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.
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
2020 has been a “challenging one”, which is a phase I’ve heard many times this year not surprisingly. My year in general has had its fair share of ups and downs like most folk.
The printmaking project has certainly been affected by this year’s pandemic but I have made the most of the situation by being as productive as possible with home printing and attending a few social distanced workshops. I took part in the first ever Manchester Open which ended early, the Macclesfield (Virtual) Open which was a first for me and the Towneley Hall ‘Impressions’ exhibition which will run until mid-February 2021. Hopefully more people will be able to view the Towneley exhibition before it ends if lockdown restrictions are relaxed in time.
In the Autumn, I entered a screen-print edition for the annual Hotbed press Twenty/Twenty International print exchange.
I will definitely be doing more screen printing next year and experimenting with other printing techniques like lithography on kitchen foil.
Currently, I am in the process of designing a brand-new personal website which will be linked to my blog.
I will be adding new features to my website and displaying artwork previously not seen before. The new site will be launched early in the new year. Really looking forward to getting my new website online.
Once published, you can view my website at: www.neilrobinson.me.uk
At the beginning of the year, I started work on a new etching depicting the river Mersey just before lockdown kicked in. I hope to continue work on this printing plate in the new year all being well.
In November, I launched a brand-new Instagram account for the printmaking project which will be good for promoting my project and blog.
I am looking forward to getting back to studio workshops and completing my printmaking project by the end of next year.
Well, it’s time for me to sign off for 2020.
Merry Christmas and here’s to 2021!
Stay safe.
Cheers,
Neil. 🎄
I will be launching a brand new website in the new year 2021 with new features.
Link below.
Stockport In Print now has a new Instagram site which went live today.
You can follow the account here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVNrO8Hg-q/?igshid=aj1mkz595ezc
To visit people will need to book a slot with us at Towneley here (Mon-Thurs & Sat-Sun):
http://towneley.org.uk/about/book-your-visit/
From the October half term we change our opening hours to just the weekends 12-4pm, last entry at 3.30pm
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
In the months of July and August, I have completed a 7 colour reduction lino-cut print depicting the Mailbox Stockport apartment block which is a former post office building that had been abandoned for years. The building is located in the centre of Stockport just off the A6 main road not far from the railway station. The new building has real foliage and bright green tiled walls on it’s exterior.
I used oil based inks from Hawthorn Printmakers this time apart from the green which is a mix of water-based Pea green and oil based Titanium white. The effect of mixing a water based ink with oil based printing ink is very interesting in that it creates a unusual pattern when the print dries.
I created a total of 10 prints from the plate which I cut down until only a few pieces of linoleum remained. The red colour used in the print was added with watercolour paint.
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.
Two of my etchings from the printmaking project are now on display on the Macclesfield Open online art exhibition 2020.
http://www.maccopen.org.uk/maccopen/Home.html
I prefer to use Sunography paper by Noted Llc which I found produced the best results. The paper has to be exposed for at least 10-15 minutes in bright sunlight and is coated on both sides with light sensitive chemicals.
Sunography – Paper (pack of 6 double-coated) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003EYKKEK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DIcUEbQ6HKX1T
Stockport In Print 
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