This time a very conventional and non-controversial style, a classic theme in photography, since forever. Nothing unusual, nothing that draws attention.
Two roses, a studio environment, sunlight from a window.
And that’s it.
Still life
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is an immense and central sacred tree in Norse cosmology. Around it exists all else, including the Nine Worlds. Yggdrasil is central to the cosmos and considered very holy. The gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend far away into other locations. This information was provided by Wikipedia, and there are other versions of a giant World’s Tree (Orbis Terrarum Arbore) in several cosmogonies . Imagining the world as a tree is a nice idea – I made a less solemn and more trivial version of the Yggdrasil, oil on canvas 60 X 100 cm
Two more smaller paintings (40 X 40, oil on plywood.) “Chess” and “Jongleur”
Low tide
The flat South banks banks of the Tagus, close to the sea, show the amazing effects of the Atlantic tides. Last Saturday morning I had a chance to make some photos by the river, in Seixal Bay. A very peaceful morning with bright sky and the flat river bed usually covered by water. The poet Kate McGovern wrote that
“… Low tide reveals the soul of the sea-
Its secrets, its treasures
its sorrows…”
Etching and some drawings
Another work in etching. A copper plate covered with a special varnish. A drawing is made on that varnish layer (in this case an imaginary portrait of the poet Fernando Pessoa holding a smartphone). The etched plate is bathed in acid – it burns the copper plate where the varnish was etched. The whole layer of varnish is removed by a solvent and the etched copper plate is inked. Excess ink is removed and a print is made. A sample of the etched copper plate and the resulting final print.
Drawing session last Monday
Some fast sketches of live models, brown chalk on paper
Ruins – the Radioactive Hotel
This Hotel & Spa was built at the beginning of the last century. The strongly radioactive local spring waters were believed to have healing powers and. they were used as a drink, in immersion baths and in colon irrigations (there were reports of patients having repeated enemas up to a total of 35 liters of radioactive water ).
After WW II the dangers of radioactivity became widely known , the Hotel lost his clients and ceased the “therapeutic” activities. The owners went bankrupt, the premises were sold , several entrepreneurs bought and sold the building , furniture, plumbing and tiles were stolen, until it reached the present state of ruin and decay
As expected, rumors of the place being haunted, sightings of strange lights at night and reports of noises and voices are now a part of the local beliefs. However, it is usual to find there some visitors and the place looks peacefully quiet.
I went there to make some photos. The radioactivity, if it exists at the surface, was not strong enough to fog my negatives…
A view of the Hotel
Getting closer
One wall still remains
Some remains of the floor
And a door
A fireplace is still there
This Hotel & Spa was built with expensive materials and was aimed at wealthy gests from Portugal and from nearby Spain. It is very sad to see its present state.
Aquatint
The Mermaid nun again. With the same copper plate used for the first etching print, an experiment trial of aquatint technique was tried. Three different layers of varnish were used, with the copper plate being “bitted” by acid in the intervals, Finally, blue ink was spread on the copper plate and the print was made.
This technique allowed in this case three diferent tonalities of blue ink to be printed. It is possible to do more, if one has the patience to repeat the varnish layers and acid exposures.
Unanswered questions or “The girl with Closed Eyes”
A Beautiful photograph must never answer every question, or you’ll never come back to it. The question must always remain unanswered.
Rodney Smith 2009
The question remains: why is she closing her eyes ? Deep thougts ? Sadness ? Enjoying the warm sunlight on her face ? Or did the camera caught an unintentional closing of her eyelids ?
Some other questions could be asked, concerning other people : Is the guy wearing a basebal cap with her ? Why is the man standing on the pier looking backwards ?
Etching
And now I am learning etching techniques. My first etching: taking a waxed/varnished copper plate I made a drawing on it with a sharp steel point
The plate was dipped in acid and after that the wax was removed. The drawing on the copper surface is evident.
The plate was covered with ink, and the superficial coat of ink was mechanically removed by hand
The ink was left on the previously engraved grooves
The inked plate was placed on the printing press
And coverd with a moist sheet of paper
The heavy cilinders of the press were moved
Et voilá !!! The complete sheet and the image In detail . I can cal it “The Mermaid Nun”
A very interesting technique, especially considering that it is done as it was five centuries ago. The initial drawing on the waxed copper plate is quite tricky, but it can certainly be improved.
Next step will be to perform an “Aquatint” techinique on this same etching.
Winter boats
A short poem from Guillermo Veloso
Winter boats are
shrink-wrapped ghosts
haunting the docks as
they await the sea
Three recent drawings
Winter arrived, with rain and wind. Not a good weather for going out with a camera. Time to stay indoors and make some more drawings. Three recent ones from yesterday session.
Saturday
Last Saturday, another drawing session with live model in Cascais, Portugal. This time in the House of Stories, a museum and arts center dedicated to the works of artist Paula Rego. A very inspiring venue with suitable space and lighting
After the sessions, the participants lay their drawings on the floor. Comparing and discussing some of the results is an interesting parto of the session .
And later on, a gin-tonic by the bay.
A visit to the Art Center
A visit to the Gulbenkian Modern Art Center to see some works of a Portuguese/Brazilian artist Fernando Lemos.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Lemos
Great overview of hist vast production, in photography, painting, engraving, drawing, poetry. A small sample from one of his sketchbooks
“Freedom to go and return without punctuality” “Vanish at any age” “Resist to ill will”
The venue of the Art Center is outstading
The River, left to right
Looking west, the bridge and, closer, a lonely seagull
And a slow boat coming in
People sitting in a half-circle enjoying the afternoon
…or just turning their back to the city
Looking estwards, another sailing boat
and, more to the right side, two resting relics, a frigate and an old U-boat, waiting for visitors
Three sketches
First drawing session in 2025, at the Goethe Institut, organized by the Lisbon Drawing Club.
I’m not happy with the resuts, Christmas festivities pause had its effects. One more reason to re-start and to increase the output…
Terrace
The terrace of the small café at the museum was empty, in spite of the clear blue sky and the usual great view to Lisbon, across the river
I rather prefer to go there when people are sitting there sipping a drink and enjoying the view
(Sketch, brush-pens on paper)
João Avelar images 