knotwork

I continue to try out engraving on zinc. After initials, NEULAND and white vine, here are knotwork.

I do like the result, I'll have to make another test with a more complicated pattern.

Felices ter et amplius ...

I've been playing a lot with engraving recently, here is my latest work.

It's a delicious fragment from an ode by Horatius. To read the text and its translation (in french) follow this link, to see the whole composition, follow this one.

Merry Christmas !

... these infinite spaces ...

I've just finished a fragment from Les Pensées by Blaise Pascal.

I wrote a first text using a script from the XVIth century (with some distorsions) and created a border for it with a second text, this time engraved on zinc.
to see the whole thing, follow the link.

Curves II

 

As said in my previous post, I'll have to restart from the beginning as the varnish disappeared from some places.

Nevertheless a progress compared to the previous version.

Curves II - work in progress

A new try, a new failure : the varnish has vanished.

Anyway, just out of the acid bath it looks good.

waste material

curves

My latest work on zinc, don't know what to do with it but I like it anyway :-)

The only regret  I have is that the corrosion of the metal resulted in dull spots in some places. I'll prepare the surface more carefully next time.

something to tell to someone

Dress

I've been seeked by Pascal Jaouen to participate to the creation of one of his dresses.

Here is the calligraphy I made on cloth (organdie) so as to be used as a flounce on a dress.

As soon as I get the pic of the dress as a whole, I'll post it here.

Shadows

As I don't have any new piece of work to show, here is a pic taken in my workshop this morning.

Would you recognize the objects which cast these shadows ?

Engraved white vine

My latest engraving on zinc, this time with a brand new metal plate (not corroded).

The initial is 2cm high.

The result is not too bad but it needs more definition, the vine is much too simple and the varnish didn't cover properly all the surface, not to mention that the lines are often quaking.

Nevertheless a good proof of concept.

thin tin H

A new initial on zinc, this time an H.

Still don't know what to do with the first one, got to continue thinking about it.
In case you have an idea, don't hesitate to leave me message :-)

Embossing & carbon

A new work in progress with a sentence by Blaise Pascal.

Still some work to do but interesting effect.

Mooooooooon

Yesterday morning, before sunset, the moon was shining in the sky as thin crescent and the obscured part was also visible in a shade of deep grey.

but it was very cold outside and I didn't have my coffee yet, so here is the result :-)

Fhtagn

Engraving on slate, the text is from H.P. Lovecraft

reflection

the sky reflecting on a wet metal plate

sunset

I didn't edit this picture, it's the real view I had while opening the curtains this morning. Kind of apocalyptic sky :-)

from my window this morning

The country of death - final version

The first version of this book title being rejected for legibility reasons, here is the final version of the title which will be printed on the cover of the book.

For all that, my first try will not be lost as it will be used as the internal title of the book.

White vine

I collected some details of white vine (flowers and leaves) in 16th century manuscripts.

I find it easier to refer to this kind of document than to have to look through many books every time I'd like to draw a border or an initial using this type of adornment.

The file is to be found in the resource page of my website

Initial on zinc - first try completed

Here is the final version of the adornment for my little initial B.

It's not bad but I don't like it, the letter seems to be lost in there and there's not enough contrast.

I'll have to try something else

Chimera

giraffe with a human head

Waves

Initial on zinc - next step

A first attempt to decorate my initial with white filigrees on a black paper background.

I fixed temporarily the initial with a piece of adhesive so as to be able to create several versions.

Initial on zinc

Latest work in progress, an initial B on zinc (approx. 2cm high)

 

Just got to fix it on something and add a bit of adornment.

Varnish

Bubbles

On going engraving with acid on zinc

Erlkönig

New try, new failure...

The water color background is not bad but the layout of the text is ugly, not to mention the script which is very badly done.

Anyway, I got another idea, more news soon ...

paint pot

Sometimes, the best picture one can take is the one of the pots containing the paint or ink and definitely not what was done with it.

dispersal trials

Or how do pigments and ink behave when applied to a wet coat of arabic gum

Ivory black with water

Ivory black (powder)

Liquid chinese ink

Chinese ink in stick

Ferro-gallic ink

Walnut stain (powder)

The most interesting ones are the 2 last ones, I'll have to try with other materials

the opening

Welcome on this new blog !
I've been asked so many times to create an english version of my existing blog on calligraphy that I decided to create a brand new blog, disconnected from the first one.

This blog will be about calligraphy of course (and I'll try to post all my old stuff from the other blog in here, once translated) but not only.
As some of you may already know, I'm also very interested in photography and this virtual workshop will handle some of my pics among any other subject that I may found interesting to share with you.

As for a start, here is one of my latest pics (nonetheless related to calligraphy) : the reflection of the roof in fresh varnish.