PrintFest visit

Earlier this month, I visited PrintFest in Ulverston. Founded in 2001, the festival brings together top artists/printmakers from around the United Kingdom who showcase and sell their contemporary prints at Coronation Hall (‘The Coro’). Printmakers also share their practices and learn from each other.

I purchased a large etching print while I was there as an early birthday present for my mum.

While at the event, I met up with my artist friend Pete Marsh who was one of the artists exhibiting.

The festival provides visitors the chance to chat with the artists and to attend workshops to learn about the art of printmaking.

A week later, I meet up with Pete at his new artist studio at the Falcon Mill Artist Studios and Gallery (FaMAS) open studios event in Bolton. Pete initially setup the FaMAS studios in 2011. The artist studios have increased in numbers since I last visited. There are now 40 studios at the mill.

I purchase one of Pete’s etchings of a horse rider while I was at the open studio event.

The following weekend, I along with a group of friends visited the Portland Basin museum in Ashton-Under-Lyne. I spotted a Letter press machine in one of the shop recreations inside the museum.

The museum on two floors and is a fascinating and well laid out space. The museum backs onto the Ashton canal and there is a chance to go on a short canal trip.

A few weeks ago, I met with a member of staff from Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery who gave me information on the upcoming Centenary Open Exhibition to be held at the gallery next month in celebration of the war memorial art galleries 100 years. I decided to visit my favourite picture framer to get some of my prints ready for future exhibitions. According to the rules, you can only submit one artwork.

Last week, the walking group that I am a member of organised an evening walk of 4 miles around Vernon Park and Woodbank Park.

The walk has given me inspiration to produce a series of Eco Image Transfer prints based on these two local parks. Here is a selection of my prints below.

In a few months, I plan to host another Eco Image Transfer workshop at Stockport Art Gallery similar to the recent Art for All Day.

As part of my study of Woodbank Hall, I made a sketch of the buildings exterior.

I hope to combining my sketch with Eco Image Transfer technique.

I recently purchased an a4 Pooki relief press which I will be using at home to produce new Lino prints.

As another month closes, I look forward to the next few months and more printmaking in the works and maybe another photo walk around town perhaps.

Cheers for now.

Stockport College lino cut

Stockport College’
4-colour reduction lino-cut (proof print)

Relief Printmaking

I’ve been busy this month travelling to two different workshops creating new prints.

At the moment, I am working on a reduction lino cut which I started last month which depicts the former Stockport college buildings which are currently being demolished to make way for a new development of housing, a civic building and green spaces.

“Stockport college” (linocut) Test print

Prints on drying rack at Prospect studio

I visited the college site on Sunday afternoon and saw the aftermath of the first stage of the demolition. I believe the Greek Street building (second photo) is being saved and will be a hub for local businesses.

A few weeks ago, I attended a Japanese woodcut workshop at Green Door printmaking studios in Derby.

https://www.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk/

The 1-day workshop covered the process of taking a sketch or photo and producing a block print from a small sheet of bamboo.

I’ve not covered woodcut printing before so was surprised by the results. To prep the wood printing block, you first sand the surface of the wood with wet and dry and then paint the wood with blue watered-down acrylic paint.

A piece of yellow carbon paper was place on top of the wood block and you trace your pencil drawing on top of that to leave an impression on the surface of the wood to allow you to carve your image. With special woodcutting tools, you then cut using a blade cutter to cut across the grain where needed and then use one of the wide cutting tools to remove the areas of wood block you want staying light.

The wood block is then inked with oil based ink. Sumi paper is used as it’s thin and suitable for woodcut printing.

To transfer the image to paper, you can use either a barren, spoon or the side of your hands to apply pressure. I used a combination of these tools. I also used a book press which did an excellent job. I will definitely have to explore woodcut again. My inspiration for today’s print was the much missed Sycamore Gap.

Shopping List: Lino cutting tools

https://www.lawrence.co.uk/pfeil-lino-tool.html

Future plans for prints and history walks

I plan to enter my work in the Derby Open 2024. I’m also planning another photo walk around town which will probably be north of the Mersey.

Further details will be published in the coming months.

Debenhams chine collé print

Chine collé is a printmaking method where thin paper is glued onto a thicker paper before printing. This creates a layered effect in the final print.

I use a starch glue called Yamato Nori Starch Paste which you can buy online in 220g green tubes. I would definitely recommend this glue as it transparent and is less messy than PVA.

I also started work on a brand new print this weekend which going to be a Lino print of the former Stockport College building.

Review of 2023 in pictures

Here’s a gallery of prints and images from this year.

My main highlights from this year was having work accepted into The Real Public Art Show (Stockport Open), the first Bury Open exhibition and the 102nd Stockport Art Guild exhibition.

2024 marks 10 years since I started this printmaking project / blog, and in that time I have created a catalogue of printmaking which I am going to present in a future exhibition. The project is not over yet, as I will be producing some new artworks in the coming months. Watch this space 👀

By the way have a happy and relaxing Christmas and here’s to 2024 and more creativity. Cheers 🥳🎄☃️🎇🎁

Vernon Park Linocut update

I printed the last colour on the Vernon park bench linocut recently. I added a light grey ink to the inset panels on the bench. Scroll down to view the different colour layers and the final print.

Linocut and etching work in progress

Today, I have been continuing to work on two plates; a Linocut based on a Vernon Park and an etching of The Blossoms pub.

‘Crowther’s Family Gift bench’
(A4 Reduced Linocut)

I started work on the linocut this morning by removing small sections all over the linoleum sheet in preparation for a new layer colour. I decided to add a mix of burnt umber, white and yellow to create a sandy colour. I reckon I have at least 2 more colours left to print which I will be adding soon which will be light green ink for the foliage and highlights on the bench possibly white ink.

After lunch, I continued to work on another print this time an etching depicting The Blossoms pub. One issue from last time working on this print is that I discovered while printing a proof of the etching, there was a white spot on the print where the aquatint had for some reason been removed. As you can see in the photo below of the test print, this was very noticeable on the print, so I had to remedy this before I could continue printing.

Blemish on the print where the aquatint has been removed.

‘The Blossoms’ (Etching Aquatint)

I added aquatint resin again to the plate and then using stop out, I covered all the plate apart from the section where the blemish was located. The dark section on the print is where I left the plate exposed to the strong acid for 5 minutes. I then printed another proof and the result is shown in the photo below.

The Blossoms poof print after fixing the blemish.

I then worked on burnishing the plate to lighten areas where required. In my next blog post I will show the finished print.

Prints and tours

Earlier this month, I hosted a meetup event of Staircase House museum which is situated in the marketplace. Staircase House dates back to the 15th Century and houses artefacts right up to World War II. Each room houses a different century and you get the experience of stepping back in time. It’s a gem of a museum and certainly worth a repeat visit. While on the tour of the house, we were shown hidden beams and section reveals showing how the building was constructed.

I am continuing to work on the Vernon Park linocut, which I have been slowly building up layers of colour these past few months. For each colour added, I then remove parts of the linoleum which I no longer need in preparation for the next colour layer. I tend to remove the linoleum at home to save time when I attend the workshop. So far I have printed 3 colours; Light grey, dark grey and a brick red colour on thin black cartridge paper. I have about 8 good prints so far. My next colour will probably be dark Green for the foliage in the background and on the path below the bench.

Vernon Park linocut. Added a brick red colour.

At the same time as printing the Vernon Park linocut, I continued working on The Blossoms etching. I managed to print off a proof print at the workshop. There seems to be a blemish on the print which I will need to fix probably by re-aquatinting the area affected. The print itself looks good so far, and hope to complete this print next month on my next visit to the studio.

Blossoms pub etching taking shape

I recently started work on a new etching on the theme of pubs in Stockport as part of my printmaking project. The new print depicting The Blossoms pub which incidentally is opposite the old pool hall building which I mentioned in my last blog post.

I might use this print for the upcoming 20:20 print exchange or I might do a brand new linocut instead.

On Saturday, I was due to take part in a Japanese woodcut 1-day workshop down in Derby at Green door studios. The workshop has been rescheduled for later this year due to illness. I hope to do a blog post in late October. I have never done any woodcut prints before so the wait will be worth it.

I am also continuing to work on my Vernon Park Linocut depicting a carved stone bench which I printed the second colour last week. Today I carved away a third layer which will be a light brick colour. I will show the results in my next blog post.

In mid May, I visited the capital London and spent a couple of hours in the British Museum. The museum is free and there are rotating exhibitions in the main forecourt building which you have to book for. One of the free exhibitions was the Japan’s festival float on the ground floor in Room 3 gallery as you enter the museum on the right hand side of the entrance. Apart from the beautifully crafted wooden model boat which was donated back on 1908 for the Summer Olympics, there were some amazing woodcut prints on display. I would recommend this place as a day out if you are visiting London as a tourist, lots to see.

Printfest Ulverston

I visited Printfest on a day trip yesterday afternoon. The weather was good as I drove up the M6 towards the Lake District. Printfest is an annual print festival held in the quaint market town of Ulverston at the Coronation Hall celebrating contemporary handmade prints.

Coronation Hall, with Laurel & Hardy statue in the foreground.

I chatted to a number of printmakers while I visited the festival including printmaker and friend Pete Marsh who was participating in the festival.

I also had a chat with the owners of a new print studio just opened in the town called Printshare Lakes which runs printmaking workshops based at premises on Queen street in the town. Printshare runs workshops such as in paper lithography, mono print, collagraph, drypoint and linocut.

After visiting the festival, I headed back along the A590 stopping off with my parents for a pub meal at the Hare & Hounds in Levens village.