Gyotaku

                                 
                                         Perch printed on silk using a replica of a fish.
                                         details here

 Gyotaku is  traditional Japanese fish printing that dates back to the 1800s.
(Japanese 魚拓, from gyo "fish" + taku "rubbing") 

Maybe it started as a way for fishermen to record a trophy catch and later became an art form.
I used a replica of a perch, I don't think these are available in the UK but if you are in the US they can be bought from Blick's, click here
I was kindly given a set of these by Tina, another blogger who writes In the studio On the Shore
creating paintings of the British and American coasts.
The replicas are made of rubber and are shown below.

I had experimented with these before using a metallic Lumiere on painted silk. Shown above)(
I used a brush to apply the Lumiere and didn't get much of the fine detail coming through.
This time I used Schminke printing ink and and a roller.
I tried it on some Japanese printing paper but it was a bit thick for shaping round the fish. I tried some acid free tissue and some lightweight silk and both worked well.

Society of Botanical Artists, The Language of Flowers

 In a previous post I wrote that I had 3 silk paintings accepted for the annual exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists and here I am there with my work. Photography is not allowed without permission and quite rightly so. So this is the only photo I have from the exhibition.

If you would like to see some of the work there is an excellent review here
and there you can see one of my favourites    Abies koreana 'Carron' (£5,500) Robert McNeill Assoc SBA
It is a big exhibition and I would say well worth visiting. Entry is free.

Every day there is a demonstration by one of the members of the society.

There are some very fine botanical works as well as a  with a wide variety of other interpretations,
Society of Botanical Artists annual exhibition, The Language of Flowers is currently showing at the Westminster Galleries, Westminster Central Hall opposite Westminster Abbey.
and runs till Sunday 21st April, more details here

 Approaching Central Hall Westminster

Infinity scarves

I completed this hand painted infinity scarf today.
I took a group of scarves to the Corner Gallery this afternoon for the current flower themed exhibition. I also have some paintings in this exhibition.

The scarf below is a double infinity scarf that can be worn in a variety of ways.

Both these scarves are also available to buy here and here

Below  Work in progress, I used an Arty's adjustable frame and Arty's Easy fix frame pins to secure  the silk to the frame
before painting.

Painting Outside

 The Lettuce Thief, Pashley Manor  June 26th 2012
watercolour with  green ink by Tessa Spanton

Today I put some finishing touches to a couple of paintings. Both were painted on location outside on beautiful sunny days last year. Just looking at them reminded me of being in those places in the warmth, so different from the grey and cold weather today.

The painting below was done  a bit at a time after breakfast over several days. This is where I had my breakfast some mornings.

Casa Velha do Palherio, Madeira

watercolour by Tessa Spanton Sept 2012

Marbling On Silk

                             
                                        Flowers marbled on Silk by Tessa Spanton

I have done marbling on paper before and watched it being done on silk
 by Hikmet Barutçugil at Art in Action. He demonstrates traditional Turkish Ebru patterns and flowery Ebrus using traditional tools and methods.
Yesterday I was at the Surrey branch of the Guild of Silk Painters. Together we explored different methods of marbling on silk, researched and hosted by Jane with various types of gloop and materials prepared by Jane and Jackie and some delicious  biscuits whipped by Jane during the peak of action.
It was a matter of light the touch paper and stand back as we produced a flow of work that was festooned on driers or filled the floor space to dry  on pieces of newspaper.
All my examples shown here were done using iron fix silk paints. The substrate (gloop) for the top image and the one below was methocel. The other examples below were done on shaving foam, fun to do but not so much potential as with methocel.
 I forgot my camera and phone so have no photos of the process so that will have to wait for another post.

 Below: all done on shaving foam.

Just Joey

 Rosa Just Joey an original silk painting (c) Tessa Spanton

I spent about an hour drawing this rose in the gardens of Pashley Manor. It was around midday on a very warm

and sunny July day. By the time I had finished, the rose had opened further and the quality of light had changed.

The silk painting was done later in my studio.

Today I took this and 4 other paintings, some prints and cards down to Pashley Manor in East Sussex. They will be there on show and for sale from Easter till the end of September.

I also have limited edition prints available to buy. If you are interested conact me here

It was windy, cold and wet today, very different from the day when I drew this rose. The trees were bare and the rose bushes neatly pruned. There were snowdrops, hellebores, winter honeysuckle and daffodils in flower

These flowers were under snow only a few days ago but in about six weeks time there will be around 22,000 tulips in flower in time for the tulip festival.
When I look at that painting I still remember being in those beautiful surroundings and what a hot sunny day it was and the lovely lunch I had on the terrace when I had finished the drawing. That's what I love about drawing or painting out of doors, there's so much more of the experience going into it than from just a photo.

The Language of Flowers

Yesterday a long awaited letter plopped through my letterbox bringing news that I have had 3 silk paintings accepted for 'The Language of Flowers', the annual exhibition

of the Society of Botanical Artists. I feel honoured as my flower paintings are not botanical.

The painting above is a Tropical Waterlily 22x26 in. It is is a gold frame and the window of the mount is edged with gold fillet.

The other paintings are Stargazer Lilies and Iris Ensata. In the traditional language of flowers iris means friendship.

' The Language of Flowers'  Annual Exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists

The exhibition will be held at Westminster Central Hall, London.

Dates: Friday, 12 April to Sunday, 21 April 2013

Opening times: Daily from 11am to 5pm including Sundays

Free admission     All work for Sale