Latest work.

These are the prints I have been working on this week. A new plate 45 x 45 cm and an older but still recent one 40 x 40 cm. I covered most of the plate with texture paste, then scattered carborundum over two thirds of it. I set a smaller old plate into the carborundum/texture paste and left it to dry. Later I brushed off the loose carborundum and sealed the plate with shellac I normally use KLEAR floor polish. (I wanted to see how much of a difference it made to the ease/degree of difficulty of inking up carborundum which tends to be extremely absorbitant and difficult.)

Iprinted it the previous week but the plate soaked up far too much ink and reduced the wiping rag to fluff so the print was covered in inky fluffy rubbish. I knocked it back with another two coats of shellac. I'm not there yet but reasonably happy. Sometimes you revisit your prints with a fresh eye before you can decide if the effort was worth it.

The next two prints are from the plate I called 'Storm on the Way' previously. I did what I always do and changed the colour palette. One is more reminiscent of dusk I think and the other of dawn. I'm particularly happy with these. They are better in the flesh. A poorly lit hall is not conducive to taking decent shots. There is a shadow on the one on the right down the middle from the window it was under but otherwise the light was at just the right angle to pick up the emboss really well.

Art Tour preparations

Yes, although The Art Tour doesn't start until mid June, preparation starts many months in advance. I have been busy bullying and cajoling the other artists to provide me with individual press releases and media fact sheets. We are already too late for monthly national publications.

Today we got together for a press photo shoot to go with our press release which I will pass on to the publicity team on the Art Tour, all volunteers. In addition to The Art Tour brochure our group of ten are producing an A5 postcard which we will distribute to our mailing lists and local businesses. The pub opposite the Hearth, The Lion & Lamb have been great in the way they have been so enthusiastic and willing to help.

They are offering £5 discount voucher off meal bills over £30 during the event. In addition they will be putting up a marquis where my daughter and a friend will be doing face painting on the children of parents who want some peace and quiet to eat and/or take it in turns to come across the road to look at the artists work. This will supplement Rosie's children's mask making workshops. Sue Malkin's children will be busking live on the open studio days.

We've discovered there are 3 National Trail walks from The Hearth, 2 to Hadrian's Wall and one lovely one to Horsley Wood and there is a heritage walk in the village itself. All this we have to fit into a press release and make it exciting for journalists. Mike McFarlane's wife is going to write it.

Step 3

With the paper and window mount still trapped under the roller I took a flyer and inked up the first plate again in another pale colour. I had no idea whether it would work given this was a third layer of wet ink with a lot of white in it I thought perhaps it might obliterate the poppies underneath. However, I was very happy with the result. My students were gratifyingly impressed too.

Friday turned out to be a very busy class with my students just fizzing with ideas on how to take what I had just shown them into their own work so what is not shown here is the same plates printed with using blended roll ups. I blended the same buttery yellow with a mid blue (mixed with transparent ink on the patterned plate and the poppy plate with cadmium yellow deep and magenta. Printed one over the other and was rather chuffed with the result. That turned out really well.

I only did it with a two plate print as we all agreed that a thrid layer might just be far too busy. I'll photograph it this week to demonstrate.

Step 2

I cut a second plate with strong shapes and inked this plate up in a magenta, slotted it into the window mount (having trapped the paper and window mount under the roller on the press to ensure my registeration stayed true. Both plates 1 and 2 were inked up at the same time so I could quickly change plates whilst everything was in situ.

Step 1

I used vinyl and made some simple patterned cuts into the plate before inking it up in a pale grey. I also created a window mount on mount card the same size as the plate as I wanted to print the three coloured layers quickly wet on wet and didn't want problem with the plate sliding off the wet ink when printing layers 2 and 3. It worked a treat.

Preparation and Teaching layered Linocuts

Last week I was in the studio making preparations for my Friday class. I am teaching a series of 4 Friday workshops on linocuts from simple one colour prints to layered linocuts, reductive prints, multi plate prints and shaped plates.

I had been inspired by some wood cuts I saw on Facebook by an artist based in Boston (must look up her name again). The artist had printed multiple plates which seemed to be patterns and various images over printed one on top of the other. I thought I would give it a go and pass the knowledge on to my students.

Biscuit Factory Exhibition

I can't beleive it has been two weeks since I updated my blog. I've been ill with some sort of weird cold/flu so not operating on all cylinders.

Anyway, the exhibition preview took place last Friday. It was a huge success. The gallery was absolutely packed bearingin mind that our was not the only exhibition opeing on the same night. Nevertheless we had all four bays across the back wall so Horsley printmakers was a significant presence and attracting a great deal of attention.

The exhibition looked great and once again with all the work framed and well hung the standard of work and presentation was very high. I must go back later in the week and take photos.

I had an email today to tell us sales have made a really good start with thirteen prints sold so far and may more on reserve. Price ranges from £105 - £395 so credit crunch busting too!