The Standing Stones sketchbook is a small mixed media book begun in a “Creative Sketchbooks” workshop with textile artist, Sandra Meech.  At the time of the workshop, Sandra was writing her first book Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface and Stitch, and was refining many of the exercises that feature in it.

The pages (on medium surface cartridge paper) explore a variety of Sandra’s suggested creative techniques, including the use of black and white and colour laser photocopies, both images and text; paper tearing, collage, line tracings, windows, and stamping. Media include Brusho (dye colour), acrylics, oil pastels and permanent marker pens.

Although I haven’t yet used standing stones in a major piece, I remain fascinated and curiously moved by them. Along with this sketchbook I have a lot of other research material, and I never pass up a chance to visit stones given the opportunity. They have a peculiar resonance for me, an almost spiritual effect, that leaves me in awe and on the verge of tears. (Yes, okay, I’m a hippy dippy.) I don’t know whether it is some effect of the stones themselves, or simply the weight of time and the knowledge of the thousands of people throughout history who have visited them that moves me.

I’m sure that when the right piece comes along, standing stones will make their way into my work.