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Article: Curlews and Collagraphs: Capturing the Waders of Rutland Water & Eyebrook Reservoir

Curlews and Collagraphs: Capturing the Waders of Rutland Water & Eyebrook Reservoir
Birds

Curlews and Collagraphs: Capturing the Waders of Rutland Water & Eyebrook Reservoir

There’s something characterful about the elegant little curlew. These graceful waders, with their distinctive curved bills and long, elegant legs, have long been a source of inspiration for me and other artists. 

As I developed my latest collagraph print series, I wanted to capture not just the form of the curlew but also the landscapes of Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir - two of the most important wetland sites in the UK. These places are rich in birdlife, offering a sanctuary for species like the curlew, redshank and lapwing.

 

The Inspiration: Curlews & Their Wetland Habitats

Curlews are a striking sight in the shallow waters of Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir, especially in autumn and winter when they gather in small flocks, their haunting calls drifting over the landscape.

Rutland Water Nature Reserve, one of the most significant wetlands in the UK, is known for its conservation efforts, protecting waders like the curlew as they migrate through. Just a short distance away, Eyebrook Reservoir is a smaller, quieter site offers an equally rich habitat. Encircled by rolling farmland and reed beds, it attracts curlews that feed along the water’s edge, probing the mud for invertebrates.

For me, these locations aren’t just places to observe wildlife, they are landscapes that shape my work. The light reflecting off the water, the movement of reeds in the wind, and the textures of wetland habitats all find their way into my prints.

The Making of the Curlew Collagraph Series

Collagraph printmaking is a process that allows for incredible texture, perfect for reflecting such textural creatures.

I create each collagraph plate using a mix of materials to build textures that will catch and hold ink in different ways. Once sealed, the plate is hand-inked using the intaglio printmaking method. Ink is applied, then selectively wiped away to highlight certain details while allowing textures to hold deeper tones. The plate is then pressed onto dampened paper, revealing a richly textured print.

 

Bringing Abstraction into Nature-Inspired Prints

While the curlew is the focal point of each piece, the abstract backgrounds play an equally important role. Rather than depicting a literal landscape, I wanted to evoke the feeling of the wetlands, fragmented reflections, overlapping reeds, shifting water patterns. I developed the prints in several steps, concluding in the use of monotype abstract shapes to depict landscape elements. 

Where to Find the Curlew Prints

This three-print hand printed collagraph series is available as a series of reproduction giclée prints, in a choice of square sizes, suitable for framing in your choice of frame. They are currently stocked in local galleries and available for purchase online.

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5 things not to do when gold leafing, guilding or foiling
Tips

5 things not to do when gold leafing, guilding or foiling

Want to add a bit of ‘je ne sais quoi’  to your artwork? An extra dimension to your linocut, collagraph or monotype prints? Foiling, guilding or gold and silver leafing can add an extra shimmer to ...

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