NON TOXIC ETCHING WEEKEND

I have just had a creative weekend teaching a really talented group non toxic etching.
Using copper sulphate and gum arabic resist the group of six artists made sets of experimental etchings on aluminum plate.

After inking the first prints in the usual intaglio way.

I let the group explore viscosity inking.

These rich colours are printed by pushing one colour into the etched line,

then rolling two different viscosity's of ink in different colours across the plate.

Exciting flashes of colour are achieved.

Try the technique on collagraph plates, the effect is even more dramatic.

I had a great weekend, it was a very simulating group, we put the world to rights

and lots of prints were produced.

AN INORDINATE FONDNESS OF BEETLES

I am still experimenting with enamelling.
I created these beetle pieces using the transfers I screen printed earlier in the month. The colours are applied first and the writing is fired pencil.

The moths are transfers applied onto thin copper foil shapes

I am really enjoying the challenge of this new technique.

CONTINUE TO COLLAGRAPH

I do not know what it is , but some days you can be working away and nothing goes right.

After days of this being the case, I have finally produced work I am pleased with. These three prints are examples of viscosity inked collagraph plates.

The moral is don't give up. Also go back to things and give them another go!

A NEW IDEA

I am fighting with a new idea, I know what I want but I am not convinced that I have achieved it yet.

I am trying to make an image of moths flying towards a light source, I have made this collagraph plate from card and tile cement. The very dark is created with carborundom grit. I feel that I am almost there, but am so close to it now I can't see it properly any more. I have started a new plate.

Trying something new opens us up to all manner of insecurities, perhaps I should not make them quite this public, but I am sure I am not alone?

EASTER GREETINGS

It's Good Friday and I have at last had time to decorate for Easter.
I haven't had time to paint eggs this year , so it is a trip down memory lane.

Eggs painted and made with fabric by my children when they were small and little knitted things.

Thankyou Lesley for the nest which is now a central feature on my mantle piece.

Happy Easter everyone!

LABELLING

If you haven't checked out Robyn Gordon's latest post on her blog Art Propelled, do, she is talking about giving herself the time to experiment with new ideas, I really agree. To move forward we all need more time to play and we tend to find excuses not to. The thought of failing is my biggest excuse.
And have I been playing !! This is a zinc etching, inked using the viscosity method with cut out etched moths collaged onto it.

This little piece was an example I made for a zinc etching course. Left in the copper sulphate over night to create the bitten edges and holes, then again viscosity inked.

But these are my favourite experiments, I am really enjoying learning to enamel. These 4 labels are deeply bitten copper and screen printed transfers.

I hope Robyn will find that 2 -3 months of experimental play will be enough...I think I will need 2-3 years.

COLOUR EXPERIMENTS

When all else fails and I can't think what to make next , it is a good point to experiment with
a few small sample collagraph plates. These tile cement and carborundum pieces are about 2 ins x 4 ins, sorry about the imperial measurements!

I have inked them up using simultaneous colour inking (or viscosity ) ...one trip through the press, I know hard to believe. I have added a little gold chine collee here and there, I love a bit of twinkle.

Looking at them now I think it might be worth trying to repeat these compositions in enamel.

That will while away a few hours when I should be writing essays!!