Hydrophobia: the last Medusa

Don’t worry, this is not the last Medusa, merely the last in the series that will complete my 2014 calendar. That said, perhaps I could ask the delectable Wendy Marani to carry on the series for me, or do you think, perhaps, she might run out of ideas if I stopped too?

So, back to real art, finally! The last of my calendar paintings to be completed is actually a summer month. It was going to be June, but in view of the beach, and not wanting too many reclining nudes one after another, I may make Snakes in the Long Grass become June, move Medusa and the Plums to July (clearly a different variety of early plum, suddenly), leaving room for ‘Hydrophobia’ in August:

Hydrophobia – Medusa at the Beach – aluminium plate before printing

‘Hydrophobia’ is of course fear of water, though also an old-fashioned name for Rabies, because of symptoms of that disease in the later stages, so it is a word of some sinister quality. But this is not sinister, it is a happy, carefree, summery picture of Medusa, relaxing on the beach at the water’s edge, feeling the lapping of the tide wash across her toes, watching the distant boats. A peaceful scene indeed, were it not for the embarrassing snakes who are afraid of the sea! It’s enough to send a girl barking!

Aluminium plate, and my garden!

it was a fine day today, perfect for capturing what is actually on the printing plate. However, I must warn you I have no idea what this one is going to come out like! I have used a bit of everything – there is etching here, and burnishing, and drypoint (which refused to show up in the photo) so i am just hoping that it all holds together when I print it. Whatever happens, be sure I will show you…

Aluminium plate after etching but before extensive burnishing and drypoint

Above is the plate at an earlier stage, before any burnishing work, and below, my original sketch for the print.

Sketch for Hydrophobia, or Medusa at the Beach

This was the second sketch. The idea of embarrassing Hydrophobic snakes, as Medusa tries to relax, was originally a quite different composition – see below. A more obvious picture, and perhaps that’s why it just was not doing anything for me. I am much happier with the one I used in the end, and , as I write out a birthday card for a friend tonight – the best selling one of my new collection – I realize that everyone likes a nice bare bottom 😉

Alternative, discarded composition for Hydrophobia

(p.s. The Wendy Marani saga will continue, if and when I have any more news to tell you…)