Other ideas

I am having a day in the studio with Mandy Pattullo on January 8th in which we are going to share some of our skills. Every printmaker has their own way of working and hopefully we will learn from each other. I will be showing Mandy my approach to viscosity monotype whilst I hope to learn more from her about her eclectic mixing of media with printmaking and some simple artist book formats. I have a number of ideas brewing at the back of my mind which I hope to be able to resolve with Mandy's input.

Work for the new year

I began a couple of collagraph plates in the week before Christmas which I have not yet printed. I am hoping they will work out. The first one began with no particular prior sketching or preparitory work. I tend to like working instinctively although I do sometime make some quick pen and ink thumbnails. The second one is a plate which I have not yet had a successful print but with further work to the plate and some adjustments to the inking I am optimistic it will print well.

The other one began with a simple piece of that raised wall paper. I have built other textured surfaces around that first piece using wall tile cement and masking tape layered up and with torn edges. I also coated the surface with several layers of PVA which once I set it all with Klear floor polish (which prevents the PVA being reactivated by the damp paper) I think, I have put too much on and the surface is too shiny. I am back in the studio next week to begin the first pulls. I hope it will be OK.

Christmas get together

A last minute idea on my part culminated in a most enjoyable evening to celebrate Christmas. Nine printmakers meeting in the Lion & Lamb pub across the road from the studio for a meal and Geordie 'banta.'

I am full of brainwaves I am. When I came up with the original idea - I thought it would be good if we had a show and tell icebreaker in the pub's cosy lounge. Everyone brought one or more prints to show and tell what they were up to in our workshops.

It worked a treat! We all have a shared love of printmaking so it was really interesting to see different manifestations of creativity, be inspired and encourage students to try other courses.

There were some beautiful examples of simple artists books made using shaped animal linocuts, in some cases combined with chin colle with several variations on simple bindings and recycling of collagraph plates from the evening class whilst one of the weekend students brought a beautiful print on textiles that she subsequently stitched into.

It was a lovely sociable evening, food was good and the 'banta' most enjoyable. Looking forward to repeating it.