St. Gilbert’s Sempringham Fen by Fiona Phipps

Wow Fiona -if this is a beginner's attempt at the technique it's a pretty fine result. What were you etching on and with what tool? Keep up the good work -I look forward to seeing more of these & I note you have set up a new gallery so presumably more to come.

Looks great Fiona.

Good result, Fiona.

Thank you Carol! Well, if I tell you what I was using you must promise not to tell Mr. Bickley, he would be ashamed of me! Lol. Not to mention the telling off I would get. I ordered ‘proper’ tools & other standard equipment for the job but in the mean time I had a press standing there idle so....... It’s done on an old bit of Perspex from a photo frame, I used sandpaper and a couple of small old screwdrivers that I sharpened up on the grinder. This isn’t very good at all but with Alan’s coaching and the correct tools, I hope to improve.

Than you very much Rachel, Cesare for your comments.

Is there anything you can't do, Fiona? Looks great.

Yes Seth, I can’t do most of what I attempt! Lol thanks very much.

Well what have we here?, a monotype no less. This is much improved on some of your earlier attempts that you showed me during the week. I know that you are waiting for some etching needles and 2mm Perspex to arrive, Once you have these you will be able to achieve a bigger variety of marks. (that's the idea anyway!). I'm not going to sit here and criticise anything (well, I might in a minute), because it's a splendid effort. Some crisper and more accurate lines on the church, don't try and indicate tiles at that distance, and a bit of work on the distant trees, a bit more indication of branches rather than a woolly ball! Drypoint etchings, indeed any etching, should be displayed showing the indented border rather than cropped. I suspect you have cropped this one because it was etched on a scrap of off square stuff found on the garage floor! Ahhh, I've just seen your reply to Carole, just as I thought!

Very effective Fiona, you are so good at 'making do' with equipment. I look forward to seeing work with your new tools ;)

Not sure if you have just been praised or reprimanded. Either way I look forward to the results of this new technique when the proper equipment comes.

Gosh you are clever Fiona! You must have got lots of stuff in your art room, you are good at trying new things😀 This is clever stuff!

Super Fiona. I love this graphic style. If this is a first attempt there will be no stopping you.

Well, I shall take heart. I might give it a go. I like the distinct lines. I wonder what great stuff will come once you have the proper kit.

Looks good - enjoyed reading all the remarks and will look out for future etchings.

You’re right about the garage floor Alan! Lol I hope I’m not setting myself up for a very embarrassing fall here Alan......hope you’re right about the improvement I should make with the correct materials, if not, it will be embarrassing. Thank you for the feedback. Thanks Carole, I can’t help myself sometimes ‘making do’ but some things just need the proper stuff. A bit of both I think Tony.....thanks very much!

Thanks very much Margaret! I’m a bit mean to be honest Margaret, I only get the basic amount of anything I need in which ever medium.......always the best quality though. Many thanks Lewis, I hope to do better! Go on Gudrun have a go! Don’t build your hopes up ref great stuff coming from me......you may be disappointed. Lol. Thank you Maureen....fingers crossed.

You always surprise & do well Fiona (as well as entertain) ...,thank you...I love following the progress :)

Good result

congratulations on a mighty "first attempt". It isn't an easy medium and working back to front so to speak. You could have used a nail - 6 inch - and sharpened the point on that , smaller nails for a finer point -Tack them into a piece of doweling and cut the head off , then sharpen that point. (I have both). The idea of sandpaper is a good one and, depending upon the grit size , will give a soft blur to a scratchy effect. Old X rays will work as a substrate altho a little difficult to view . The availability of a press is the main thing but even here I understand the back of a spoon will work.

Lol.....Sylvia, thank you very much, I think I can guarantee a good laugh, with what I’m sure is to follow this one. Mike thanks for the tips, I might try your nail suggestion, sounds good. It isn’t easy I have to say but I will persevere for the time being. I’m very fortunate to have been lent a press, it’s marvellous but I’ve seen a spoon used with quite good results, I think the thickness of paper is important to that method. You need a fairly light but robust paper.

Many thanks Ruth!

A good attempt Fiona. Everything you do is done with such great energy.

My apologies for calling this a monotype, my brain was in idle mode at the time. Forget nails, get the proper kit (as you are doing). Spoons DON'T work, they aren't able to give sufficient and uniform pressure. Luckily for you, a top quality press is what you already have, and you will I'm sure, get lots of use from it. Spoons and rollers are fine for monotypes, NOT for drypoint etchings, or any other form of etching for that matter - case closed...

The whole process for this sounds complicated, and tools you used...old screwdrivers etc you have produced something really beautiful.

Certainly not beginner's luck. Really good Fiona. Admire your experimentation with different techniques.

Thanks John, I’m not sure if energy is the right word, more impatience, but I do have lots of enthusiasm when tackling something new. No problem Alan.....one of those senior moments perhaps! Lol It is Ellen, it isn’t as straight forward as I thought it might be, but if you can get it right like Alan, it’s worth it. Thank you. Thank you Richard, appreciate your feedback.

I like this Fiona, with those tall grasses in the foreground and those lines leading us to the church give it a great feeling of depth. Can't wait to see what you can do with the "right" tools and Alan's help and advice.

I like your enthusiasm in trying different techniques Fiona, I must try something new, getting a bit bored at the moment.

Thank you Val. I was hoping the etching needles I ordered would arrive this morning but no, I’m eager to get started! Alan has been brilliant, but he does tell me off and quite rightly, I make silly mistakes and decisions sometimes. Thanks Stephen....that’s my biggest set back, boredom. That’s why I like to move around mediums and subjects, I try and challenge myself. I can’t do something for the sake of doing it, I like to do it with enthusiasm........I think sometimes you can see it in the end result, if you are just going through the motions. Just a change of subject can do the trick Stephen, or a change of medium. I know you like to do landscapes and that’s were your interest is, that’s what you feel safe with...perhaps? How about a still life, industrial, animals, anything really other than what you usually do...whether you like it or not. Try charcoal, you are good with charcoal, for a mining scene or fruit/flower a subject at odds with the medium. Apologies, I’ve gone on a bit......I’m just enthusiastic about art, any kind of art! Lol I’ve been looking at collagraphs, these are really easy to do...well they look easy, I haven’t done one yet...lol. But you don’t need lots of equipment just odd bits you would find around the house and garden, stick them on to a bit of mount board or cardboard, rub in or brush over with ink or any other medium, if it works it works, then put your damp paper on top, give it a good rub....hey presto, a print!

Thanks for all your suggestions, I used to do the odd pastel in between watercolours, I might give that a go, or perhaps acrylics, there is so much choice isn't there?