My Melt & Flow drawings are changing direction very slightly. The alchemy of the Sumi ink working with water creates streams of charcoal grey ribs, as the black ink mixes with water and floods the paperscape. The process is a performance created by the interaction of the elements with the materials – namely frozen water and heat with soot and paper . The ice holds its act together until the intensity of the sun causes it to seep across the surface, carrying increasingly diluted ink towards the edges of the sheet.

Watching (and filming) this slow meditative process is mesmerising. Even when the ink and paper has fully dried, the ink marks look like they may continue spreading. You find yourself staring into the centre. A mandala of sorts.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold — built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. These drawings are imbued with a sense of brokenness. The ice has collapsed, the ink carried away like an oil leak on the ocean. The final addition of the gold Japanese watercolour holds its centre. Like the big bang of the universe, the beauty rising from ashes (or soot). The paper and the ink are like fragile skins, with a golden centre to connect them.  The residue of alchemy. 

See this work and other at Studio 18 on the faropen arts trail – The Forest of Dean Open Studios event. Over 70 studios to visit – until Sunday 9th July. More information @severnsideartist on Instagram