Car Boot Finds.

I found a little cache of field guides at the Studley car boot sale this morning. The illustrations are exquisite, and help me along the way with some new botanical prints I've been planning.
The Collins guide, pictured above, has colour plates from the Flora Agaricina Danica, by Jakob Lange. The other is the 'Young Specialist looks at Fungi' by Hans Haas.

I've long admired the methodical layout of field guides, and the way that the eye immediately picks out differences and specific features when specimens are presented in this way. This 'Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe' by Michael Chinery is another lovely example.

Other finds included a box of vintage glass Christmas baubles and a reem of flocked paper, originally produced to cover gift boxes (it seems quite old). Not sure what I'll do with that yet, but some print experiments are certainly in the offing.

A Tale of Two Pearls.

A few years ago, this etching of a greyhound stopped me in my tracks as I hurried through the city centre. It was as if an invisible beam dragged me into the shop, and I bought it without a second thought, even though I was skint at the time.
It's an etching by Sonia Rollo, titled 'Pearl'.
Jump forward a couple of years, and another greyhound print took my eye.

This one is by Julia Manning, who I was lucky enough to meet at Printfest in Ulverston. This one is called 'Cats!'. Once again, I was unable to resist.
Julia told me that this print is of her greyhound, who is also called 'Pearl'. She was inspired by Sonia's work, and named her rescued hound after Sonia's handsome subject.

All of these greyhounds must have got under my skin, as I ended up with this one:

The name 'Pearl' didn't seem to suit him though.