Patterns of Life

Lino Print on Somerset Paper
Image size 40cm x 30cm
Paper Size 45cm x 35cm

A view of apartments and shops in Cordoba near Seville. I had gone there to visit and draw the incredible Mesquite (which I have also done a print of!) but on the way passed these apartments and was drawn to their coloured and striped canopies and the shadows of palm trees cast on the building by the strong sunlight.

I am working on a series of prints and paintings looking at patterns and light in Andalusia in Spain. As well as loving all the intricate tile work and carving on many of the buildings in Spain, there is lots of 'accidental' pattern making everywhere - painted shops, patterned blinds, repeated shapes of balconies, and I wanted to capture some of this in this print.

This print is a reduction lino cut, which means the whole image is carved from one block of lino. I start by carving away the areas that I want to remain white and print the first, pale, colour. Then I carve away the parts of the block that I want to stay the pale colour I've just printed, and print the next, darker colour over the top - lining it up very carefully!! I keep carving away, printing new colours every time until the image is fully built up and most of the lino is carved away so it only prints the final black layer.. This print has about 8 colours.