John

I think I am the point with my design of windows for the Defence Academy, to submit them to the Academy, and to the glass technician for him to fall about laughing.  (“You think I can do that?  You must be joking!”)  Even now I am having second thoughts about bits and pieces, but I … Read more

I’m sure we all have them …. when one project reaches a natural pause, if not completion, and a state of exhaustion suddenly sets in.  There is only one thing to do, and entirely without self-reproach, and that is to stop and do the garden. At least, that is what I have convinced myself.

I’m trying a new method of assessing whether I’m satisfied or not with my work.  Instead of sitting in front of it for a long time and staring at it, I have hung it up in a place where I pass frequently.  The idea is that I catch sight of it out of the corner … Read more

This afternoon, on the way back from our weekly Italian language class in Harrogate, we called in at the Square and Compass in North Rigton.  I suppose its best description is a “gastropub”: very nice anyway, especially when you can sit out on the terrace in the sunshine, as you could today.  I guess it … Read more

The windows project has made unexpected progress partly thanks to a surprising discovery.  I have been wondering which medium to use in colouring the developing design.  The book I got on stained glass techniques advised the use of pastels, but using these in the initial sketches I found it difficult to keep everything clean, even … Read more

Having completed initial sketches of the memorial windows, I’ve now decided that I am sufficiently satisfied with them to start stage two.  This involves drawing on good quality watercolour paper, to a scale of 40% of the full size.  That’s actually quite a big drawing, about 70 cms. high.  The original sketches have been squared … Read more

This stained glass business is an ever-developing challenge.  I moved on today to the elaboration of a 40% version of the final thing.  Although I’m convinced that my idea is a good one, I am coming to realise that it has a large number of small pieces in it, and that will add to the … Read more

That’s the easy bit.  Somehow pieces of imagery from different sources all seemed to converge, although derived from quite diverse places and experiences. I have drawn initial versions of each window at about A4 size, with the expected leaded divisions marked in black ink, and the glass indicated in coloured pencils. I’ve managed to get … Read more

Or so they say.  Tackling the windows project certainly requires a change in my work practice, and I’m beginning to think that whatever the outcome it could be refreshing. It has become clear that I am actually going to be required to draw these windows three times.  The first version is a strategic planning exercise, … Read more