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.
Yesterday, I continued my work on the etching depicting the White Lion public house, which is now private flats in the centre of town.
There is still some adjustments to make on this etching. I have recently purchased a couple of blue permanent markers which I use to stop out areas on the plate. I tend to use a medium size marker but also have a small marker for finer details.
Last Saturday at the printmaking workshop, I started a new etching plate which is the first for 2022. The new plate once completed will depict the White Lion public house which has now been turned into swanky apartments in the centre of town. The plate is slightly larger than the normal 18 x 12 cms I usually create etching prints from. I have gone for a larger printing plate so I can add more detail. Below is a photo of the plate which has a coating of hard wax to protect the plate when it has its first dip in the acid bath early next month. The first acid bath lasts about 15 minutes which allows the outline of the drawing to be defined more strongly on the plate.
Yesterday, I visited Bury Art Museum to swap a small number of etchings for the shop that is based on the first floor. One of the prints I submitted was of the cage at Lyme Park.
The museum has a collection of paintings by JMW Turner. One of which is this work I saw in the main gallery (see below)
Yesterday, I completed my latest etching aquatint print depicting the council offices building named Stopford House.
The view is of the back of the building and courtyard. A brutalist building constructed in the mid-70’s made of patterned concrete, metal and glass.
I will be selling original prints, paintings and gifts at the Art All Day: Winter Edition on 20 th November 2021.
Further details: https://cottononmcr.com/cotton-on-mcr-art-all-dayer-winter-edition/
I currently have 3 prints in this year’s Macclesfield Open which is an online exhibition supporting the East Cheshire Hospice. The exhibition is on until 31st October 2021. Please check out: http://www.maccopen.org.uk/maccopen/Home.html
This is an etching aquatint print I created early on in the project which I seem to have not shared before in this blog.
I used a combination of printing inks with black ink printed first, then leaving the remaining black ink on the plate, I then inked up blue ink and printed again to get the desired effect of deep dark shadows and lines with the black ink and light highlighted areas with blue ink.
Today, I started a brand new etching aquatint print depicting the Arden Arms pub inspired by a pen sketch. This image shows the first proof print.
I recently received a link to a virtual tour of the Impressions: a response to Towneley exhibition which is currently closed due to the UK national lockdown. Two of my prints, one depicting one of my Stockport related etching prints is currently in the show.
Link here to virtual tour: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=3E21TgaRyCY&back=1&fbclid=IwAR26WcmIhVYVeVy4UMh24HEQ_eAexRaY3UrEOKsTyPRqhJb2dW7N6AIMqUM
I am delighted to have a selection of my prints in the current exhibition- “Impressions: a printmaking response to Towneley” at Towneley Hall in Burnley, Lancashire. Exhibition is on from 19th September 2020 until 19th January 2021. Please book before you visit, link below.
Impressions: A printmaking Response to Towneley
On Sunday I attended a printmaking workshop for the first time in over three months since the lock down began on 23rd March in the UK. My printmaking friend Alan Birch organises weekly workshops for individuals and school groups. Times have been tough for the creative industry during lockdown and my friend has had to install measures such as screens dividing work areas, the use of hand santisers and the 2 metre social distancing rule. During my time away from attending studio workshops, I continued printing at home using my own portable press and hand printing Linos using my handmade printing jig. You can see the results of my efforts in previous posts.
Since my last visit, I have completed a new etching for the forthcoming Towneley Hall exhibition which will open in August (see image above). The print is titled “The secret doorway”.
My latest etching features the river Mersey taken from one of my archive photographs. I hope to complete the print on my next visit to Prospect studios.
Stockport In Print 
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