Flipping Plates and Relief Etching!

Since the recent success of the '12 PrintMAkers' exhibition at the RK Burt Gallery in London I have been trying out a new approach to my printing. When preparing my small plate for final prints I like to try to make about 4 proofs previously. I wanted to make use of these proofs so started experimenting with over printing. By flipping the plate and printing it upside down on top of the original print, the image that is produced is quite different from the original and opens new possibilities.

 

 

I had been printing a lino block in the studio and had some left over ink. Instead of cleaning the ink up straight away I decided to try printing my etching plates in relief, instead of the intaglio method I usually use. I also cut smaller pieces of paper than the size of the plate I was printing then laid them on to the thinly inked surface of the etching, selecting areas, to work in a new scale. I was really surprised with the results as I didn't expect the relief method to pick up so much detail. It gives much more of a patterned effect to the design, with fellow students comparing it to the Paisley Pattern.

I have also been producing new prints of 'Growth and Process (Slice)', again, flipping the plates and using new colours. From just laying the 3 prints down together it has started sparking ideas off in my head for what will come next.

 

Success at RK Burt's for Year 2 MA Printmakers of Cambridge School of Art!

The show at R.K Burt's was a total success! Everyone's work was really well hung and I think Year 2 MA Printmakers of Cambridge School of Art produced a very strong exhibition. We have been receiving really strong feedback in the comments book and people getting in touch with us, its been a brilliant experience! I was even lucky enough to sell 2 of my pieces! 'Growth and Process (Slice)' and 'Growth and Process (Retro Trip)' have found themselves new homes where they will hopefully be enjoyed by the buyer in their home as much as I enjoyed making them.

Thanks to RK Burt for the use of the gallery and everyone who came along and/or helped with the show. Well done to the 2nd year MA Print Team at CSA!

RKB Gallery

12 PrintMAkers Exhibition Invite in London

My classmates and I will be exhibiting our work at The RKB Gallery in London (8-11th Nov then 14th-17th Nov). The Gallery is at 61 Union Street which is in the vacinity of Tate Modern, The Jerwood Space and The Bankside Gallery so could be easily fitted in to an inspiration collecting trip and is free entry!

If you feel like treating yourself to an early Christmas present, Printmaking Suppliers, Intaglio is also close by!

Commissions, Changing Spaces and New Plates

Since my recent exhibit on Regent Street, Cambridge, I have received some positive feedback. People saw my work in the windows of the shop and took the time out to contact me and tell me their thoughts. One man said he interpreted the image as rocks and suchlike, which he enjoyed and he said he couldn't think of anything that grew and progressed more slowly!

I also picked up a healthy commission from the display. A woman emailed me and said she had seen my work and would be interested in buying a smaller piece. I asked her various questions about what she would like and created something to suit her from what she had told me.

I also got a mention on the Changing Spaces website which you can have a look at by following this link.

Recently, in the studio, I have been experimenting with a change of scale and material. I have been trying my hand at lino cutting, which I love, as it is such a sculptural and rhythmic way of producing a print.

  

I am still in the early stages of experimenting with this piece and bellow you can see some of my provisional ideas.

 

I have also been experimenting with my tryptich set of plates. I have used chine-colle on some areas but was also considering hand-stitching in to them and framing separately. I think this would work well but could well be a very expensive decision so watch this space to see what happens! Here are the prints as they are now.

 

I have also invested in some new zinc plates! I cut the plates in to various shapes on the band saw, so now I can add them together with other plates I already have. In total there are 9 plates. They can be printed together to create one very large etching, or some of them can be printed separately to create small prints. I am nearly finished the 6 new plates and can't wait to get them back in to the studio to get them in the ferwick and etched! The photograph bellow helped me plan where the new plates should be placed in relation to one and other. 

 

Changing Spaces in Cambridge and Self Promotional Booklet

Over the course of the summer I have been attempting to put together a self promotional booklet. The booklet has 12 pages which include a little bit about me, my work and the ethos behind it and a selection of images of my work. As I produce a range of different sizes of work it is quite difficult to transport around etc so I created the booklet to be used as a mini folio, to introduce myself and the work I produce to possible clientele.


The booklets have now been printed, bound and delivered to me. I am really happy with the result. I have already started handing them out around Cambridge and intend to continue this attempt to gain a wider audience. The booklets were printed with Azimuth Print, which I would recommend to people looking for an affordable, professional printer.

I also joined Changing Spaces. The organization has been developed by Cambridge City Council and Love Cambridge. Due to the recession and other contributing factors many shops in the town centre have become empty and unused; Changing Spaces provides local artists to utilize this space and display their works. This opportunity benefits the artist, the city and its residents. It provides the artist with a good chance to gain interest from a wide audience as the work is displayed in window spaces in and around the city centre. The city benefits as the shop is no longer a dull, disused box, but now displays something of interest to the general public and fellow artists alike. The artist is allowed to include a supporting statement explaining a bit about the work, a little bit about themselves, including their contact details.

I applied and was contacted fairly shortly after submitting my work. The space that was available was 2 large windows on Regent Street. The opportunity was too good to pass up and I set my work up there this morning.

If you fancy popping along for a look you can find the peices displayed at 38-40 Regent Street, Cambridge from 26/9/11 - 10/10/11.

The snaps bellow show the pieces in situ.