March INKLINGS: Spring offerings + earth pigment printing developments
online + in-person NATURAL INK. workshops + links to other good things
The INKLINGS includes:
- Earth and metal pigment printmaking developments
- A list of my Spring offerings, in-person and online.
- gentle attention - out + about. Offerings and events from other folks.
Two parts are emerging for this March INKLINGS. This part is the newsy news part, with updates on a whole host of inky offerings coming in the months ahead, plus some news of printmaking development after a weekend at Dove Studios, Somerset.
The second part is a piece of writing I penned on a sea-softened rock at Telpyn Point early this week. Sitting in the sunshine the warmth brought out the words. Reflections on the state of things. On care and defendedness. In the cold shade of winter, there have been fewer words and I welcome their return. This will make its way to the digital realms in the days ahead.
But before this, I shall share other forms of, literal, ground and some Spring offerings.
Earth and Metal Pigment Printmaking
As you will know if you’ve been here a while (and hello to the flurry of new folks who have landed here in recent weeks) this last year has brought a deepening of my practice of working with gathered Pembrokeshire earth and metal pigments.
Working with plant colour and working with earth colour are very different relationships. Not just in terms of how the matter is, materially speaking, but also in the energy, the soul, the heart of it. This matter is not object, not inanimate, but is animist. Alive and ancient.
After many years making botanical colours and rolling with the impermanence of the hues, I was eager to find more light-stable foraged materials to work with. ‘To work with’ is a key part of this process for me. This work is relational. The colours, the plants, the relationships on the page of the inks and modifiers and pigments only truly sing when I let them live their own lives. When I can put down trying to overly control the outcome. When I listen to and learn how they speak and then simply assist them to be themselves. Naturally, this is through my eyes and I can never truly know what i’m doing, but there is a felt sense of communion. A warm flutter in the heart and leap in the gut when a sweet spot emerges. The key ingredients for this are attention, curiosity, patience and acceptance.
Folks. I think ink-making could change the world. As I write I see the layers of relational care that good ink-making can bring.
Studio Experiments
I rocked up to Dove Studios for the print-making weekend with Robin Frood eager to experiment with the found plywood I had recently gathered from my local beach places after the storms. Creating textural marks with these raw, sea-worn pieces, with iron oxide and copper verdigris was a curious and enjoyable starting point. I also explored mixing the pigments with sticky chalk from a badger’s set in the field next to Dove Studios, gathered in 2019 when part of a group residency.
Through many ‘suck it and see’ trials the big learning over this weekend was to be patient and layer the colours softly. A little pigment at a time. Trusting the thin and strong fibres of the Kozo and Hosho papers to withstand layering. This brought with it more interesting markmaking and a slower emergence of image over time.
Oof. Sweet spot.
I have also been gathering images of local geological cross sections and illustrations from the 1850s of this particular stretch of coast, and the beautifully penned geology coursework of my late father from his engineering studies in the early 1970s. These are curious and delicious objects in their own right. Filling my brain with the visual culture of this science/art and the markings and patterns the eyes, feet and fingertips find when in the field.
This is all very much in experimental territory and I see something beginning to take shape. Enjoying the process is key.
✺ Spring Offerings ✺
🌱NATURAL INK. Course Online Gatherings🌱
The NATURAL INK. Course space has been a delight to check in with these last weeks. Gentle making and connection is occurring and I am looking forward to the seasons to come.
There are three dates in the diary for online gatherings for folks signed up for NATURAL INK. Course: March 12th, April 15th, May 21st 4pm - 6pm UK time. These gatherings are for us to share our findings, seek guidance and ink-spiration and ask questions. Show up as you are with what you’ve got. These sessions will also include pause and reflection time to guide our personal seasonal connection, with journalling, and grounding meditation. Tiered pricing option.
🌱The Celtic Wheel of the Year Online Course and Study Group🌱
I am excited to share this new online course and study group with you. It’s great to be back working with Flora at Plants and Colour again for The Celtic Wheel of the Year: Botanical Ink-making, Ritual and Folklore. These four live workshops, with additional ink-making video guides, will run from May Day/Calan Mai to Autumn Equinox/Mabon.
🌱In-person Ink-making in South-West Wales🌱
Swansea
As part of the Tir Cwiar/Queer Land exhibition running at Elysium Gallery, Swansea until March 22nd I will be running ‘Making botanical inks with Hawthorn’ on March 22nd 11am - 1pm. Keep an the On Your Face socials for sign-up links.
Later on that day there will be a writing workshop from the splendid Alisha Ahmed, and on Wednesday 19th March the superb Vivian Ross-Smith will also be holding a workshop. I will share more
South Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire
Also, a heads up that I will be running two seasonal ink-making Friday morning workshops at the National Trust’s Colby Lodge Gardens in Pembrokeshire in June and September. I’ll also be bringing Hawthorn ink magic to Glasbren for their luscious Calan Mai/May Day celebration weekend.
Further details and links will be available soon.
✺ g e n t l e a t t e n t i o n - o u t + a b o u t ✺
✺ At the Root - an online platform exploring the histories of land (in)justice in Britain.
regularly shares a round-up of offerings, events, training and work from across land, creative and social justice centred folks and organisations.✺ Free Access Rider workshop at Span Arts, Narberth, Pembrokeshire on Wednesday 19th March, presented by Unlimited. For d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists looking to create their own Access Rider. You can find out more about what Access Riders are here.
✺ Queer Hikes South Wales have their next walk on Sunday 23rd March. An 11.9km Gilwern and Clydach Circular 10am - 3.30pm.
✺ Creative Wellness Sessions for Adults at PWSH, Cardiff. Thursdays 6pm - 9pm. Donations from £6 to attend.
mmm, so much deliciousness!