When I did my demo for 'Washi Wednesday' at the
Japanese Paper Place
I had the idea of showing how I could print a single lino block to
highlight the two main ways I incorporate various coloured and patterned
washi papers into my work. I carved a lino block with an array of
different interesting beetles and printed them both on papers to let me
produce naturalistic images, mimicking as closely as possible the
colours and sheen of these beetles in nature, and on a welter of
wonderful patterned washi for imaginative reinterpretations of these
beetles. The print shows, from left to right, top to bottom: Goliath beetle,
Calligrapha verrucosa, blowout tiger beetle, Fruhstorferia sexmaculata,
Phaedon oviformis, Reindeer beetle, Ceratophyus martinez, Erythrus
ardens. Below are the first four "Other Beetles" in their wild colours and patterns.
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| Other Beetles I, 11" x 14" linocut with collaged washi, Ele Willoughby 2017 |
I've also started on a series of pangolins. The ground pangolin (
Smutsia temminckii), is one of the eight armour-plated
mammals of the order
Pholidota. The keratin scales made of fused hairs
overlap like a pinecone or the leaves of an artichoke. When threatened the pagolin
rolls up into an inpreganble ball or emit a noxious-smelling chemical
like a skunk. They have sharp claws to burrow into ant or termite mounds
and extremely long tongues like anteaters. All 8 species are vulnerable
or endangered, due to hunting (for meat and scales) and deforestation.
They are the most trafficked animals in the world.
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| Pangolin I, 16" x 11" linocut print on collaged washi papers, Ele Willoughby, 2017 |
I am making a series of prints on beautiful Japanese washi papers. The
scene is printed on handmade gampi udaban paper, 41 cm by 27.7 cm (16
inches by 11 inches) with a deckle edge. Each of the scales is printed
on various handmade, colourful, patterned papers. This print is one of a
series of prints, each with its own unique pattern of scales.
Today is a really big day in our household. We sent out 3.6 year old son off for his first day of Junior Kindergarten. It's quite the experience for all of us. I think parents and son alike are filled with excitement and trepedation for this new stage of life. I hope he's safe and happy and learning and having fun. He was very excited to go to school, but looked quite concerned when he realized he would be left there with the other students rather than coming home with me. I've spent most of my day wondering how he's doing, of course.
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