SCREEN PRINTED DEPARTURES

I have spent the last few months experimenting with screen printing. The last time I worked with this process must be 25 years ago, it has changed beyond recognition from a toxic
messy business to an immediate, fresh, water based system. After experimenting with the

mark making possibilities I have been exploring colours based on 1950's fabrics.

CHICKEN COLLAGRAPH

I have just finish this collagraph to add to the stock I show the galleries that take my work
I really like doing chicken images, they are birds with great character though I understand not a great deal of brain. With that look they give I find that hard to believe.

RESOLVING ISSUES

From time to time I am left with a pile of not quite finished pieces as seen in earlier posts, it then comes upon me to tackle these unresolved issues, rather than give up on them.
There are numerous techniques to use when printing a collagraph, so rather than bin the chunky bird plates I used inked rubs which brings out the texture and creates blushes of colour.

I have spent some time focusing on my enamel experiments too. Applying screen printed transfers work really well.

Adding elements to etched and enamelled plates. Can you spot the Nonconformist? All you moth buffs out there will get the reference!

Transfers on their own are fine, but add a stenciled image and a bit of a rhyme and it all gets more serious!!

SOLO EXHIBITION

February is flying by so quickly and I am filling most of it up with the preparation of my solo exhibition which starts 7th March at The Museum in the Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
For those of you local to Stroud I will be at the Museum between 2-4pm on Sunday 7th March demonstrating how I make my work. The Museum has also organised collagraph workshops for me to do, details of which will be on their web sight, www.museuminthepark.org.uk. Come and try your hand at collagraph printing.

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

I have put up a print draw in my shed to clear the window ledge. What can we tell about a person by looking at the things they collect or the gifts from friends?

I only have a few gaps left, so I will have to find another tray and find more wall space, I can't see myself changing a habit of a life time.

OBSESSION

Help, I can't stop playing, although I have had a bit of a set back. I was re-etching a copper plate,
thought I would really deeply bite it and left it over night in the ferric. I have managed to completely dissolve two plates, the cow parsley ones from an earlier post!!!

Hey ho, live and learn.

The back of all these plates are counter enamelled in white so that I can draw and

write on the back.

EXPERIMENTATION

Is it just me or is January a really difficult month to navigate artistically? I have always found it hard to motivate myself after Christmas and in the past the winter blues have stayed with me through to February. I now deal with it in two ways, acknowledging how I feel and half starting things to carry on with after Christmas.
I have at last made the collagraph plates from the drawings I made around December. I intend to make screen prints of strong colour to place behind these two birds.

The plates are made from card, tile cement carborundum and wood glue.

More enamel experiments. I have technical issues with the thinness of the copper, but I quite like the crazing, but I fear it may look like bad enameling to those who know.

I am very excited that it is possible to draw in pencil onto the enamel and fire it on, this opens the way to drawing and writing on to the pieces.

I have also spent a great deal of time deeply etching copper with ferric to work onto with enamel.

I am also exploring screen printed enamel transfers. Using my own photographs, I am working on a series of winter landscapes.

So much to do, so little time.....!!!