Tuesday 13 January 2009

Water so dark so still

PrintProject2_1

Water so dark so still
Linocut on blotting paper
20x15cm


Colours intersected by water
a surface so still that
it seems to reveal all there is

Look, can you not see?
All that there is
to marvel at

Clear lines long lines
unbroken
until
a breeze lifts
barely to hear
it lets the lake move
it breaks the lines
hides the trees

And nothing remains.



Check my blog for more info on the printmaking project here

9 comments:

Making A Mark said...

More lino printing! I can see us ending up with a print-making collective at this rate! :)

I love the idea of image and poem - well done Gesa.

vivien said...

Love the text with the image - a friend of mine writes poetry and does portraits from old photos and it works beautifully.

You should work out a way of combining them in finished pieces?

Lindsay said...

Sounds like book arts to me!! Lovely.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Beautiful Gesa..both poem and linocut!

Jeanette Jobson said...

I really do like this piece Gesa. Its so strong and graphic.

The poetry with it really finishes the image. I agree that if it can be incorporated in or around the finished piece it would be really powerful.

Gesa said...

Yes, printmaking collective sounds good to me. Thanks, everyone.
Now... there's some ideas... I hadn't thought of integrating them. Well, all the word plays are in response to the two pastel sketches; but yes, this is a good idea. And Lindsay - after reading Vivien's post (and before reading yours) I did think of a book format for these. I will need to think further...
Thanks, too, Jeanette. I like how the lino enforces its own logic. It's curious how it needs getting used to to the specific language of a medium (had something similar with collage) but it offers fascinating possibilities. I came across them early on in the plein air woodcut the German Expressionists of Die Bruecke did. And how that in turn informed back on their painting style.

Jo Reimer said...

Lovely poem... well done.

Anonymous said...

Lovely stuff! Want more inspiration for one-colour printing? Newfoundland artist Christine Koch makes exquisite linoprints of the landscape there. I particularly enjoy the way she renders texture as pattern. Check out the prints section of her Gallery, and especially the print collages.

http://www.christinekoch.com/index1.html

Cate in Dundee

Gesa said...

Thank you, Jo. And, again, thank you Cate for another fascinating printmaker - hm, those nocturnes are just delicious.

Jeanette, do you know Christine? She lives in your part of the worlds, doesn't she?