Shining star

A last post before the big day is upon us. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone for all your comments and support throughout the year it means so much to know that people take the time to visit this little spot on the internet.

Star sketch ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

To all those who celebrate a very happy holidays and to everyone a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2016.

May the stars shine bright for you.

Best wishes.

Low tide experiments with inking drypoints

Low Tide   drypoint 3.5x15.8cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

I had a tiny snippet of perspex left over from cutting down another plate and not being one to waste anything I thought I would use it for an experiment. I have come to the conclusion that the skill in printmaking very much lies in the skill of inking up the plate. It's quite a thing to learn - how much ink to apply, how much to wipe off, where to polish and where not to, colours behave very differently to the paint that I am used to and the consistency is a million miles away from acrylic and watercolour - beautiful sticky stuff that it is...

I digress, this little piece of acrylic with a simple design scratched in has been a test piece to practise with. The print on the right has some added marks in the plate where I wanted to add a little more tone but I am finding it interesting to see how the plate develops each time I print it and get braver and more experimental with the inking. These have been done over a series of a few weeks and as I have the time and inclination I will print a few more.

Feather studies and drypoint experiments

Feather I   proof drypoint   15x8cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Feathers I is a drypoint made using an aluminum plate. In the grey version I used a roller to get a very thin layer of ink as a background after wiping the plate and then added more ink and took away more ink with a brush in areas of the feather. This was the first time that I had tried this technique and I rather liked the subtle effect. In the sepia version below I tried to vary the amount of ink along the feather to get a greater variation in tone just by wiping alone.

Feather I   proof drypoint   15x8cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Feather sketches pencil a4 ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Feather sketches pencil a4 ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

The drypoint below was made using a perspex plate which I printed onto handmade paper that had leaves within it. As the paper was so fine I didn't soak the paper this meant that the paper wasn't supple enough to get a good stand alone print from the burr as it went through the press, especially where the the thicker bits of leaves were. However it was enough to use as a base for a mixed media piece and a worthwhile experiment. It's certainly giving me food for thought and sparking some new ideas for the future.

Feathers  drypoint and mixed media on handmade paper   15x20cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Heavy weather in drypoint

Heavy Weather   drypoint 7.5x7.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

We have been having a lot of heavy weather just lately mixed up with plain grey skies so the half hour break of blue sky and sunshine today was most welcome. As I type we are back to plain old grey....

A passing shower - drypoint and collagraph combination print

A Passing Shower I    collagraph with drypoint   12.5x12.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

A Passing Shower II    collagraph with drypoint   12.5x12.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

A Passing Shower III    collagraph with drypoint   12.5x12.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

I've been experimenting with combining the two techniques using mountboard as a base for the plate. The land areas are a mixture of acrylic mediums and peeling back layers of the mountboard to reveal the texture. In the sky I used the etching tool to score lines. It is very satisfying to explore variations in mood and atmosphere by varying the inking of the plate. I can see so many avenues to explore.

Storm at sea - prints using dry point and collagraph in combination

                                                     
                                                                                                          

Storm at Sea 2/5  combination print 14x14cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

These three prints are part of an experiment to combine two techniques. Using a perspex plate I used the drypoint needle to scratch the sea and the pebbles on the beach. In the sky area I used an acrylic fibers medium to create the stormy clouds. I didn't notice at first as each time I was also trying out a different style of inking up the plate but each time that I inked up for another print a little of the acrylic medium was detaching from the plate and the sky area was slowly disintegrating. In a way each of these is a monoprint as the plate was different for each impression. I really like the idea of the plate changing during the process like the clouds changing during the storm and the storm gradually dissipating - serendipitous printmaking.

Storm at Sea 3/5  combination print 14x14cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Storm at Sea 4/5  combination print 14x14cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Gulls and waves

Solo   dry point  8x7.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Another small drypoint made on a perspex plate. As an experiment I started to draw into one of the prints. I think the vignette idea is still trying to work its way out of my head because I felt like the sea needed to break the confines of the plate.

Into the Wind   10x10cm drypoint and mixed media   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Both versions are available at my Etsy shop Seasidestudiosuk.

Lucky me!

Acorns sketchbook page ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Look at the lovely gift my boys brought me back from a trip out to the park. The photograph doesn't do the gorgeous soft lime green of the acorns justice. I couldn't wait to get my sketchbook out to explore the shapes. It seems Prince Twinkle Toes has a good eye for treasure.

Acorns   watercolour sketch approx 10x14cm ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Sketches from the Isle of Wight

I've just got back from a few days away on the lovely Isle of Wight. I have gathered new material in the form of sketches, added to my collection of seaglass, seaweed and pebbles, walked on different beaches, taken in new views and eaten some fabulous pistachio ice-cream...(it really was worth writing about ;o) ). It was a lovely break.

Seaweed sketchbook page with seaweed and identification chart illustrated by Carol Roberts  ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Butterfly sketch watersoluble ink and coloured pencil ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

I even went on a couple of touristy trips. One of them was to a beautiful place called Butterfly World which inspired a couple of sketches and some thoughts for a new set of work - a break from my usual. The ideas are percolating and like steam from a hot coffee don't have a solid form just yet, they need a little time.

Butterfly sketch and pebble watersoluble ink and coloured pencil ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Now, lucky girl that I am I need to get ready for a trip to the lovely Shell Bay on Studland which I believe many, many, many years ago was connected to the Isle of Wight and time and tide have erroded the chalk to create Poole Harbour/Bay. The holiday hasn't ended just yet.

Summer evening

Summer Evening   acrylic on paper 14x14cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Sometimes the sea here is so still, quiet and calm it is unrecogniseable as the same body of water that menaces the coast during the October storms. As the days of summer are coming to an end and a coolness begins to stir in the evenings I look forward to the storms but for now it is good to reflect on the quieter times.

Spots! A feather drypoint

Spots!   drypoint with watercolour   plate size 3.5x7.5cm   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

I rather enjoyed working on a mini plate even though it was hard on the eyes and hands. The plate was printed onto HOT PRESS watercolour paper and then I have mounted each print onto a piece of handmade paper (approx 11x15cm) for a contrast in texture. I'm not sure which way around I prefer the image to go, I think it works both ways.

Available individually at my Etsy shop Seasidestudiosuk

Full moon and birch tree drypoints

Silver birch moon   30x40cm acrylic on canvas ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

The above painting is an old favorite of mine, I really do like this theme and often revisit it. So I thought I would use it as a starting point for a small drypoint using a metal plate instead of acrylic. I have also been enjoying working in a circular format so set myself the challenge of combining the two elements.

Moonrise metal plate 7cm diameter  ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

 A set of five prints is the result. Each one a variation in colour and tone. I am doing these as an open edition as I might do another few impressions. I don't think there will be many more than this as each time the plate runs through the press the burr gets more worn and the prints will be less clear.

All are for sale at my Etsy shop seasidestudiosuk.

Moonrise   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Moonrise I   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Moonrise II   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Moonrise III   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Moonrise IV   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Moonrise V   open edition drypoint  7cm diameter on 15x21cm paper   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

Summer sailing

Summer sailing, turquoise seas and a gentle breeze....... Who could ask for more? (A far cry from the torrential rain we have in the UK at the moment but a girl can dream.)

Summer sailing I   watercolour 17x17cm  ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Summer sailing II   watercolour 17x17cm  ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

These paintings are available in my Etsy store SeasidestudiosUK 

I have also listed the first five in the edition and a proof print of my Nautilus drypoint.

Choosing a palette

Caran d'Ache Pablo permanent colour pencils  ©2115Lisa Le Quelenec

As well as recently ordering paint, paper and etching inks I also added a little treat, Some new (to me) pencils made by Caran d'Ache in their Pablo range. Aren't the colours gorgeous? I like using coloured pencils to sketch with and do thumbnails for paintings and these colours are very much the palette that I am working in at the moment. I use all sorts of types and look for the colour rather than the brand when selecting pencils. I prefer something softer with a good coverage of pigment generally and I'm rather taken with these. The smell of new pencils is something of an addiction too ;o)

Caran d'Ache Pablo permanent colour pencils  ©2115Lisa Le Quelenec

Chambered nautilus - variations

Nautilus   prints 1 - 4 of 10   drypoint 15.5x20.5cm   ©2015LisaLeQuelenec

They took a little while to dry but here they are... the first four prints of an edition of ten of my chambered nautilus dry point. There are variations in the colouring and tones as I am continuing to experiment with the inking process.

Dry point pine cone three variations

Pine cone   dry point with chine colle & watercolour 8x7.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Pine cone   dry point with gouache 8x7.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Pine cone   dry point  8x7.5cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

My little press and I have been busy experimenting with dry point. I'm still using perspex as a plate but I now have an dry point tool which is much easier on the hands than my old compass. I am rather pleased with these three variations and the different qualities that you can get just by changing an aspect of the printing process or working into the prints after. All three of these pine cones are available in my Etsy store here.

Below is the plate and dry point tool.

Chambered nautilus drypoint etching from a perspex plate

Plans for Nautilus drypoint ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

I bit the bullet and treated myself to a small printing press a while back. I can print up to an A4 paper size which I think will suit my needs. The details of the press for anyone interested are here I am not affiliated to this company in any way and I'm sure that it can probably be purchased from other suppliers this is just where I happened to go. The press is very light weight and as well as bolting it to a cupboard I have also had to bolt the cupboard to the wall to stop everything from moving around so that I can get enough pressure to do what I need. That said for the price I am very pleasantly surprised and delighted with the results so far.


I have been rediscovering my love of drawing whilst experimenting with drypoint. Drawing the nautilus was an enjoyable challenge! Below is the first proof taken from a perspex plate.

Nautilus -  Artist Proof I   Drypoint   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

At the moment I am using HOT PRESS 140lb watercolour paper but in the future hope to experiment with some printmaking paper. The inks I am using are Caligo safewash etching inks (oil based but watersoluble for easy  clean up).

Watercolour storms in my sketchbook

Watercolour storm sketches A4 sketchbook ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

More storms in my sketchbook. My aim was to capture the 'wetness' of the weather. I am noticing those mussel shell colours a lot at the moment.

Watercolour summer storms

Last week we were treated to the most fantastic light show during a thunderstorm. I can't remember a storm with so much lightening. It was very loud and very bright and lasted quite a long time. Luckily Prince Twinkle toes slept all the way through it.

The build up to it had started in the afternoon and had inspired these tiny paintings which I have now listed in my Etsy shop.

Storm building I   watercolour 6x9cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Storm building II   watercolour 6.5x8.5cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Storm building III   watercolour 6x9cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Storm building IV   watercolour 6x9cm ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Flexing my mussels

Mussel shells study   coloured pencil   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun.....

Storms End

Storms End   17x17cm watercolour on paper   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

With all the printmaking going on I have made a little time for painting too. A small painting inspired by the end of some wild weather. This painting is available at my Etsy store here