Martin Truefitt-Baker
Artwork

I didn't want to start with a tight drawing this time. Sometimes trying to be so safe can squeeze a bit of the 'poetry' out of the process. Instead I made a few quick expressive watercolour, ink and pencil sketches of the birds. Developing the interaction between the two birds.

I always enjoy the challenge of making reduction linocuts of the birds that live around my studio in the Usk valley. The rendering of feathers, especially with markings rather than fur, can be tricky. How much do you simplify or stylize the textures and patterns? Added to that, I often try make my designs from a viewpoint close to the animal, as if you are there with it. So this red kite design was conceived to give the feeling as if you were flying over the bridge yourself,

One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl and Four for a boy Five for silver Six for gold Seven for a secret never told Eight's a wish and Nine a kiss, Ten is a bird, You must not miss. There are many versions of this very old rhyme but I've never come across a version that varies much before eight. Some have up to 20 birds... I think they are getting a bit carried away (a whole Hitchcock film's worth!) Back in 2017 I hadn't been painting and printing for myself again fo

Fox bluebells spring linocut print purple blue green bracken wildlife vulpes stitchwort bees forest

I've seen kingfishers on the river Usk (south Wales). Sometimes even by the Crickhowell bridge but not that often. My experience of the...

This is one of two recent prints I’ve been working on over the past month or so. Hopefully the other one of a pinecone will be finished...