I made this study yesterday from observation and enjoyed work with the Quink-ink washes and mark-making with pens and brushes. I found the hand-made paper was heavy enough to stand having water added time after time which was fun, then to draw into the wet areas with a mapping pen dipped in the ink and a fine-liner.

Here is my succulent drawing from today in fine-liner and Quink ink. I like to draw in fine-liner as you can’t rub it out so have to approach with a certain confidence as Hockney used to say. Then you can add little washes of ink. Again, you have to be confident although some modification is possible by blotting with tissue.

I’m still experimenting with Quink-ink in the hope that it will separate out into sepia tones and pale blue but it doesn’t seem to want to, unlike on the tissue that I use to blot my brush! It has been suggested to me that maybe the handmade gorgeous paper that I am using is too absorbent, hey ho. I still like the effects though!

I made this cushion cover over the past few weeks based on a sketch I made of Wasdale crags done on the spot. I like how embroidery can imitate drawn marks but in a slow and meditative way, so they have a different quality. The colour was added with Pebeo dyes that give strong effects that are satisfying on the white pre-washed linen.

II

I made this study last Saturday from life in the back yard. I experimented with diluted and full strength quink ink and crayon on top. I enjoyed how the ink sank into the handmade paper and I was able to press hard with the coloured crayons on top.