Like so many, I was shocked by the plight of the refugees at the mercy of the Mediterranean and seemingly abandoned by the nations who seem more concerned by the political cost of migration than the individual human needs. Click here to visit the Latest page
I have added this limited edition woodcut that is from a single block but with hand colouring of the goldfinch. I based this bird on one of the goldfinches in my Goldfinch print. The woodcut of the Christ Child was inspired by the Taddei Tondo by Michelangelo that is an unfinished marble sculpture of Jesus being presented with what is likely to be a goldfinch by the toddler John the Baptist. I tried to capture the alarm that is clearly in the face of Jesus in Michelangelo’s sculpture and is supposed to indicate his response to the symbolism of the goldfinch and the crucifixion. Click here to go to the Latest Page.
Fir cone: This is a large (20 x 30 cm) 5 reduction wood cut block print was inspired by the pattern and contrasting colours of the fir cone that become more obvious when enlarged this way. See more
Hardy by John: This small (10 x 12 cm) wood cut block print was inspired by seeing the portrait of Thomas Hardy by Augustus John in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Hardy was the first novel to engage me which was not too surprising given my early years spent in his Wessex. Similarly Augustus John lived on a houseboat for some of the time near where I lived but years before me. See more
These prints and details of what inspired them can be seen on the Latest page (click here)
The Adoration of Magi and Holly and Snow were inspired by Christmas and the Forming abstract was an experiment in complicated woodcut and a move towards abstraction. More details by clicking on Latest
Selfie Six and Crystal Palace have been added and can be seen on the Latest page
I also added wood engravings of Welsh Poppies using slightly different printing techniques and these can be seen in Plants 3
I have now added my study of the similarity between lion and domestic cat to the the Latest page. More details please click here
I have always been impressed with the patterns that roof tops make, from the romantic rich colour of the mediterranean hill villages through to the more austere grey slate in the UK. My latest woodcut explores the pattern made by the slate roofs and chimney stacks of one of the most well preserved artisan terrace housing in London where the setting sun exaggerates the sharp shadows. As this is close to the river, I couldn’t resist adding a couple of gulls. Click here to see the print more clearly
The Mandarin Pair woodcut limited edition hand print inspired by the marked difference in the appearance between the male and female mandarin duck – a comparison of flashy extravagance of the male with the subtle elegance of the female. The Goldfinch tries to evoke the old folk story of how they acquired their scarlet face colour.
This linocut limited edition hand print inspired by the folk story that goldfinches had acquired their red faces as a result of blood spattered by pulling the thorns from the crown of thorns at the crucifixion in attempt to ease the suffering of Christ,
In preparation for the Biennial Wrotham Arts Festival from 5-7th May 2017, I have produced the prints that you can see here that illustrates the ancient Kent village. These are limited edition hand prints from wood engravings and will be displayed with some of my other prints at St George’s Church Wrotham.
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Graham Clayden Prints 
