Sumi Ink and Graphite Media Study

Steph Chalmers - Sumi Ink and Graphite Media Study - 2013

Something Different

Fig. 1 - Plywood, paper, wood veneer, thread, ink, acrylic, pencil - approx 600 x 400 mm - Steph Chalmers - 2013

Fig. 2 & Fig. 1 - Plywood, paper, wood veneer, thread, ink, acrylic, pencil, tacks - Steph Chalmers - 2013

These works were made for a group exhibition - Opening this Friday night:

My results from a Sumi Ink Workshop with Max Gimblett

A letter of the alphabet - S - Steph Chalmers with Max Gimblett - 2013

A mass of black - Steph Chalmers with Max Gimblett - 2013

An incomplete enso with a characteristic in and a characteristic out - Steph Chalmers with Max Gimblett - 2013

(It's been a while...)

I made more than 10 drawings in the workshop today but this is my edit of the group. 

It was truly an honour to meet Max and see him in action. www.maxgimblett.com

Saturday - I am going to Wah Lees in Auckland - I'm going to get me a BIG Chinese calligraphy brush.

Ink Drawings: Album Art for 'A Lone Cloudburst' by Sink \ Sink

A Lone Cloudburst - Front Cover - for Sink \ Sink - Ink on Paper - Steph Chalmers - 2013

A Lone Cloudburst - Back Cover - for Sink \ Sink - Ink on Paper - Steph Chalmers - 2013

www.soundcloud.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Sink-backslash-sink

A Work Remembering Hiroshima

Hibakusha/Survivor - Indian Ink Painting 2010

There is an earlier, one-off drypoint version of this composition. I did a lot of post-print painting on it, and was really proud of the finished piece. I made the background a deep blood-red, it had the Genbaku Dome (the Hiroshima Peace Memorial) and a bare tree, faintly in the background. Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb, is fleeing the scene, and I embossed a circle in the centre referencing the Japanese flag. Another embossing of a 1945 NZ coin at the bottom acknowledged the aid given by the NZ J-Force, post war. I wasn't expecting the original to sell, so didn't bother to take photos. Alas, it sold. I missed it, so I made this! 

Moral of the story: Take photos!

Table: After Photos

Click link to see 'Before' and 'During' photos

'Plan A' was to restore this table to it's former (wood veneer) glory.. but alas, when I stripped the paint, I discovered the veneer had been damaged quite badly. So, I painted it with Resene Alabaster (Lustacryl Low Sheen). Then, the rest of 'Plan B' was to find some patterned paper to cover the drawers. I hunted for a suitable paper... but nothing seemed right. *Eureka!* I had no plans with that ink drawing from a few weeks back: problem solved!

Original Ink Drawing Post  and  Second Ink Drawing Post

It's always fiddly to glue this kind of thing, especially when the handles are not removable. I cut the paper over size, cut holes with darts for the handles, and stuck the paper with PVA. Once it was adhered, I trimmed the edges with a sharp blade and coated it with Estapol Clear (waterborne). 

The most difficult thing, by far, was having the patience to mask the black and white areas of the handles. Lots of huffing and sighing happened during that part. Thankfully, Em's pin-striping masking tape saved the day. 

A Birthday Card

A birthday card for Hillary

I made this late at night and the control I lost through my inability to keep a steady hand, I think, made for a better result.
I thought I had dried the indian ink well enough with the hair drier, but alas, it was too thick in places and when I washed over the water soluble pencil the ink bled.
In all the murkiness the lettering didn't stand out, so I added white gesso with a tiny brush.
Maybe not the greatest card ever... but always better than a bought one!
Happy Birthday Hillary.

The ink drawing continues...

Ink drawing in progress - Steph Chalmers - 2012

I don't think it's quite finished yet...

An ink drawing to test new paper

Ink Drawing - Paper Test - Steph Chalmers - 2012

This started as a test piece to see how this paper took indian ink... it's taken about four hours so far. 

The paper is Hahnemuhle, Drawing and Sketching Paper, Acid Free, A2, 140gsm. 

The texture is smooth enough. There's only a small amount of ink bleed, which is okay by me. Thick drops of ink sit on the paper and dry without seeping in over time. 

I do think a heavier gsm paper would feel better.

I feel compelled to keep going right to the edge of the paper. 

Ink Drawing Detail - Paper Test - Steph Chalmers - 2012

Working drawings for a story I have in mind

A Man - working drawings - Steph Chalmers - January 2012

The Hare and The Tortoise, and The Fox and The Crow

The Hare and The Tortoise - The Fox and The Crow - Steph Chalmers - 2010

So, I did some more indian ink drawings with my liner pen. Added some ink washes with a brush too.

The tortoise looks disturbingly shifty. That was unintentional. I somehow managed a foxy fox though. He's the one who's supposed to be shifty! 

Indian Ink Owl and Cat

The Owl and The Pussycat - Indian Ink Drawing - Steph Chalmers - 2010

A different media for me. I think I like it. I started with a quick pencil outline to make sure I got the negative space between them right. Then I used a liner pen with indian ink to fill them in, without much thought! It was very meditative.
The owl looks a bit serious.