“Voyagers”

Living in Yorkshire with the East Coast within reach, I'm very aware of the migration of birds.

Sitting on Flamborough Head cliffs, just South of the Bempton bird colony, it's not long, at certain times of year, before you see lines of migrating birds. Gannets and others pass in formation, making their way to or from their winter territories.

On top of the high cliffs there, you experience much movement in the air that's invisible to eyes. It's felt on skin and in hair, and is the result of breezes and reverberations from the sea below combining.

These two things, migrating birds and the ever moving air come together in this sky art.

Ever moving air and birds

Sky⁢scapes are a feature of almost every landscape. Only those looking down where the horizon is above the picture edge don't have sjky in them. It's an important part of any landscape print or painting, so it's something I'm always tackling.

Migrating seabirds are a fascinating thing to witness, as they tirelessly follow the coast to their breeding sites.

They can be a surprise too. While painting in the North York Moors, I witnessed a group of geese circling round a particular distinctive hill. I thought they were lost, and then several more groups followed. After a moment I remembered there's a reservoir further up the valley.

There's a lot fo scope in the formations birds make while migrating for intriguing art. This lino print only scratches the surface of a rich artistic aesthetic.

Printing “Voyagers”

This linocut combines bold shapes with subtle graduated colour and texture. Seemingly simple, it passed through the printing press three times.

There were two graduated inks applied to the lino block. The second graduation has some transparent medium added. It adds a slight gloss that contrasts with the more matt shapes.

The bird silhouettes, and third layer of ink, had a distinct texture while the rest remained flat and smooth. Details like this add a subtle sophistication to this artwork.

Exhibited: Ferens Open Art Exhibition 2009. Juried art exhibition. Hull public art gallery, Yorkshire, UK.