Hello everyone, I hope the past week has been kind to you. Thank you to everyone who shared their own thoughts, gave support to my writing last week (thoughts on sharing work online). I appreciate your kindness.
photo: recent sketchbook page - gouache on brown paper
It’s been a mixed week here. Still stress from our unplanned move. Hoping very much that things will feel a little more - I am grappling for the right word here - ‘just so’ as we head into September.
These things take time.
I’ve asked myself: what else can I do to be a little more ‘at home’ in myself, creatively? I realised that I’ve neglected my monoprint drawing. It’s just not been top of the list when thinking about making new work.
photo: random drawings from a recent monoprint drawing session
I have to say that monoprint drawing is such an engrossing way of making images - it is so much part of what I do - I am astonished at myself for neglecting this part of my studio life…
A monoprint drawing is made by putting a layer of ink or paint on to a surface, such as glass or perspex, or even something less conventional such as primed wood. A piece of paper* is placed on top of the ‘inked up’ surface and the artist then draws on to the paper with a tool of their choice - a pencil, pen - or in my case a needle. The paper is then lifted from the surface and the image is on the reverse side. There are so many possible ways of making a monoprint drawing - and I’ve written before about how I prefer to use a very simple process that does not require anything but the most basic tools. And I do not give tutorials or make videos, but one of these days I suppose I might teach to a small group (when I feel the time is right - just before I become too decrepit).
The drawings you see in the above photo will end up in my sketchbooks but possibly also new artist books that I made for others to enjoy.
photo: sketchbook pages from 2019 - an example of how I combine monoprint drawings with other elements to tell or hint at various stories
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September reads
To feel more ‘at home’ in myself I have also decided I MUST give more time to reading and writing. Reading is such a big part of me and why I make pictures. My artwork is influenced by favourite books and authors.
If you are in a reading slump I do suggest watching a few booktube videos - on Youtube. Readers need never feel alone with the thriving book-tube community always posting a new video, sharing a new reading challenge! Every genre and literary strand has its book-tube sub-community.
September is apparently Shorty September. And there a many, many short books you might want to read. A short book being about 200 pages or less.
photo: a small stack of books to read in September.
Smile Please by Jean Rhys - a sadly unfinished autobiography by the author of Wide Sargasso sea (a novel that truly haunts me still)
A Cat, A Man And Two Women by Junichiro Tanizaki - a short book at less than 200 pages. Chosen from the library and not just because there’s a beautiful cat illustration on the front cover.
William Golding - Pincher Martin — a short novel which I feel might be quite harrowing, a bit of a challenge. But I have not read this or any Golding. No, I have not read the most famous one - Lord of the Flies
Eric Vuillard - The Order of the Day - came across this in the library and yes it was the name Vuillard that got me interested. Set during or before the Second World War - I have no idea if I will enjoy reading but will see.
D E Stevenson - Anna and Her Daughters. I’ve enjoyed other Stevenson books - described as ‘middlebrow’ twentieth century fiction. I’ve started on this one and found it charming.
Then there are two books that are not ‘short’ but not so long either - books I’ve had on my TBR pile for a while and am looking forward to:
Angela Thirkell - Before Lunch — another favourite twentieth century author. and yes probably quite ‘middlebrow’ and a comfort read
Elizabeth Strout - Olive, Again - yes, I do read contemporary authors too. I’ve just finished the first ‘Olive’ book - Olive Kitteridge and gave it 5 stars on Goodreads, so of course I went straight to the library and got this one
Are you reading any short books this September? Have you read any of the books above? Do let me know.
As for writing - yes I do want and need to spend more time writing. Which is why I have set myself a challenge to write a very small/short story each day in September. I won’t be sharing any here just at the moment - but more on my writing next week.
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I’m adding just a few new artworks to my shop later today (Sunday 3rd) - 7pm UK time. My next main update will be Wednesday at 8pm
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I’m keeping this one brief-ish this week - sorry no small stories. Time is against me. Next week I’ll share a good handful! Thanks always for reading here and for your kind comments and likes. Please do subscribe if you have not already. If you would like to buy me a coffee that would be much appreciated. I’m grateful especially to regular supporters of these studio notes.
Dear Cathy, yes, reading (especially when it is poetry or poetic prose) is a beautiful way of "doing home". I read “Anna and Her Daughters” and I found it beautiful and intense; I love everything Elizabeth Strout writes, my favorite of hers is “Abide with me”. And finally among the most beautiful books read lately there are those of the “Holt trilogy” by Kent Haruf (“Plainsong”, “Eventide”, and “Benediction”, this in particular). Best wishes, and if one day, before we're both decrepit, you'll do a study group I'd love to be with you. Happy Sunday!
Cathy !
Such delight to be a small but happy part of the Cathy Cullis universe.
One of many favorite poems for you. Enjoy the walk.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43073/corsons-inlet