I've got a couple of papercut classes coming up. Rediscovering work I've forgotten about. Loving the colours and vintage / pop art obsession.
Playing with Colour
Starting my love affair with water colours ... again.
Archangel - Proof Print
This week I finally got a chance to take a proof print of this rather large lino. It's been hard going (especially being that I hand rubbed this), but I'm quite happy with the results so far. Inevitably, there were a few minor bits I missed, but overall I think it's ready for a print run. Now, it's time to start playing with colour.
Teaching @ Cambridge Makers Space
Great class today introducing a new group to the joys of Lino Cut print making. Thanks to Cambridge Library and the driver behind their Makers Space Teagan Nyeboer for making this happen. This is a great initiative and I look forward to doing more of these classes.
The challenge was set to fit a beginners class into 2 hours and get to print (Because it's always nice to come away with a finished print). Everyone got to print. I think that's quite an achievement! Well done class.
Here are some action shots plus some examples of finished works.*
*Please note: Some of these images are "heavily influenced" by existing print makers. This is a study, not work for sale. But the pussy cat is an original (by a 10 year old!).
Sewlab
This is a fun side project I'm working on (in all the spare time I don't have). Being sick has allowed me some time at least to get this baby launched. The make & do culture really appeals to me and so do clothes (being that I'm a starving artist it's likely to be the only way that I get the clothes I want). A dose of community does not go a stray either and that's what Sewlab is truly about. This is going to be FUN.
Playing With Pochoir
Having some fun today, working with "Pochoir" (a fancy word for stencils, bless the French). Really this is an excuse to dig out the colour inks! As my works are often very large and very time consuming, and printed in black, it's nice to do something different. I call it bubblegum printing as it's just for fun. This is a first print, the idea is to do a print run with more stencils with repeat inking up, layering, print & repeat.......................more images and a video soon to come.
Archangel
Ok. So this one's big. Lino measures: 1160mm x 700mm (46" x 28") I've accepted that large scale is where it's at for me. This piece is inspired (pretty obviously I would assume) by Archangel Michael, with a twist. I've always had a fascination with religious art; the drama and opulence. Did I mention colour?! I'll be hand colouring these prints.
Restaurant Day
A job I squeezed in for my husband and his mate. Surprisingly fun considering I had to turn this around in 24 hours (realistically I only had 8). I've missed painting. It was good to work with a splash of colour. weathered shipping crate and paint of public art past. The boys did my sign proud!
"Oh, dear little mother, they are going to slaughter you!"
This is an illustration I'm working on for an old Russian folk tale. Working in to Lino again. What a relief! So much easier after MDF. I'd like to try this as a copper plate etching too but that will have to wait for now. Here's the initial sketch that I transferred to the Lino before fleshing it out a bit. Girl's costume and background still to come.
Form Public 2015
Now that Form Public 2015 is over and I've had some time to reflect upon it, I'd like to express my appreciation to all the visionary folks at Form who made this a reality.
Thanks to Laetita Wilson at the West Australian for the coverage and praise.
Ophelia in all her glory. Lessons in how not to photograph reflective surfaces. Look close enough and you can see my sister in law! Little red dot signals SOLD. Happy days.
Ophelia detail shot.
Woodcut - Inking up
Inking up. AKA the fun bit. Actually I love the process and think that's what really won me over with print making. That aside I thought it's time to see what I've achieved so far. I love that you still don't know exactly what you're going to get. There's something special that happens that you can't account for and you're never quite sure what that will be. You also don't know if you will like it. So the idea is to get a proof print to then work back in to the board with white pencil once it's blacked in. I want to live with this proof for a while and see what it calls for( like a face) and what it doesn't. To be continued...
* this is just cartridge paper at this point. Looks disappointingly like a photocopy. Let's not be precious.
Woodcut
So, I had this great idea to cut a wood block using MDF. I waxed lyrical to friends family and anyone else who cared to listen( or didn't) about the rawness and lovely physicality of each line that was gouged into the block, how it had more soul, feeling, life! I felt in the physicality of each line there was a little more of myself going into it; that THIS would come through in the work. It was so much part of me. Every line counted.
I was mostly right. Add in a dash of insanity and the list is complete.
SO. I'm really happy with what I'm achieving and I wouldn't say the effort has not been worth the reward, HOWEVER, let's just say I'm learning a lot in the process. I'll touch on the theme later when I get to print. As printing is so much about process, this is where it seems most fitting to stay for the moment.
Tools are important! Seems obvious but I'm telling you I made the right choice in getting Japanese woodblock carving tools. Sorry, but Speedball would not have cut it( no pun intended. My humour is better than that). I quickly reallised I had to go much smaller for the fine detail I wanted to achieve for this piece. Enter the Swiss! A 1mm V gouge and U gouge enter the fold( not as sharp as the Japanese- bit disappointed).
Knowing how to care for your tools is just as important. I have struggled with the set back of sharpening such fine tools to their original shining glory. I will overcome this.
So here is what I've achieved so far;)
Flapper
Based on an old photograph I had floating around. I couldn't resist this glamorous gal. So much of this period influences my work. A relatively small lino cut for me (fits A4). Pretty happy with this proof, just going to clean up the face and highlight some more of the plumes. I'l post a finished print soon.
Ophelia Paper Cut
This is the Ophelia paper cut before it got it's finishing touches. Namely a top & bottom border for her watery tomb. The completed piece is now being exhibited at Form Public Salon 2015. She's now floating gracefully in a very sexy acrylic frame to be photographed in situ and posted soon.
This is a hand cut paper cut. Many hours, blades, back ache, and yes sometimes blood have gone into the making of this piece.
