First prints out of the studio!

At last I have done some printing! I produced this series of small collagraphs earlier in the week. They were sort of inspired by the patients in the natural health practice where I help out sometimes. I wanted to capture how they seem to feel relaxed and held and comforted. I tried to make them look as if they are wrapped in a soft duvet or big blankets but that hasn't worked quite as well as I'd hoped. I might do some more next week. The first one is loosely based on a sketch of a sculpture I saw in France years ago but I don't know who it was by. 

Click on images to enlarge

As my family have gleefully pointed out I have had only limited success with the 'blankets'. I do accept that the one above looks rather snake like (I was trying to get the texture of one of those cellular baby blankets). And number 3 looks a bit like a meditating monk. But it is a bit harsh that they refer to the prints collectively as my 'poopoohead' series!

Damp studio and a purple hare

I can use my studio at last and we've moved my press in there now. We had a huge condensation problem but it has not recurred since we raised everything up on blocks of wood to increase ventilation and put up extra guttering. I was in a dreadful panic when I found all the water on the floor but Stephen was very calm and practical. I just couldn't believe that it was actually the sudden warm weather which was the problem (after all, the studio stayed so dry even in all that non stop rain we had).

That's my little press on the side there. I've got it out ready to print some collagraph plates I've been working on today.

Before the flood I had a go at making some screen prints using drawing fluid and screen block. The instructions seemed fairly straightforward and I prepared 2 screens. But I was a bit disappointed with the results and I just found the process rather unpredictable. The design is painted straight on to the screen freehand and the rest is blocked out. Looking at them again today I think this purple hare didn't come out too badly. He's just lost some detail on the right hand side (including his whiskers) but I don't know why. He's about 15 inches tall. You can't really do anything small or with lots of little details. Maybe I'll give rhe process another go some time.

Stroud Open Studios 2012

Stroud Open Studios 2012 continues this weekend. I managed to take a quick peek at some last Sunday but didn't have much time to linger. However I did pop over to Frogmarsh Mill to see the studios of printmakers Barbara Webb and Jen Whiskerd.

Barbara was a founder member of Camden Printmakers and specialises in etching. She was so gracious and welcoming when we visited, showing us work in progress and describing techniques and processes. Her subject matter is fairly traditional but she has a light touch which makes the charming images hard to resist. Prices range from £10 to about £35 for unframed etchings.

Completely different in style, the studio above Barbara's is occupied by an amazing relief printer. Jen Whiskerd's large, bold woodcuts of animals are full of humour and narrative. I bought one of her cards as a Good Luck card for my daughter.

Hopefully I'll have more time this weekend to look inside other wonderful studios and see some of the huge diversity of work which is created in and around Stroud.

To view the Open Studios catalogue click on the link on the right. (Barbara is on page 12)

Almost there!

'50 people I've never met'  (2012)  Hannah Williamson

Went to Cardiff on Tuesday to help my daughter hang some of her work for her final degree assessment. Everything is due in  tomorrow so anxiety is reaching fever pitch. Couldn't resist showing you a photo of the piece which is going in the degree show. (And another one which is on the show poster). I'm very proud of her.

Curious crow doll

I finished the 'Big Cawdelia' doll today. She's the same pattern as the one I made for my daughter only 4 times bigger. She's even got the some of the same RAF braid on her dress.

I eventually took some photos of her sitting on the newly grey Ronnie Rhino. (the pink wasn't very popular). At first Cawdelia wasn't very sure about Ronnie and she refused to come down from the bird table for about an hour. But crows are by nature very curious creaures and by the afternoon hers had got the better of her. Now they are best of friends and settled by the window in the sitting room watching the goings on in the garden and dreaming of the adventures they're going to have together....

Three printmakers at Prema

Three exhibitions started down at Prema in Uley this week - and the artists are all printmakers! Or at least printmaking is a large part of their artistic practice. Just shows how much interest in the medium has increased from the public (and artists) over the last few years.

The three exhibiting artists pretty much cover all the print processes between them (including etching, drypoint, woodcut, lino and screen printing) and there is some really beautiful work. Well worth a visit.

In his subtle etchings and watercolours Ali Yanya  has caught ordinary people going about their business. I found the still, shadowy figures strangely moving, the sense of isolation and transience is really strong.

In the cafe Sarah Young is exhibiting some of her colourful relief prints. The illustrations for the Greek Myths book are particularly eyecatching. Having checked out her website I am in awe of her productivity and creative repertoire. (and she has an Etsy shop!) Something for me to aspire to.

Emily Hogarth is one of the growing number of artists creating intricate paper cuts which really lend themselves to screen printing and are very popular at the moment. She has created packaging and artwork for Cadburys, M&S and Lloyds TSB among others. A short video about her design process can be found on the Nivea website. Bit twee, but it's always interesting to see how artists get inspiration for their work.

Another reason to go (if you need one) is that the new cafe is open. Yummy cakes!   

Prema is a family friendly Arts Centre, promoting performance, live music and art exhibitions, as well as accessible workshops, classes and creative experiences for kids and adults. Prema, near Dursley in the Stroud valleys, offers an afforadable day out for all folk in the South West. 

         

Everything is going to be OK!

When a close friend was getting extremely stressed about her work for her final Art Degree show recently I gave her a little screen print to pin on her studio wall. The writing was added freehand with letterpress letters.
Even when there's only one magpie things can still turn out fine!

My daughter is also in the final year of a Fine Art degree and a couple of months ago I sent her this little screen print. It was made using paper stencils. The print is A4 size so I could add the writing by putting it through the computer printer.

Click on image to enlarge

I created these simple images at a workshop down at the Gloucestershire Print Co-op. I can't wait to be able to do some larger pieces. Shouldn't be long now before I can move in to the studio (if it ever stops raining!)