Pevensey - in the shadow of the walls by Jenny Johnstone

Hi Jenny, no idea how you do these paintings, but they certainly have an impact, love to see more of your watercolours.

Is the reason you're unsure about removing the sheet that you don't know how to? Or some other reason? If the former, there should be a small area of paper that isn't stuck down, into which you can slide a paper knife; it'll be at the bottom of the sheet probably. Then it's just a matter of sliding the knife sideways and up on both sides, and peeling the sheet away from the top hinge. I've got a sort of idea how you paint with Milton's Fluid and Quink, but presumably you don't use brushes for the Milton's? And do you use a brown ink, or is this what happens when you introduce Milton's to black ink? Any worries about the longer term effects of the sterilizing fluid on paper?

Thank you Peter, I gave up on watercolour - or it gave up on me. Yes, Robert - the block doesn't come with instructions - I couldn't see any gap but I'll check again. Lucky I am not too pleased with this or I should be terrified of ripping it trying to separate it from the block ! Yes, I do use brushes to paint into the ink with the bleach - but just the cheap acrylic ones (they've come up very clean!) I just use black quink and miltons fluid - although any household bleach will do. The blue tones in sky are just diluting the ink with water and the other tones are created by the bleach 'splitting' the ink. Different papers affect the tones produced, the previous 4 are on Bockingford paper which makes it yield lovely bronze tones. The bleach is alkaline so the paper is quite safe

Bags of atmosphere in this one Jenny, love that brooding sky!

Very effective, reminiscent of the weather conditions after a storm.

Lovely work ; interesting medium.

Great effects. By the way, there is nothing wrong with your watercolours either ....

Super work as always Jenny, your method works as well on landscapes, or should I say townscapes, as it does on your portraits How about joining in the self portrait challange using this method or watercolours? :)

I think this is wonderful Jenny -so realistic and atmospheric. You certainly have a wonderful talent with this medium. I'm not aware of anyone else who uses this medium and am completely intrigued by the way it works.

This is so cleverly done Jenny. I like it.

thank you Debs, Pat, Avril, Gudrun, Val, Carol and Carole. Not sure about it myself - think this medium works best for simple portrait or figure

Jenny - if there isn't a gap in the glued sides, make one with a razor blade and then proceed as described. I shall really have to try this method!

You are very hard on yourself, Jenny! Whatever the subject, you seem to make it work. It's fascinating to see how you've got the blue coming into it too. And it's very recognisably Pevensey. Jenny - how would you feel about giving a demonstration of Quink & Miltons to our art group - does it work quickly enough for a demo? Don't dismiss the idea - give it some thought & get back to me!

Really clever Jenny.

Thank you Robert, Carlina and Denise. Carlina - I'm flattered to be asked but no, I couldn't.. Apart from the fact that I think people should only demonstrate if they know what they're doing, hahaha, I don't think it is something that would make a good 'show' and would be difficult to see and boring to watch. It is very liquid so I work flat, not on easel. It involves long waiting periods for stuff to dry, would be difficult for people to see what I'm doing, only ink, water and bleach involved and difficult for an observer to see any difference whether I'm picking up bleach or water or a mixture of the two, let alone how much I am diluting the bleach at any stage. And you can't see what I've done till it is dry and the bleach has finished 'eating' ink

Thanks for your considerate reply, Jenny (although on the evidence presented you certainly seem to know what you are doing!). I had no way of knowing how long the bleaching process takes but did realise that you would probably be working flat. It is a fascinating way of making images, produces stunning results (in the right hands) and is definitely one to add to my list headed 'must try that'! I look forward to your next one.