A blog about Stockport landmarks by artist/printmaker Neil Robinson which follows a printmaking project depicting the diverse architectural styles of my hometown both new and old.
Just added a coat of acrylic varnish to my recent Gelli / matte medium transfer prints. The varnish covers any traces of paper not previously removed from the print.
The prints above depict the Richard Cobden statue on Petersgate.
Cobden was a free trade pioneer and became MP for Stockport in 1841. He lead the anti-Corn law campaign within Parliament.
The 16ft statue which has been in situ since the 1880’s was moved to a new location due to redevelopment of the square.
I have continued to experiment with my gelli printing silcone mat using acrylic paints and plastic stencils which I purchased from a local craft store. The stencils I have used have been very effect in producing monoprints. I used a brayer roller to press the ink onto the acrylic paper without the need of a printing press. The contrast between the background image and the stenciled relief works very well.
I have also produced some more matte medium transfers such as the table lamp and the image of Stockport viaduct take from another angle. The transfers are the hardest to do as there is alot of paper to remove once the matte medium has dried out completely. Plenty of water and ear buds are recommended for this aswell as plastic sheeting and towels. The ear buds are the most effective way to remove the paper layers and reveal the transfer below. Some the transfer will be removed but this adds to the finished effect.
I hope to add some more transfers soon using the stenciled prints shown above.
Here is my second fellow print with matte medium transfer applied.
Title: Stockport Viaduct
Two Gum Arabic prints I created for the project.
Gargoyle, Bramhall Hall
Chardkirk monk wood carving, Chadkirk
Lowry in Stockport (etching aquatint)
Stockport Art Guild 97th Art Exhibition
Here is my first attempt at printing a gelli print with a matte medium transfer depicting Stockport Viaduct.
Last Sunday, I continued working on my Robinson’s brewery etching using a mezzotint technique. The plate I am using was originally for another print which didn’t turn out the way I wanted. I had only etched the outline of the design but decided to start a fresh. The only problem was I had deep etched lines in the print which needed to be removed. The answer was to add Aquatint and then place the plate in strong acid for 15 minutes and let the lines disappear. I then creating my new etching from there. As the plate had been etched back, when I did a test print it came out black. This is where I used a ball burnisher and my own curved burnishing tool to smooth out the areas I wanted to be printed light. Any areas left in burnished would be printed dark.
Burnishing is a delicate and long process which requires concentration and good light. I will be showing the final results in my next post in the New Year.
Cheers!
Sepia version of my etching of the air raid shelter in Stockport.
This week I have been preparing my artwork for a number of local exhibtions. First up was the 2017 Macclesfield Open based at the Silk Museum, which I submitted two etching prints with a coastal theme. One of the prints depicts the isle of Arran and the other is of horse-riders galloping on a beach.
The second exhibition I submitted work was for the 97th annual Stockport Art Guild exhibition. As I am a member, I couldn’t miss this chance to enter four of my prints ranging from a linocut to a new etching depicting the artist L.S. Lowry.
I will also be selling some xmas cards at The Boo Arts & Crafts Market between 25th-26th November. This year I have some new cards and even fridge magnets for sale base on my Lyme Park etching.
On Sunday, I had a busy day printing an edition of my new etching entitled “Stockport Exchange” taken from a pen sketch created earlier this year.
I am also working on another etching this time as a mix between a Mezzotint and an etching. There is quite alot of burnishing to carry out on this one.
I will give an update in my next blog post in December. Bye for now!
Stockport In Print 
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