Category: Update

The drying rack and the hungry mouse

If like me you produce large batches of prints such as for print exchanges, print shows etc.., you probably have realized that you need somewhere to dry out those precious prints from getting damaged. I had this issue last year when I was producing an edition of 25 relief prints for the 20:20 Print Exchange organised by Hot Bed Press.

My print run exceeded over 30 prints to allow for imperfections such as smudges or mis-alignment etc.. At the time I did not possess a drying rack, so I laid out my prints individually on the workbench in the garage which I call my art studio for them to dry out overnight.

The next morning, I was shocked to discover that at least one of my prints had a big bite taken out of it! I eventually realized that it was the resident mouse which had come out of it’s nest to explore and on finding my prints, decided they would make a tasty meal and helped itself!

Since the mouse incident, I have designed and built a simple drying rack which is supported from two metal beams in the garage.

The drying rack is constructed from wood (taken from an old rabbit run), wooden clothes pegs, nails, curtain loops and plastic hay twine.
I nailed the pegs to one side of a thin wooden plank in even spaces. The wooden plank is suspended by way of two curtain loops attached to twine from the roof.

I have added photos of the rack to this blog post.

I am now taking a months break from this blog. I will return in September with more posts and news about my project.

Bye for now.

Drying rack
Drying rack with prints.
Drying rack
Drying rack
Drying rack
Drying rack

The project so far…

Over the last few years, I have been creating a portfolio of prints in different styles and printing techniques. I reckon there is still many more subjects to cover for the Stockport In Print project which should conclude by the end of next year. A lot of my work centres around architecture new and old and the changing surroundings of Stockport with all the new developments going up. As my project progresses, I will include these new buildings in my work. The latest is the new RedRock entertainment and dining quarter. Stockport Exchange near the railway station is another development of new glass and metal office blocks, shops and a hotel.

As I am in the fifth year of the project, it is a good time to review my work. I will be adding all the prints I have created so far to this blog site.

Whenever the subject of Etching Aquatint comes into the conversation, I am asked what it is? and how do you create an etching? I have had an idea which has been mulling over in my head for a bit. The idea would be to create a short video describing the process from start to finish. I will be filming this video sometime in the near future for broadcast soon.

For now I am having a short break from the project and hope to return next month with a new print.

Bye for now 🙂

Exhibition Previews

Attended the exhibition previews of Liam Spencer and Prospect Printmakers on Saturday 21st April at The Whitaker, Rawtenstall.

Some amazing work on show from Liam Spencer’s landscape paintings depicting Rossendale and the Whitaker archive and also Alan Birch’s Prospect Printmakers group which displayed 20 Pennine themed prints from the regulars to Alan’s printmaking workshops including my own collagraph print depicting drystone walls.

All prints are for sale. See poster in blog post for further details.

Matte Medium Transfer Printing

  1. Create a Gelli print using acrylic paints, acrylic paper, plastic stencils and a latex Gelli printing block.
  2. Find and print off a black and white image using a laser copier or printer.
  3. Before you print off the laser image, ensure you create a reverse version of the image. This is crucial if there is text in the image so it does not print out in reverse!
  4. Once Gelli print is dry, apply Matte Medium to both the surface of the Gelli print and the laser printed image (face up).
  5. Apply the laser printed image sticky side down.
  6. Using a printing roller, run over the transfer to apply to the Matte Medium print a few times to the Gelli print.
  7. Remove any air bubbles using a plastic card such as an old loyalty or credit card.
  8. Allow print to dry fully overnight in a warm place.
  9. Remove just the white paper from the laser print transfer using warm water, earbuds and a sponge. Remember to soak the whole paper containing the image throughly before removing paper.
  10. Remove the paper carefully so as not to remove the laser print transfer. You will probably have to remove a small number of layers before the print can been seen on the Gelli print
  11. Once all excess paper is removed, leave to dry out throughly.
  12. Finally, varnish the print using acrylic varnish.

Cobden statue prints

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.

More Gelli printing

 

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.