Mr Singh Cheese cloth

So the next phase was to create Mr Singh entirely in cheesecloth, using variable layers of cheesecloth to create the darker values. it is like working back to front as the negative areas receive the lesser layers of the cloth and the positive layers are built up with small pieces . The outline image is places under plastic sheeting and small pieces of cheesecloth teased off the cheesecloth web and are wetted with a pva water mix and worked into place with the end of a paintbrush or similar. I was literally amazed at how the technique developed. The beauty of this technique is you can do so much and then leave the glue to set and come back to continue on. Once the glue has set the whole can be lifted off the plastic sheeting. In this case I have enhanced the black and white by mounting the finished structure on black felt.

Mr Singh Collage

I had long been a fan of Mary Pal’s cheesecloth portraits and had even had a go at trying to construct one, but not very successfully. Covid saw Mary put her classes on line so there was a perfect opportunity for me. I often become overwhelmed in face to face classes but this meant I could bumble along at my own pace and my own time. I started with this portrait, which I collaged and wanted to try out making the beard and mouth before tackling a full portrait. I was struggling with the glasses when I happened to put my hobby glasses down on the portrait and saw immediately that the addition of real glasses created a much better option. I had an old pair that the frame had come out of and I had put aside in case I needed the arm screws to fix a pair - It was the perfect accompaniment.

The background is a batik piece free machine quilted in figure of eight stitches.

And what about Mr Singh? Robin’s brother, John, had a serious bout in hospital due to a heart condition and for several weeks they did not know if he would survive. We visited as often as we could and on one trip we had to leave the hospital room and go to the cafe while John had a procedure carried out. In the cafe was this Indian man in his beautiful blue Sikh turban. I was captivated and asked him if I could take his photo to use in my art work. He was happy to oblige. So Mr Singh in collage began there. I think originally I had in mind to use the photograph as a thread painting base but the folds of his turban made this a perfect foil for this.

Graeme

The shadows on this portrait were quite challenge.

Graeme was a farmer Rob and I met when we took the camper van on an inaugural tour of the South Island and were close to Springfield, headed to cross the Alps over Arthur’s Pass. I was busy photographing the landscape when he came along in his landrover and we started talking. The upshot was that he and Rob went off to his club for the early evening and I extracted permission from him to use the photo I took of him in my art work