The pen – the book – the plan.
by Steven McCabe
So far in January I have used the pen & the book to keep track of the hours I put into my current B&W work – on a long roll of Fabriano mid-weight paper.
Working on the floor like an iguana I am almost 1/3rd through the roll of paper working with black & white gouache, B&W ink, water-soluble graphite pencils, and drawing pens.
At first I thought this might be Boudicea, Queen of the Icenis. I considered developing a metaphor based on her famed history & Celtic roots. Then I started thinking ‘more of a shapeshifter than Boudicea.’ My main impetus is not to illustrate an idea or theme but to watch images (in relationship) develop organically and interpret the meaning. Some images are planned and some are spontaneous.
I will shift into a different ‘feeling’ of depiction soon. Around the 1/3rd mark.
This work will mirror (in part) & dovetail with my previous subject matter on the ‘long blue roll’ of Fabriano mid-weight paper (same height and length).
So it seems I will have a two-part work on two rolls of paper.
Now it seems the plan is for the work to become a diptych. I think this fits the criteria for a diptych.
My goal is to reintroduce images from the ‘original’ (first) ‘mostly blues’ roll of paper into the B&W (second) roll of paper and develop the themes manifesting my investigations over the last few years.
My plan will take a few months longer as I complete part two of this two-part work (a mere 2/3rds of the current roll of paper to complete).
Info about the overall project:
In 2022 I completed a long painting/drawing on Italian mid-weight paper titled ‘Druidica Blue: Deja Vu (Cave Art of the New Psyche).‘
Section 7 (of 11) from the 5′ X 35′ work:
In 2023 I began working on a long roll of paper using B&W in painting/drawing. I posted about beginning this:
A detail of the B&W work in progress with the working title: ‘On the Day Boudicea Rode at Midnight.’
poemimage 
It is a great masterpiece.
I really impressed by this wonderful project. And I’ll follow your work with admiration.
Warmest wishes for you & all your beautiful creative works,
Warmly,
Gol
Thank you Gol for your generous thoughts and wishes. & Thank you for following this project. I will do my best. Have a wonderful day! Steven
This is incredible, Steven!
Hi Jack, Thank you so very much for this generous thought! Very good to hear from you.
Incredibly beautiful and impressive! I envy you that you manage to work so long and intensively on a piece of work. BTW I too am a big fan of Fabriano paper. All the best with your project and keep us updated!
Thank you for your generous words Friedrich! So far the energy levels are adequate but I do need to figure out some new ‘protocol’ to punch them up a bit. Fabriano paper has such a warm feeling to it. & Receptive to a fair bit of reworking. Okay I will post updates and thank you!
Yes, it’s all about our energy level. We used to have so much of it 🙂
I feel thankful for being reasonably healthy 🙂 but the hours of chasing a frisbee across a field are sadly gone. 🙂
I am happy if my neck can move quickly enough to watch a frisbee in flight 🤣
Well then! 🙂 🙂 🙂