Now at Villa Campestri

My work “His Lordship-Villa Campestri” is now on display at Villa CAMPESTRI Olive Oil Resort in Vicchio di Mugello.

At Reception, Villa Campestri

Printing His Lordship – Villa Campestri

The very first copy of the second state of this etching.

The etching at Reception of Villa Capestri Luxury Olive Oil Resort, in the Mugello region in Tuscany.

His Lordship – Villa Campestri

One of the most suffered etchings, lately

Second state of the printed etching

Experimenting from start to finish, this a representation of the ideal Cyprus tree.

It can be physically found at Villa Campestri, near Vicchio, in the Tuscan Mugello region.

It started with a graphical image of the background trees, and on the main tree (etching).

Followed  by a saltgrain aquatint on the background.

I then started an etching of the tree’s branches.

Last but not least, I proceeded to aquatint the Lordship itself!

The final aquatint was a bit too dark, so the second state includes a Burnisher pass over parts of his Lordship.

So this is what His Lordship looks like at the moment.

A limited series have been pulled of this state.

Linocuts on fresh Fabriano paper pulp.

Thanks to the collaboration with Master Papermaker Sandro Tiberi from Fabriano,  I am pleased to announce a new line of products!

“Big Tree” Linocut on fresh Handmade
Fabriano Paper Pulp.

“Blossom Tree” Linocut on fresh Handmade
Fabriano Paper Pulp.

“the Stolen Hug” Linocut on fresh Handmade
Fabriano Paper Pulp.

Backlit image of the Big Tree.

Working with Sandro Tiberi.

When you have the luck to work with a Master Papermaker’ like Sandro Tiberi, to print a linocut on his freshly made paper, is a dream!

Virgo

My first attempt at a human figure.

This is my representation of the Sogni Zodiacali series.

“Virgo”

Though it has to be finished, some technical details are fun.

Etching is a matter of texture. It’s a zen product.

(Thanks Daria for modelling).

Abstract Art

During my pilgrimage with trees, I am finding that some abstract paintings help concentrate.

Some are larger than others…

“New Heights to Monotony”

THE UPSIDE DOWN TREE

In the Celtic tradition there’s the idea that some trees connect us to the underworld.

Especially Oaks.

But this I found this out well after having had this image in my mind, and etched it on iron.

Mending the Damage

Using a technique similar to that of Kintsugi, I tried to mend, what was broken.

An idea, a relationship, an etching.

The Cyprus Tree, was halved.

The bottom part of the drypoint

Without wanting to, I’d broken a drypoint on Plexiglass.

I let the loss of the etching settle, so as to face the idea of printing them separately.

So I printed it (them), in three copies, plus a proof print.

Printed halves

I then applied a thin layer of gold, to the proof print, so as to mend the damage.

Laying the guilded kintsugi

The end result!

Cyprus (Cypress) Trees.

Tuscany is renowned for its Cyprus trees. A typical country road, is often marked by rows of them. In popular culture, a Cyprus tree would be planted at the birth of every son, or daughter.

Though they look similar, once you observe them, you can find many differences, also depending on the ground they grow in.

I first started etching Cyprusses nearly 50 years ago, when at art school.

Etching on Zinc, late ’70s

Now I have the opportunity to work on these matchstick giants.

I broke my first attempt at a Plexiglass drypoint, just before printing it.

I decided to start a new one immediately, or the energy would have gone away.

This is the first proof test. Drypoint on Plexiglass.

I’m quite pleased with it. I will now have to decide, what to add, and if, of the landscape.