07 May 2018

"Forest Scrumpy" (1998)





This recipe makes a much nicer drink than elderflower cordial (imho) and you also get the pleasure (imho) of picking the berries.

This book evolved within minutes in an illustration class at London College of Printing, as it was then. It was my first experience of how art could "just happen" - but of course it didn't just happen, there had been subconscious preparation: the learning that was happening on the course, my experience of making the drink and of making other books.

What was instantaneous - and fortuitous - was the scrap of yellow that seemed to need a hand on it (ie, wearing Marigolds to pick the berries rather than staining your hands). And the rest dropped into place.

Later the pages became potholders, made with applique and embroidery, but never used in the kitchen - and I still have a few of the resulting postcards -

1 comment:

irene macwilliam said...

what a lovely postcard they make. Such a nice change to the usual type of card. Brilliant