Fired Earth

Fired Earth 24" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas.

I recently finished this painting, which was a bit experimental and not entirely successful.  The texture, that is a bit difficult to see in this photo, was created by covering the canvas on the right hand side with Japanese paper well soaked in dilute PVA adhesive and then pushing it about into ridges and creases, all the time keeping it well doused with the PVA.

The left side was treated in the same way but using newspaper to create rather deeper ridges and creases.

Your critical comments would be appreciated

Wabi-Sabi 3

These three images seem to me to have a distinct Wabi-Sabi feel to them, they are definitely in a  state of deconstruction and show ample evidence of human use over a long period.

The photographs were taken at Landguard Fort which is on the River Orwell in Suffolk UK and was built to guard the entrance to Harwich harbour.

The first fortification on the site was built by Henry VIII in 1543 and has been rebuilt and modernised several times over the years, much of the current structure dates from 1871.

The fort was deemed to have no further military purpose in 1956 and was sealed up and left to disintegrate.  In the 1980s local interest was aroused and the fort was consolidated by English Heritage in 1997/8 in whose care it remains.

There is reputed to be paranormal activity at the fort from time to time!!