Eco Image Transfer prints

On a very cold Saturday morning, I drove down to Green Door Printmaking Studio in Derby to attend a half day Eco Image Transfer Taster workshop.

The process to create the eco image transfer prints is pretty straightforward to achieve.

The method consists of using concentrated Citra Solv natural cleaner degreaser which you can buy online and mono laser printed designs preferably printed on off-white recycled office paper.

Citra Solv cleaner degreaser — Citrasolv (236ml)

The basic process is to place the laser print face down on the paper or wood of choice. You then fix the laser print into position with masking tape. I then applied to the back of the laser print the Citra Solv solution with a medium sized brush. I then rubbed the back of the laser print with a soft HB pencil with firm pressure. This results in the image on the laser print transferring to the chosen print material such as cartridge paper Fabriano paper or bamboo.

You can let your imagination run wild and come up with surreal and original images.

I used a series of copyright free image supplied at the workshop and combined them together to create new compositions.

You can prepare a design in advance using photo editing software and then print out copies to use to print editions.

Note: Text will needto be reversed on the laser print before you transfer the image.

Below is a gallery of prints I created on the day.

Mezzotint print

I started work on a small mezzotint print on Friday. I am using a gelli print of the viaduct as my inspiration. My first test print shows a faint outline of the viaduct. I am using a pre-rocked copper plate about 10 x 7.5 cms.

I initially used a mezzotint etching tools to etch the plate which looks a bit like a fountain pen. The end of the tool is a diamond shape and allows for precise mark making. I then used an etching tool and scraper.

Mezzotint: First test print on proofing paper

I completed my etching of the Produce Hall yesterday and did some burnishing of the plate to highlight the path in the foreground. I also did some dry point on some of the features of the building.

Produce Hall, etching aquatint on Fabriano paper

By the way, here’s wishing all my followers a Happy and creative New Year!

The Produce Hall print

I am currently working on a print depicting the Produce Hall which is located in the marketplace in Stockport. I will continue with my work on the print after Christmas.

I recently had some good news. Two of my Stockport series of prints have been accepted into the Grosvenor Museum’s 15th Open Art Exhibition in the new year. Feeling chuffed 😀

Graphical interpretations

As October draws to an end and the nights are getting shorter, I am writing this latest article on Halloween. Over the last few weeks, I have been busy documenting the last batch of print subjects of Stockport landmarks I need to complete the project. I’ve got a decent selection of images to use for future prints.

A few weeks ago, I attended a drawing and printmaking workshop in Stockport organised by Stockport Art Guild entitled ‘Graphic interpretation of Stockport landmarks combined with print’. The workshop was organised by the owner of the Art Club in Heaton Moor by former textiles designer Angela Lock.

I decided to create an artwork depicting the Plaza with a starry sky. The process involved creating landmarks drawn on cartridge paper in a simplistic monochromatic style. Once the drawing had been made, a larger piece of paper was then printed on using polystyrene thin sheets backed with card using water based ink. One of the printing blocks I used had a start pattern which I felt was a suitable background for the artwork.

After the event, I decided to donate my contribution to the gallery for all to see.

The finished results are shown in the photo below.

Finished artworks on display at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery

One final note, congratulations to Prospect Studios which celebrated its 20th Anniversary last weekend.

Starting a new etching

Yesterday, I began work on a brand new etching for the project. My subject this time is the Produce Hall at the Marketplace. More on this print next month.

Etching plate covered in hard ground wax and ready for acid bite.

Close up: Etching plate covered in hard ground wax.

Last week, I received a lovely surprise in the post from Green Door Studios. An edition of 10 unique prints from around the world such as Japan, Australia and closer to home. I entered the International Print Exchange #16 with a dry point I’d printed on my home press last month (see last month’s blog post).

On Saturday evening, I was invited with my mum to the ‘Portrait of Stockport’ exhibition at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery by artist Helen Clapcott .

At the preview of the ‘Helen Clapcott: a portrait of Stockport’.

The exhibition shows Helen’s paintings that depict post industrial landscapes of the town of Stockport in a dream like Lowryesque quality. I was impressed by the detail in the work which were painted in egg tempera. The work covers a long period and show the town has changed over the years with the loss of mill buildings that were in abundance in the not too distant past.

I enjoyed the exhibition and loved the paintings and seeing familiar landscapes and buildings and the humour in the work.

Home Printmaking

I have been busy this bank holiday weekend working on a new set of dry point prints using my FOME intaglio portable printing press. The results look really good. I’ve adapted my press and arranged to have two sheets of plywood cut to set sizes. One piece of ply replaces the zinc plate and allows the rollers to grip better when running the press. The lower roller on the press has a cross hatch pattern which acts like teeth and grips the wood and prevents both rollers from slipping while in operation. The larger piece of plywood is used to anchor the press onto the bench by means of a large metal clamp and two metal brackets fixed to one side of the press. The press is positioned near the edge of the bench to allow plenty of space for the press handle to be operated by means. The setup works very well with no movement once the press is in motion.

The photos show my home printing setup which consists of the water tray to soak the paper, an area to act as a blotter to dry the paper of excess water. An inking area which is on a large clear piece of plastic Perspex, the press setup and finally a place to store the finished prints.

Drypoint prints.

Published prints

I am thrilled to have my etching prints published in a book which celebrated the Derby Print Open 2024 exhibition which was held last month.

Derby Print Open Exhibition

I managed to visited the Derby Print Open exhibition recently to view the amazing printmaking at various venues around the city of Derby on a warm and sunny afternoon.

While visiting the exhibition, I spotted one of my etching prints at the nearby Dubrek music recording studios next door to Green Door Printmaking Studios.

It was great seeing my own artwork in the exhibition and I also purchased a high quality exhibition catalogue which featured all the prints in the show. The exhibition has closed today and I will be returning to collect my prints in the coming weeks and also visit some of the museums in Derby town centre such as the Museum of Making.

Bye for now.

Hats, prints and a print exhibition

Earlier this month, I visited the newly opened bus interchange in the heart of the town. The bus interchange can be accessed on foot from the main A6 and also a new pathway and bridge not far from the railway station.

Rooftop garden at Stockport Bus Exchange

There’s an oval roof top wall walk way with a tree lined garden and observation deck overlooking the Mersey.

My first impressions of the bus station were good and I liked the roof top garden which is called ‘Viaduct Park’.

Following on from the bus station, I arrived at the newly refurnished Hatworks museum to host a meetup event with my local history meetup group call ‘History Get Together’.

The museum explores the international connection with the hat industry. We were lucky to have a tour of the museum and witness the hat making machinery in motion. There’s a gallery of hats on the second floor.

From the 1st to 30th June, the Derby Print Open 2024 will be displaying artwork by printmakers from around the UK. The exhibition organised by Green Door Printmaking Studios is dedicated to original hand pulled prints and I am thrilled to have 3 of my etching prints in this year’s exhibition.

The exhibition is like an art trail with a small number of local venues which are all nearby one another around the town of Derby.

A few weeks ago, I attended an experimental 1-day screen printing workshop organised by Green Door Printmaking Studios.

I decided to use a subject from my printmaking project which I had covered previously as a drypoint. I decided to use a photo of St Thomas’s hospital buildings as the basis of my screen print. The idea was to combined a photographic image, a loose outline sketch of the building, an old map of the town some background sky. I combined these elements to form a colourful illustrative set of unique prints.