Vulcan/ Hephaestus

Cradle of Fire : A commission to create an illustration of the god of fire.

My friend Diana Scarborough won an Arts Council grant to create an informative and artistic exploration of the story of Vulcan.

Using creatives in film, poetry, sound , music, art and science, Diana wanted to piece together our interpretations of this wonderful character and his story from Greek/Roman mythology.

Diana asked if I would like to illustrate an icon or image for the initial myth page as part of the multimedia artwork online exhibition. As for my illustration could subsequently become an editioned print for the project.

My first sketches were rough and ready, made with a scratchy dip pen and minimal planning! I just went headlong into depicting Vulcan as I had envisaged him, in his forge, hammering out another thunderbolt for the gods.

Here’s a couple of drawings from many :

I decided to transfer a drawing to lino for an artisan feeling as a nod to the hand forged work of the blacksmith, manually crafted using a traditional method.

Progression of linocut method until final image.

My signed digital prints will be available soon on A3 archival paper through Cradle of Fire .

Details to follow. S.M.D.