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Haw berries, nettle, charred Hawthorn, Ivy, Docktips, Iron, Soda, Gum Arabic on 330gsm Cotton Rag Paper.
80 x 120 cm

These colours were foraged from the area surrounding a Hawthorn Tree which sat in a Ring Fort in Portmarnock. The colour locked within the haws, nettles, dock leaf tips, ivy and lichen was extracted through the process of soaking and reducing. The hawthorn twigs were charred in an open fire and then ground down into charcoal.

The interaction of live colour is emphasised as I tweak ph levels and modify the vibrancy using oxides. Iron generally darkens the colour, especially where there is a large amount of tannin in the material. Alum creates a more chalky appearance with slightly more viscosity. The hawthorn ink reacts with the soda and iron to make a plum colour which looks almost blushed onto the surface. The dock and hawthorn are similar colours when raw, but oxidised the dock turns almost purple to the hawthorn’s red.

As I drip, blush and spray each colour solution on paper the drying process often appears to suspend the works between solid and liquid. This connects my work with the ephemeral nature of the landscape.

NOTES: This piece is sold unframed. It will require framing (preferably gallery standard UV glass). I am happy to advise regarding this.

All bio-colours produced are organic and living. Every effort has been made to preserve the lightfastness of the colours, however, there is no guarantee the colours will not change over time. You are advised to keep the paintings away from direct sunlight, away from temperature fluctuation, and to enjoy observing them if they do change.