After completion of exercise one I wanted to explore drawing with Rotring Drawing Ink and using some of the techniques I employed with Graphite and pencil. It was also my intention to test out how far lines could be extended using Chinese brushes. I started with A3+ size paper and practiced using the Chinese brushes and testing out the different types of marks that could be made. The result was a messy drawing of mixed marks.

One of the techniques that I used was to drag the brush across the paper using the loop of string at the top of the brush. This prevented me from most of the control of the mark made. I tested this out further and created the drawing below. It is a series of long sweeping strokes which I feel have a sensual quality.

Next I made a couple of smaller A5 sketches trying to use the qualities of the Chinese brushes.

Both of the above sketches utilised very little conscious control of the brush which created the abstract nature of the sketches. As a quick additional exercise I did make a quick sketch of a lonely tree. Nothing to do with exercise one but an opportunity to try out the mark making of the Chinese brushes.

Lastly I dispensed with brushes altogether and poured small amounts of ink directly onto paper and using a paper straw blow the ink in different directions. As far as possible I tried not to control the blowing and to let the ink find its own path across the paper.

I liked the result of this process and how the tonal effects changed depending upon how thick the ink was. Having left the work overnight I returned to it and applied more ink in the same way. This increased the layers and added interest to the painting.

Post script 3/2/20 Whilst I feel that I should leave the viewer to find their own reference points in the painting I can’t but help to note that to me it suggests a Dog splashing in a puddle.

I then hung the painting up against the conservatory window which allowed the painting to be backlit which increased the emphasis of the tonal variations.

I became aware that I had moved someway from the exercise but reading ahead in the course it was apparent that these experiments would follow through into Exercise Two.

• Part 1 - Painting and / as performance