Flamborough Kittiwake II

Latest print, working on long mural format, mark making close to original sketch. Earthy colours taken from cave painting sites like Altamira.

Flamborough Kittiwakes

I made this drawing of Kittiwakes on July 7th, as a sketch to later make into a print. Drawn from beach at Flamborough head during low tide, chalk stone ledges strewn with nests. The long format ties in with the influence of cave paintings which influences these mono-prints, e.g. strong line, rich earthy colour, mark making, expression of movement.

Trial run today on a small plate with simple bs, cb (1st) rs, cb, ru (2nd) (cr, az) palette. 

Rocks bluer, colder, more definate forms needed - shadows

Snorkel of all snorkels

The recent calm spell meant perfect conditions for snorkeling this weekend. Under Borth cliff a whole new world of life forms was revealed, endless drawing possibilities:





Submerged rocks teamed with conglomerates of spiny spider crabs.



Sea bass shoaled in their hundreds, large specimens could be seen foraging, apparently grazing the seaweed.



Corkwing (?) wrasse, find cover in the kelp, I drew this far bolder individual, defending a scrape in the exposed rock, presumably a 'nest'. Not sure if smaller fish to right is a potential mate?



Jelly fish everywhere, this barrel jellyfish was a metre in diameter.



An otter surfacing close by interrupted my discovery of marine life. As it dived a trail of air bubbles hung in its path for me to follow to the sea bed, lungs bursting I caught a glimpse of a sinewy shape grappling and rummaging under rocks. Then again i watched the otter glide between jellyfish to the surface. I stayed with it into the shallows as it foraged amongst the kelp. Once or twice he showed me his teeth, which is what's happening in the photo above as he swam towards me. An incredible experience, and on my own doorstep





Resident bottlenose dolphins put in appearance just to round off the day.