Collagraph workshop

The workshop season has started and this morning's was an experimental collagraph printing session. We began with a PowerPoint outlining methods and hopefully giving inspiration. I then asked everyone, after a demonstration. to make two different 10cm square collagraphs using 'Enviromount' card and one with mounting board. We used abstract designs, in a single colour  for this, so we could really focus on the tonal qualities of the prints. Cuts were made and foil added. We found, I think, that the Enviromount was easier for the less experienced to cut and peel compared to the mounting board, but the mountboard gave a greater variety of tones when peeled away. The Enviromount gives a much deeper tone when peeled away than the mounting board. Handprinted in Bognor Regis supply the Envioromount card. 

This was my piece I had prepared with the plate on the left. 

Some of our test pieces ....

We compared two kinds of tape - aluminium builders tape which you just peel off a roll - and the type of backed aluminium sheets you put behind things to reflect heat. The backed sheets were easier for cutting shapes, but complex shapes were tricky to peel away. The buiders tape was more robust and very sticky! .As always a lot of the skill lies in the inking up - and in an ideal world we would have sealed our plates - but in three hours I think we made a pretty good attempt at introducing collagraph. Both kinds of plate printed well for two or three prints. 

Having learnt the basic skills we then went onto experiment with our own ideas ..I particularly like this one of tree bark, where  the texture was made by overlapping pieces of foil ..although I still see it as a landscape! 

Wedholme Flow - the bog.

Leaving the woodland fringe we walked across the centre of the reserve. Lovely to see 18 Snipe, the light was great, but most unexpectedly; a curled up Adder asleep in a puddle - until I had to rapidly avoid it, as I nearly stood on it. 

Breezy....

Still colourful....

Firy cups - or Cladonia fruiting bodies - which ever you prefer! ...and below.

Reflecting light...

Autumnal colours.

A gorgeous Adder..amd below as it slithered off. 

Wedholme Flow

After the damp morning we went down to Wedhome Flow ...I'll start with the woodland edge of the reserve where, when the sun came out,the damselflies and butterflies basked in the early autumn sun.

Red Admiral.

Fouteen Spot Ladybird.

There were lots of paired up Common Darters. 

A spectacular spider with prey....

Basking ....

Shield Bug sp.

Meadow Grasshopper.

Another Common Darter.

Speckled Wood - I like the speckling on the leaves reflecting the butterfly speckles. 

Short-eared owl

 What a treat this morning! We decided to walk from the house as the cloud was down on the fells, so over to Thornthwaite and across to Keeper's Cottage where, on the way, we were able to watch this hunting Short-eared Owl. After Keeper's Cottage, down the road and along past Thistlebottom and Snowhill to Aughertree Fell and the path to Aughertree village and back over the top home. 

Still a lot of different species of flowering plant around and gatherings of swallows. 

Short-eared Owl and below. 

The path between Thornthwaite and Keeper's Cottage. 

Sneezewort and Devil's-bit Scabious. 

Looking back to Keeper's Cottage. 

The meltwater channel over Aughertree Fell. 

Looking north to Aughertree.

An unseasonable Dog Rose. 

Latrigg....a quick nip up..

Today I am in Keswick at Crafts of the North - but on such a beautiful day a very quick nip up Latrigg was required - otherwise I would have been so frustrated at being inside all day! We're so lucky to live in such a beautiful place! For my reference I left home at 8:30 - parked up at 8:55 (on the roadside - the carpark was already full!) then up and down to the car for 9:35 then back into Keswick in time for work). 

View over Derwentwater from the summit. 

Where I'd rather be! 

Skiddaw. 

Looking north up Bassenthwaite. 

Topp end of Derwentwater. 

Last of the summer Harebells. 

Binsey wanderings

After a long day in Keswick at Crafts of the North, It was such a treat to stop off for a quick wander up Binsey on the way home. 

Looking down on Overwater.

Nosey Herdie.

The panorama setting distorts the view ..from Overwater to Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite.

Looking into Central Lakes. 

..and zooming out.

A nice light on Dash Beck. 

Approaching the top...

The top....

..and back down again. 

 

Autumn Mothtrap (2)

With some really good sightings being recorded across the county, we put the trap out for a second consecutive night and recorded: 

Angleshades 1; Autumnal Rustic 1 ; Black Rustic 1; Canary –shouldered Thorn 3; Centre-barred Sallow 2; Common Marbled Carpet 3; Common Carpet 1; Common Wainscot 4; Copper Underwing 2; Dark Arches 3; Flame Carpet 1; Flame Shoulder 7; Frosted Orange 2; Garden Carpet 1; Green-brindled Crescent 2 ; Green Carpet 1; Large Yellow Underwing 12; Lesser Yellow Underwing 2; Pink-barred Sallow 2;  Purple Bar 1; Rosy Rustic 16; Sallow 2; Setaceous Hebrew Character 8; Silver Y 6; Snout 3; Small Square-spot 1; Square-spot Rustic 1; Vestal 2….plus a gorgeous big patterned cranefly – Pedicaria rivosa and two Harlequin ladybirds.  

The new highlights being; Autumnal Rustic; Black Rustic; Frosted Orange and Pink-barrred Sallow. 

Autumnal Rustic.

Black Rustic.

Frosted Orange.

Pink-barred Sallow.

Two Green-brindled Crescents.

Canary-shuldered Thorn. 

Pedicaria rivosa.

Harlequin Ladybird.