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Society of Sussex Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers

Margaret Betts

Living on the South Downs, close to the sea my work is inspired by the ebb and flow of landscape and ocean.  Patterns found in this natural environment are used as a starting point to develop my watercolours, etchings and collographs producing contemporary images.

Of these three media, collograph produces the most vibrant embossed effect.  Starting with a basic plate, collage materials such as papers, foil, card, modelling paste, plant material and drawing with adhesive combine to produce the image.  The plate is then well sealed and inked up using a painterly process ready to go through an intaglio press. Etchings are more detailed and use line and tome (aquatint) and are well suited to abstract sea images.  The watercolours show a lively use of layering of washes giving a depth of colour.  The addition of linear pattern gives the work movement.

All three media lend themselves successfully to creating contemporary work in which the abstract interpretation of the natural environment is the inspiration.

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