Inspiration
This simple print, depicts a classic stone barn aglow under the night sky. Its aged walls and slanted roof are softly illuminated from within, the warm light spilling out through the windows to hint at an unseen tale unfolding inside.
Though not modeled after my own home - a converted dairy barn with its own stories from days past - I have always found these structures deeply intriguing.
Barns stand as custodians of memories and traditions, where generations have come together to work the land.
My mind wanders through possibilites of what could be happening behind those glowing windows on this quiet, pastoral night.
Is a farmer settling down after finishing up the last of the day's chores? Perhaps a couple is tucked inside the barn, sharing a late meal beside a crackling fire, laughter mixing with the low of contented cattle. Or maybe a lone traveler has found this place to rest their head after many miles on the road.
The warm light seems to invite us to add our own imagined stories about the life inside this barn. It is a serene, welcoming sight - a place where one might find a moment of restoreative peace and connection to the land.
What images come to mind for you when you look upon this print? Wherever your imagination wanders, I hope you feel the pull of simple rural beauty captured in this artwork.
From her rural studio, Su France's prints unearth nature's overlooked details and cycles, linking viewers to tranquil moments. A 2022 Arts Council England grant supported the development of her sustainable, ethical creative process celebrating the untamed.
The Finer Details
Monoprint.
This is an original print (it is not a digitally reproduced print).
Image size: approx A4
The inks used are Cranfield safe wash and there is hand applied gold and rose gold foils.
The paper is Somerset and is unbleached.
How Its Made
My intaglio print technique starts when ink is carefully applied by hand to the plate (in this case the pressed botanica)l with the collagraph, the barn. The plant here is a seaweed, which long before printing, I pressed. You can find out about this technique in my blog about flower pressing.
After placing the elements on the Gunning etching bed, it is pressed into damp paper, with the rollers transferring the ink, and creating a unique impression. If you would like to know more about my collagraph making, read my blog post here.
All prints come unframed, wrapped in compostable cellophane with a recycled card backing. Each print is individually hand signed, embossed with my logo and numbered. This print is 1/1 meaning its an original, one off.
Please note that the copyright of this artwork, or any artwork on the website, is retained by me the artist, Su France.
My shipping and returns policy, as well as information on customs charges is here.