Night Tide - collagraph variations

 

Night Tide    varied edition collagraphs    ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

One plate, an edition of 4 all, varied in the inking of the collagraph plate measuring 12.5x12.5cm.

One memory, a hot and humid evening watching summer storm clouds gathering across the bay. Metallic tasting air, an expectant silence.... then a sultry breeze and a rush back to the car before the storm broke and the rain fell in torrents. It is funny how a storm can stay with you for years, nestled away in your memory ready to be brought out and relived.

It feels quite apt to be posting about them now given the recent bit of weather the UK has been experiencing.

Night Tide - prints available at Folksy ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

The prints are available in my Folksy store.

Night Tide Artist Proof with mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

I tested the collagraph plate with these two proof prints and made a couple of adjustments before printing this small edition of four in blue black indigo ink. The six images together feel like they tell the story of that summer evening - each one a snap shot in time.

Night Tide Artist Proof with mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec

November's spiral shell drawing

 

WIP spiral shell drawing   pencil and ink   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

November's drawing is a weighty one. I always think this shell would make a pretty lethal weapon. You can hold it in your hand very comfortably with it's claws between your fingers as it is a rather large specimen. I guess the creature that lives inside could potentially use it's protrusions to warn off predators maybe, it certainly looks fierce.

Can you believe that there is only one more drawing to go? I can't I feel like I have just been getting started but the year is going so fast! I will need to think up next years one-a-month project soon.

Spiral shell drawing   pencil and ink on paper   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I am also VERY excited to show you the pattern that I made in the summer from the first six drawings, this is a sample of the fabric in the small scale in mid blue. I am so pleased with how this came out (even if I do say so myself) - and I did a happy dance! The fat quarter that I ordered is on the petal signature cotton but lots of other fabrics are available like velvet, fleece, twill, cotton silk, denim and I am very tempted to order some of the wallpaper as a sample (I will have to think up a project to use it on - I think it would be lovely as a book cover).

To see the available colourways click here and look for the Coastal Collection for the relevant colour.

Beachcombed Beauties medium mid blue   fabric available at Spoonflower   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

As always it is available as a print, framed, unframed or canvas or stationery at RedBubble 

Portrait XI   framed prints available at LisaLeQuelenec.redbubble.com ©LisaLeQuelenec2025

Dusk Deepened - collagraph and mixed media

 

Dusk Deepened I - IV   Mixed media and Collagraph  12.5x12.5cm ©2025

Using the same printing plate I have made four images, each different, by working further with acrylic and printing ink. Much like a view changing with progressing light, in each image I have tried to capture a progressing moment - like a burst shot by a camera. I am fascinated by the way the same view from the same position is never the same because of the changing light through weather and season, a kind of homage to Monet's Rouen Cathedral, haystacks and lily ponds in a way. I have been looking and appreciating their multiple variations lately. The first in the set of four is available in my Folksy Store.

Dusk Deepened I   collagraph and mixed media 12.5x12.5cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

October's Spiral Shell Drawing

 

October spiral shell drawing   pencil and ink  ©2025Lisa Le Quelenec

Spiral for October, a Lightening Whelk I believe. A really weighty and solid specimen which I hope I have conveyed. - Only two more drawings to go for this series.

I have made these drawings individually for framed prints available at  RedBubble

Shell Portrait IX - prints available framed and unframed at RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Shell Portrait X - prints available framed and unframed at RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Smuggler's Moon - print and mixed media

 

Smuggler's Moon  print and mixed media 12.5x12.5cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec 

One of the prints made and rejected from the previous post was too dark and over inked so I used the print as the plate and ran it through the press with paper over (like tonking an oil painting in a way). This resulted in a reversed image with some pleasing subtleties of texture. I worked into it whilst still wet which gave a much softer and hazier finish. Once dried I could add a moon for a feeling of the winter nights to come. 

Available in my Folksy Store.

Gathering I - III collagraph and mixed media

 

Gathering I - III   collagraph and mixed media   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Small changes in the inking of one collagraph plate, a progression of light in one view with mixed media. I am enjoying working without colour for a while....I feel that I don't need the distraction but I wonder if that will change....

These are available at Folksy

September's spiral drawing

 

September Shell Spiral Drawing  ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

September's model is smaller but a satisfying weight in the hand. The shell walls are thick and solid. It is a testament to the strength of the creature that called it home and also the ocean's where the points have been worn down.

I have been adding this series to my RedBubble store, I like the look of them as framed prints. What do you think?

August's Spiral drawing

 

August's spiral shell drawing pencil and ink on paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

June's Spiral drawing - unidentified shell

 

June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

This shell had lots of lumps and bumps to navigate and textures too. The spines were satisfying to draw - some had received a bit of damage to their tips but I think it adds to its character. 

This year is running away fast. Can you believe that it is June already? It doesn't feel like I have done six spiral drawings already this year and yet here they are...

Detail of June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Spiral drawing for May - 3 for 1 shells

 

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I started but I couldn't stop! Three spirals for May as they are getting quite addictive. I'm chasing my tail still trying to catch up on projects that I feel should have been finished already. Sometimes things take longer than you think. I was hoping to be able to have the Ran's Daughters project finished and ready to share buy the end on April but it hasn't quite worked out that way. I am getting close though... even with distracting spiral drawings in the mix.

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

April's Spiral Drawing - Queen conch

 

March Spiral Drawing - pencil and ink on toned paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Sliding in at the end on the month with April's spiral drawing. This one was especially difficult to capture the spiral and descending order of size in the protrusions a couple of which were also bendy and different to the others. Isn't nature wonderful in all her perfect imperfections? She kept me on my toes anyway.

 

Broken But Still Beautiful I - mixed media drawing

 

Broken But Still Beautiful I   mixed media drawing 30x21cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

The end of 2023 passed - I'm not sure where or how - and here we are already the 11th! Armed with new plans for work and hopefully more self discipline blog-wise than I have shown last year I will be here more regularly.

To begin the year a resolution to myself to make more time for drawing. Drawing is another area that I have neglected recently and should be one of the first signs to myself that things are going askew. Life is much better with drawing in it. The act of slowing down and looking is undervalued I think. I am a little rusty but have made a start.

I plan to make one drawing each month this year on the theme of 'Broken But Still Beautiful'. (There may be more than 12 but I want at least 12 by the end of the year.) To start off the project this beautiful whelk shell that I picked up in Norfolk last summer. I have a lovely collection of broken whelks and the project may well be a series from these resources. I obsess over the beautiful internal twisting wave-like spiral of the columella. Even the sound of the word 'columella' I find beautiful. When I look at broken whelks I see a Barbara Hepworth or Henry Moore sculpture - a reclining figure - large scale and monumental. I have no end in mind for these drawings except to enjoy the process and get lost in the shapes, contours and textures. Lets see how I get on....