strong contrast with the sky/distant hills when I peeled back the paper. There are videos of me printing the grasses on my Facebook Page and printing seedheads on Instagram.
I let the grasses be a little bit looser then in previous similar monotypes by having two paper stencils for lighter and darker colours. They are a bit fiddly to cut and move into position! If you like this one, but can't stretch to an original, you may also like "Edgeland" limited edition print below. It's been one of the most popular pieces I've ever made and I'm getting through the edition at quite a clip!
Having said for "Looking Through" that contrast is important, this panorama patchwork landscape, "Take the Long View," remained quite soft and unified in its colours. It's hard to explain, but the work in progress seems to dictate to me what it wants to do! Other artists will understand this. The monotype seems to take on it's own personality and tells me, layer by layer what to do! Each time I mix colours, they need to be a continutation of the colours showing from previous layers, but one step darker.
In the image above, you can see some of the detail of the viaduct and patterns in the fields. The viaduct was made by lifting out ink with a cotton bud with the straight edge masked out with paper. The fields are printed from textured materials - mainly wallpaper!
"In the Limelight" is a big conceptual leap away from the patchwork landscapes but was made at the same time. It does have a place within my woodland series of monotypes where I think this deer will be quite at home! The seed for this idea came last October when I was working on an autumnal woodland painting during a one-day course. See below.
The deer is a dramatic focal point to the image. Whilst the trees are printed from stencils, the deer is a collaged paper which relates to what I'm doing in my recent animal paintings. You can see me putting the finishing touches to "In the Limelight" on this Facebook video
These new originals are available now - phone/text me on 07717256169 or email info@rebecca-vincent.co.uk to purchase. My email subscribers are the first to know about new original work. Sign up in the footer below. Unmounted originals can be shipped internationally rolled in a wide strong tube. Large framed originals are sent by specialist art courier. Studio viewing and collection also available.
