Tracey Bush

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tell me a story 2025

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Tracey started making ‘Seven’ just prior to the 2020 pandemic. She had begun to research the folk magic of common plants, and was unsure how to present her ideas. As 2020 progressed daily walks became the highlight of the week, and in circling the same local path, her focus began to close in. She was fortunate to be living near to the Titchfield Canal, the oldest man made waterway in the UK, and the banks of the canal were full of interesting plants and trees that she was able to use as models for the plant drawings in ‘Seven’.

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Tracey decided to use photoscreen which meant she could reproduce the hand drawn quality of her plant sketches. Each drawing has been hand screen printed in three colours onto Canson paper at the Badger Press, Hampshire. She used tusche on texture overlays to create a granular wash for the tonal areas of the drawings. The Canson paper is slightly hard sized, so it creates a crisp edge when handcut.

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The book structure, which Tracey designed over some weeks, developed into a triple concertina, which meant that the creatures were nestled inside the circlets of plants, and the unfolded book could be exhibited on either side, and the text read in a circular manner. Tracey then drew and coloured separated drawings to create the frame for each page, which was hand cut after being printed.

 

She likes to create the complete book, and has particular demands when it comes to the materials for each of her publications. In this case, she chose a natural linen cloth, lined with silver gilt printed indigo Lokta paper. She chose fastenings which would resonate with the magical content, and used silver Dutch needles, interspersed with silver gilt Elder wood beads. 

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The book includes two pamphlets with handwritten lore and leaf drawings. ​Tracey’s intention was to ‘re-enchant’ some common plants and trees, viewing them through the lens of folk magic. She read several books on the subject, and was able to condense her text on each page, drawn in the style of a book of shadows:

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Root of hemlock digged i’th’ dark

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Incantation by the third witch from Macbeth.

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Magic makes the familiar uncanny.
Seemingly common weeds have magical uses that can enchant and bewitch. Each plant has been woven into circlets of foliage, evoking the rituals of hedge magic.
I am a ‘charm stealer’, all of these spells have been published before, often many times.
They are passed on, acquiring the patina of age.
The wild creatures are familiars that act as conduits to the spirit realm.
The familiar cannot be forced- it will choose you.
This is another way of working with the natural world, based on reverence rather than utility.

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Click images for details and if you are interested in Tracey Bush's work please enquire below.​​​​