Swansea sea, print & Scribble

During a June heatwave, a gentle breeze off the sea helps make a good day out with friends.  Last Saturday was also special, because three of us were converging on the Swansea Print Workshop to become part of Rose Davies’ project of drawing 100 baby boomers (that is, people born between 1946 and 1964).  We arrived via the maritime quarter.

Apart from her art, popularised in her blog, Rose has a storyteller’s grasp of the history of things, of which there are many in the Print Workshop.  Gorgeous iron mechanical beasts from the past, each with its own tales.

The Columbian Press dates from 1853. Owen (below) was silk screening on a modern press.

I’ve never sat for a portrait and it was intriguing. I felt my face changing from the one I think I look like into a kind of “maintenance” face, more comfortable and stable.  Even the short time Rose took had me thinking that one eye was watering and my throat tickling. Models do a tough job, posing still.  For a “proper” portrait, this drawing would be one of many and sittings would be about 9 hours though less with photographs. The artist has  power – maybe a perceived challenge to power was why Winston Churchill hated the Graham Sutherland 1954 portrait to its destruction.  I trusted Rose, and she has a good project with its focus.

We ate Rose’s delicious lemon and (hubby’s own) elderflower cordial cake, bought some cards, went to the beach, paddled in the sea and picked up shells, had a lager and chatted on the train back while younger travellers were glued to their phones. I did get my phone out to do my World Cup Fantasy Football transfers.