Wednesday 29 March 2017

ALL ABOUT GUM ARABIC TRANSFER

The 23 March found me flying around the country, 2 gallery visits and then off to the Nottingham countryside to give a gum arabic transfer workshop at Hope and Elvis.
Here is a glimpse of this creative space while setting up for my workshop. It is host to many a famous textile artist, Julie Arkel, Marna Lunt and Hens Teeth to name but a few.
In preparation I had played with lots of gum arabic transfers on fabric and created cushions, purses, buttons and a doll.
Saturday morning arrived and we were off, transferring images onto paper first.
Inking with oil based ink.
As the day wore on the prints came
 thick and fast.
It was lovely
to see the group experimenting
with all sorts of substrates.
By the end of the day there was a table full of loveliness that can go on to be incorporated into other projects. 
Talking of projects using gum arabic transfer. As part of my Arts Council Funded project for the Museum in the Park, Stroud I have printed onto feathers. Using the museums collection of letters from soldiers to their families during the First World War I created a large hanging installation of feathers for their foyer.
Last Monday found me at the museum installing this printed piece.
With the invaluable help of Carole Conde, with whom I could not have installed everything quite so quickly or beautifully. 
Over 200 feathers were hung at the Museum.
It moves very gently when the door opens and is a poignant reminder of the emotional messages sent from soldiers to their loved ones during the First World War. The installation will be on display to the beginning of June. There is also an opportunity to take part in a heavily subsidised gum arabic transfer workshop on 8 April, contact the museum for details.




Wednesday 15 March 2017

A PRINT A MONTH

I am still on track for a print a month.
For March here is Four for a Boy.

Saturday 11 March 2017

ALL BOOKED AT THE YARD

Last weekend the yard:ARTspace welcomed back the very talented
Lesley Crawley who facilitated a wonderful artists book workshop. Here is Lesley on the far left sharing her knowledge.
What I love about Lesley's workshops are
the fabulous examples she brings along to inspire everyone.
This workshop was all about concertina book forms and 
all their variations.
Lesley shared everything, knowledge, materials and
inspiration.
Everyone seemed to make lots of books.
I particularly like the flag books, everything looked
so intricate. I can't wait for Lesley to lead another workshop...I'm getting my diary out now!
If this has whetted your appetite, Sarah Morpeth will be running a 2 day workshop on paper cut books, her signature technique. 13-14 May, there are just a few places left.
If you would like to keep in touch with the goings on at the yard:ARTspace, join the mailing list which can be founded on this page.

Wednesday 1 March 2017

SILK AQUATINT - THE NEXT COLLAGRAPH LEVEL

Silk aquatint is by far the most sophisticated way of making a collagraph. If you like tone, this is for you!
It is collagraphs version of mezzo tint. By applying chiffon to mount board, then working from black to light by glueing a range of subtle tones can be achieved.
This weekend workshop was fueled by chocolate based bickies
Everyone worked so hard.
Here are my workshop examples and the different ways the plates can be printed. Starting with top left:-
Intaglio inked with chine collee.
Intaglio and viscosity inked
Intaglio inked with rusted chine collee
Intaglio inked
Everyone embrassed the idea of having strong dark areas that the chiffon gives.
Experimentation was the order of the day.
There was not a plate that was not
made exciting by the viscosity inking
technique, I do hope
that everyone went home happy?
If you would like to learn collagraph techniques in weekend workshops or a 10 week course, go to www.theyardartspace.com for details.