I finally got round to scanning these solar plate prints I made for my end of year project at uni as they were still in LCC for the summer shows, it’s probably my favourite printmaking technique, alas, extremely labour-intensive. They Illustrate my (very) limited edition book called ‘Tattoo‘ loosely based on the 1941 traditional spanish song made famous by the one and only Concha Piquer. It tells the story of a girl that falls in love with a sailor with a tattoo of his ex’s name… read it before I spoil it for you but, I’ll warn you now, it’s heartbreak fest for everyone involved.
The collages combine found photos and images of the period with traditional Tattoo inspired drawings, some of the collages are made out of well over a hundred images.
Handprinted A5 Chine-Collé 1 Ink Solar plates
It was a foreign ship that brought him to me
I found him that dark and cold summers eve
As the lighthouse sent the vessels its gentle kiss
All Charms and hair as light as Ale
Proud he stood with his chest tattooed
His voice an aching nightingale
Soon after one bottle he started to reveal
The story of the name written on his skin
For the deep inked wound would never ever heal
“We once had love but she soon forgot
and forever I shall try to win her back
the only one I truly loved now long gone”
One grey morn in that same ship he disappeared
Having stolen something from between my lips
The one thing I asked him for, a lovers kiss
From then on I have been looking from port to port
Is he dead or alive is all I need to know
The only one I truly loved now long gone
Since that kiss I can’t eat, breathe or sleep
Look at his name now inked deep in my skin
If you find him let him know I am dying for him
Many thanks to Gloria and Veronica for the help and endless patience with the text.
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