Creation inspired by biking 創作騎行路

 

Just done a piece of botanical printing with plants gathered on biking. The day I went alone to the New Territories to explore biking route I came across a farmland managed by religious organisation (Amazingland). People there were so warm and nice. They invited me to join their assembly and introduced me how their farm running and I interacted with them what I am doing with plants. With their nice permission I picked a few leaves for my experiment. 

新界仍有不少鄉村保留原有風俗及建築，田野耕種仍在，我愛騎行尋尋覓覓，這日特意在大埔走走，先去鳯園，再往泰亨村，在泰亨村進入一段迂迴曲折小路穿過農田小舍，迎面前來幾位熱心人士邀請入農莊參觀，適逢他們有宗教聚會，我欣然同分享，他們很熱誠送我禮物包及容我採摘少許植物回家實驗。試驗在絲麻布料上效果很好，實驗物縫了一掛畫一手包。

 

 

Video of the day my solo riding in country side.

 Free as the birds in Tolo Harbour.

Passing by a theme park in Fung Yuen (鳳園）. Though I didn't enter I can still view it from afar.

Alpacas are rare in Hong Kong. So lovely seeing them in a close distance.

The village Fung Yuen  with historic shrines.

Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve entrance but due to Covic-19 it's temporarily closed.

On my way further to Tai Hang. The area encompasses  walled villages.

The original entrance remains still exist..

 

The villagers were mainly the members of the Man (文）clan. I stayed a while in the park then heading to next village.

A lane leading to Lam Chuen.

Bridge over a stream

Then along the twisted narrow path......

In a farmland entrance I was invited by kind people to join their assembly.

After half an hour with nice people and a tour around the farm I left with plants they allowed me to pick.

Arriving Lam Chuen river (林村)

Through the tunnel 

 

 

It's getting dark. I hurry to return the rent bike and home with plants for experiments.

With the Lemmon marigolds, lemon grasses and the wild guava leaves I got from the farm.

Added a few plants from my homegrown.

Plus onion skins

 

Layout completed

After an hour boiling, the outcome ......

Oxalis has no colour but discharge is my expected effect of flying " butterflies" and lemon grasses formed strokes.

Guava and eucalyptus 

Little yellow flower of lemon marigold and the leaves are yellow too.

I made a tote bag with the printout.

Seems Mogi appreciates it.

 

Comparison of Before & After

 

I made It a hanging or as table runner is fine.

Also a tote bag. I'm happy with the tone of alum mordant so that soft yellow tone achieved

 

Guava leaf is a good source for eco printing. Combine with onion skins and eucalyptus forms nice pattern.

 

Thanks for the people of Amazingland who made me a happy stay in their village and a nice printing experiment.

Biking and inspired creation 寓騎行於創作

 

Year 2021 is challenging.  Blessed still can play plants magic and biking inspired creation. January has started pretty good with private tutelage with designers and artist friends.  

新年伊始，疫情下還是寓踩車於創作更可取又樂透，一月份有小組私人教授的植物印染，為準備材料往新界踩車，路過友舍聊聊小聚，順道𢹂回一些花葉回家備課，用的面料是純𢇁及混𢇁麻，有絲質成份面料媒染處理相對簡單，加以天然染料與植物色素結合，做出層次色調是這次教學的主旨，設計師學生的視覺美學自有其獨特鋪陳效果。

Fabric used was silk and silk linen blend that's simple mordant can make impressive prints. We used natural dyes cochinael, lac and logwood for the background shades. Students made the prints with assorted leaves and flowers. Layout and outcome are different and unique.

 

Opening bundles is exciting.  Mind that printouts are not always as anticipated.  However we appreciate whatever mother nature gives.

 

Ferns, flowers, leaves......bounty from nature.

We chatted and discussed how interesting botanical contact printing was.  Below is part of the prints mainly with ferns, lemon marigolds, onion skins, hibiscus, eucalyptus, guava, casaurina, cosmos etc.  With their aesthetic visual of layout they made the difference.

 

 

 

Video of students prints making.

Biking is my fav sport and creation inspired. Whenever I do biking I have handful plants home from my studio neigbours or farmland. 

Our stunning scenery changes by season. Fish ponds dried cracks made nice pattern.

 We went to the wetlands fish ponds for birds watching.

Peaceful view of grazing goats by the pond.

 

Mural of Chinese painting of farmers old days.

Shrine with blooming plum blossoms, such tranquil view of the village.  That also implies lunar new year is around the corner.

Cool in winter and the willows are getting yellow.  How nice to ride with team mate and share same passion of botanical imprints.

 Sometimes when I pass by this dainty garden I'd say hi to the owner WY who's so friendly. We may have a chat under her passion fruit tree shelter and have tea.

Or sometimes when we stop over a farm the keeper allows us to pick some leaves.

 

That day with lots pretty finds we're home and I immediately done experiments.

Mogi's curiosity keeps me alert. Fortunately sounds that wouldn't make him interest.

 

For this experiment is own made sappan wood chips dye for red/purple shades.  I just soaked the chips overnight then bring to boil and stay in pot till I want to use.

An hour boiling of bundle is fine, theme of fern and willow.
 

Ferns are good combination

 

Passion fruit leaves with dyes of sappan wood and fabric mordant in alum that brings yellow reddish.

 

Tone of purple and pink from cochineal, lac and sappan wood.

Mogi like it I am sure.

 

A few samples of reddish purple of silk linen. 

 

I like such fabric. Touch and printing are more pretty in real.   I need to replenish more and showed the owner what I want. The stall owner knows my favour.