It's funny, when we were meant to be writing our research paper 1st draft I was so overly productive in print that I had to really drag myself away from it. Now the pressure is off and I've been doing some research but really dragging my heels getting started my my next print. I seem to need a break in between them (or maybe I'm just lazy and accidentally take one?!).
I set myself so much to do before the children broke up from school and now I'm feeling slightly panicked that there's 3 days to go ad I haven't achieved it all yet!
Tomorrow I'm off to Chelsea library to collect the books I reserved to borrow over the summer. It's going to be a mad dash in between school runs but hey ho! Needs must. One of the books was recommended by Neil Bousfield so I'm desperate to get my paws on it and get a vaguely decent understanding of it before I speak to him. I'm thinking I should try to schedule early in the second week of August for our chat. That will give me a week to digest it before we go on our family holiday (on which I will be bringing as many books as I can hide in my bag!)
The one good thing about my procrastination over my planned huge print is that I have spent a lot of time really thinking about it and planning it rather than rushing straight in like I usually do. I've come to the conclusion that I need to use two plates if I want to etch it with caustic soda (which I do). I've also spent a lot of time in the forest really looking, sketching and gathering materials to use with the caustic soda so I think the extra couple of weeks thought will make for a better print. I also think I've actually done some practise for it and tested some of the ideas I want to use which again, is unusual for me.
My only problem now is that it keeps raining and I need to use the hanging clothes airer to dry the prints so the clothes are meant to hang outside on the line. This is exactly what happened last year! I think I may have ruined summer for Britain by planning for good weather.
Oh well, I prepped the paper today and started cutting the tree block so I'm hoping to get the first layer on the etching block on Thursday (but only after the year 2 leavers assembly - honestly this time of year with children is completely mad with school activities that require parental participation!).
