Tide

This small piece forms part of a group of four that I made. They are part of a broader body of work looking at the Saltmarshes on the river Dart in Devon. I have been collaborating on a bioregional project now for several years, which has been reflected in methods and indeed practice. For these works I created a surface on the pastel paper with site specific pigments beside the reed beds of Black grass or Black reeds using their fallen leaves to “print” on the surface of the paper. When I am back in the studio these are then dried and fixed before being gently brushed with a pastel ground. I then take soft chalk pastels and sometimes a little charcoal to embellish the surface.

The found materials create beautiful patterns across the surface, earth and vegetation adding texture that grasps at the chalk pastel colours.

In this piece “ Tide” I am reminded of being alone at the reed beds as the tide begins to flow back in through the reeds. Along with the incoming water arrives a multitude of marine life invertebrates and fish. It is the simplicity of the process and the unpredictable outcomes that are interesting. The overarching joy of making these is the feel of each step in the process, cold wet earth and dry reed leaves, the sound of the chalk pastels as they catch on the created surface of the paper, the archaeological feel of brushing n the pastel ground.

• Mixed media using found materials and site specific pigments.
• Daler Rowney pastel paper.
• Original artwork mounted. Original size: 210 x 29.7mm
• February 2024
• Signed on reverse
• Mount and back board
• Free shipping and insurance included