December photo walk

While visiting the art gallery last weekend and doing some Christmas shopping, I did a mini photo walk around town to capture buildings I will be making prints of using my photographs as a reference. I headed down to the old Debenhams store which is now closed and took some images.

From there, I walked back up the A6 and saw that progress has been made on the new 1 billion pound bus interchange next to the Hatworks museum and you can see the apartment block being constructed.

As I made my way back up the A6, I made a slight detour and had a look at the Stockport Village area behind the Plaza theatre is in the progress of being demolished. I took a few pictures from behind a metal fence.

Stockport Village (now being demolished)

Stockport Village was once a thriving little shopping precinct hidden away and has been abandoned for over 15 years. There used to be boutique shops, gym and cafe. I remember it in its heyday and is sad to now see it all abandoned and being knocked down. Hopefully some of it can be kept and redeveloped as with the other parts of the town.

Here is a last shot of the viaduct with the sun starting to set.

Prospect Printmakers at WinterFest

12 Artists will be seeking their original prints and cards. All works have been printed at Prospect Studios in nearby Waterfoot. Chat to artists, snap up a present. Alan Birch will be demonstrating the art of printing. Choirs, music, mulled wine, festive food, makers.

The Whitaker, Haslingden Road, Rossendale BB4 6RE. Tel. 01706 879 322. [email protected]

Pictures at an Exhibition

On Saturday, I attended the 101st Stockport Art Guild exhibition at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. I have 3 prints in this year’s exhibition which consists of 2 etchings based on Stockport that I worked on just before the Covid lockdowns and a photo screen print I completed this summer at Green Door Printmaking Studio in Derby.

The exhibition was a massive success and I helped with setting it up over the last few weeks.

101st Annual Exhibition

101st Stockport Art Guild Exhibition 2022

You’re invited to Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery to see the artworks of our talented, creative members. Many works for sale!

Our artists all have their unique style, and you can expect a wide variety of works.

Preview: Saturday 26th November 2022 at 2pm to 4pm (Refreshments provided)
Exhibition: Sunday 27th November 2022 to Friday 20th January 2023

Venue: Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK3 8AB.

Gallery Opening Times:
Thursday and Friday: 1pm to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 11am to 4pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Telephone: 0161 474 4453
Email: [email protected]

Vernon Hall print

Last weekend, I started work on another. Enron park related print. This time, I created a dry point print of Vernon hall using a technique to blend colours on the printing plate.

The technique I use is to add blocks of coloured ink to the areas such as the lawn in the foreground. I do this for each area adding small amounts of ink used by a fine small paint brush. I then use scrim cloth to remove excess ink and then blend the ink by lightly going across the paint in a horizontal direction right to left (as I am left-handed). I then remove any further ink with tissue paper. I try and leave some excess ink in small areas to add some contrast. I then print the plate running it through the press at least once.

I created a number of prints from coloured blends to sepia and using black ink. See gallery below.

Strawberry Studios etching

Here is my latest print that I have been working on at the weekend called “Strawberry Studios”.

Stockport Masonic Guildhall prints

On Saturday, I printed a small number of my drypoint prints depicting the Masonic Guildhall in Stockport. I used a technique called chine collé which I applied to the prints using sources such as embossed wallpaper, sheet music as this building is used as a music venue. I like this technique and hope to use the technique for future print subjects.

Exhibitions on the horizon

I am currently busy getting ready to show some new prints for two forthcoming exhibitions.

The first exhibition is not related to Stockport and relates to another town in the Manchester area called Radcliffe and the project is called ‘Spirit of a Place’ organised by Bury Art Museum. The second will be the annual art exhibition organised by Stockport Art Guild later this year.

Earlier this month, I took part in a 1-day photo screen-printing workshop in Derby. During the workshop, I learnt the process how to create a full colour CMYK prints using acrylic inks on paper.

The day was very interesting and enjoyable and I produced a number of prints for the Radcliffe project. Here is a photo of me screen-printing at Green Door Printmaking Studios.

Screen-printing workshop at Green Door Printmaking Studios, Derby

The Stockport Art Guild exhibition will be held at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery between late November until early January 2023. I will be submitting two etchings aquatint prints on the theme of Stockport which I will reveal in a future post.

Stockport Open exhibition

I attend the preview of the Stockport Open 2022 art exhibition this afternoon. I have two prints in this year’s exhibition and am really honoured to have my work accepted.

History walk around town

On Saturday, I organised a guided tour around Stockport starting from Stockport railway station and finishing at the river Mersey behind the precinct with the British History, Social Group on Meetup https://meetu.ps/c/23GkP/b3nJ4/aCheck