On Saturday's sketching trip to Porthcawl I sketched a statue by Sebastien Boyesen called "Secret History". I knew this was the work of Sebastien Boyesen before because he has two fine pieces of sculpture on display in Port Talbot, and elements of "Secret History" are similar to one of these, called "Mortal Coil".
This reminded me that I've been meaning to have another go at "Mortal Coil" for some time now. If you know anything about Port Talbot, chances are that it is home to a huge steelworks, and owes what prosperity it has to its long term connection with the steel industry. The town's connection with the steel industry is the inspiration for "Mortal Coil".
Here's today's sketch: -
As before, I don't claim to be the finished article. But I do think that if you compare this to the sketch I made in 2016, which was one of my very first line and wash sketches, you may just have to admit that I've made progress. Here's the 2016 sketch: -
In my defence I want to make a few points about this one. Firstly, I was only just starting. I'd made maybe half a dozen sketches using HB pencil, and a couple with biro, which is what I used for the lines of this one. This was the first time that I applied watercolour to a sketch, and the paints I used were from a child's paintbox. Also my scanner doesn't pick out blue colours very well. For all of that special pleading, though, it isn't great. . . but . . . you have to start somewhere.
So, I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. As for verse - well, this is more generally about the relationship the town has with steel - inspired by the sculpture rather than specifically about it.
The rolling mills roll on,
Like incontinent dragons,
The furnaces
Belch forth rusty smoke
Iron ore and coke
Run deep in the veins of this town.
Where will we be
When all of this is gone?
Look down, look down
And hope that the rolling mills
Roll on and on.
