This is part of a duo of drypoint prints I made whilst on my Art Foundation. I was so intrigued by the drypoint method - the harshness of the metal plate, the force needed to etch into it. Rather than do a very intricate, traditional still life image, I decided to use harsher gestral lines which I feel reflected the act of etching into metal. These lines would become the stems of the flowers, whilst I used the ink itself to suggest the petals. I loved the sweeping, circular motions needed to wipe excess ink away and knew that I needed to include it in the print.

The colours for print was inspired by the setting which this vase of flowers was found in - the Shenkman Bar at the Royal Academy. My intial pencil drawings focused on the flowers themselves, but I was vividly attached to the lighting and tone of the bar - very dark, very dim, very red. I knew that I wanted to bring some of that atmosphere into the print.