Kirkcudbright, Scotland
When my mother was young, my artist grandfather Robert Sivell moved his home and art studio to the small harbor town of Kirkcudbright, on the River Dee, on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth. Kirkcudbright was then known as an artist’s town, with quite a colony of artists living or visiting regularly.
Recently residents of Kirkcudbright have expanded the local historical museum, opened a new art gallery to show works by local artists, and created this video honoring past Kirkcudbright artists:
The following is a lovely video that honors one specific artist, Johh Halliday:
Grandparents Ghosts
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- Modified print, draft #1
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- Modified print, draft #2
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- Digital from draft #1
These magical ghosts are derived from my favorite photograph of my grandparents. Years ago I created a series of linocut prints, using various inking techniques and color combinations. These are new variants: digital art created from one of the old linocut prints.
I modified the oil based ink print, using watercolors to create soft curtains of transparent color, before working on the scanned digital image.
I continued to fuss with the shading etc. on the original, trying to modify the color saturation. My final effort there is shown in the second, lower, row above, along with a digital variant. I prefer the second version of the original, but I liked the digital variant of the earlier version. So I kept working on the digital variants from the final version, to get back a bit more impact and drama.
It is wonderful to transform an unfinished/unsatisfying artwork into a finished piece. I need my work to take me somewhere, if only for a moment; art should magnify, or otherwise transform reality, creating another space for our emotions. And now this piece brings me joy! Now I see again the magic I found in the original photograph that inspired me: the magic I want to put into, and take away from, all my art!
Listen to the Women, MeToo
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- Draft #4 Listen to the Women
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- Double enhanced foil
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- Modified blue foil
I have been struggling with this second in the series “Some of the Women”: it seems to be resisting me! I want to give the faces life, energy & the desired expressions!!!
And I am so sad, so concerned for all the women who have spoken up about past abuse. Far too many of these women have been disrespected & belittled for their effort. Women need to be heard, need a strong voice, and need to be listened to!
