Down the by-ways of Albion

 

Down the by-ways of Albion

Mezzotint

150mm x 200mm

Edition of 50

Finally finished editioning this latest Mezzotint. On the face of it a nostalgic image of a long gone rural idyll. My title deliberately implies this. Albion being an old name for Britain dating back to the classical Greek writers and revived by the romantic poets such as William Blake. However, the image is contemporary, or at least was a couple of years ago  when I came across it deep in the countryside of North Norfolk.

For the more technical minded, the plate was rocked using a 4 inch wide 100 lines per inch Lyons Rocker in 24 directions and printed on 250gsm Somerset Satin with a Blue Black ink across the top half and a Brown Shade Black ink across the bottom half from Hawthorn Printmakers.

Editioning

 Started to edition the new mezzotint and managed to pull 12 impressions today. All the stage proofs were printed in charcoal black. For the edition I'm using a blue shade black for the top half of the print and a brown shade black for the lower half. The difference between the two is slight and subtle and doesn't show too well in the photographs. I don't want it to look like it is printed in two colours, I just want the foreground to look warmer in tone than the background.

Almost Finished

 I've worked this new mezzotint plate almost to the finish now. Just a few things to tidy up and some highlights to burnish to white and it will be ready to edition.

Inked plate on the hotplate ready for wiping.

Wiped plate on the press bed.

Plate and newly printed impression.

Art in the Pen

 Set up today at Art in the Pen at Craven Auction Mart in Skipton. I'll be there tomorrow 9am- 4pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm. 3 hours work to transform an empty pen into a mini art gallery.

Mezzotint Workshop

 Another very enjoyable two days spent delivering a mezzotint workshop at Prospect Studios in Waterfoot, Rossendale. Once again some excellent work has been produced in just two days.

Spring Walk

 Finally editioned the new Mezzotint. Printed 52 impressions over 3 printing sessions. The latest of what seems to be a suite of images of pathways.

Inked plate on the press bed

Plate and impression

In the blotters to dry

Spring Walk

Mezzotint

200mm x 150mm

Edition of 50

Printed with Hawthorn Printmakers Carbon Black on 220gsm Fabriano Rosapina. 

There is some glare in the bottom right corner - I need to try and take a better photograph.

New Prints

 I have been working on a number of images all of which have over the last couple of days come to completion and been editioned.

Badger

Wood Engraving

30mm x 70mm

Golden Eagle 

Wood Engraving

23mm x 72mm

Sylvan Cathedral

Mezzotint

200mm x 300mm

Ink, Wipe, Print - Repeat

 Got up this morning and began to edition the new mezzotint. After around 7 hours working managed 10 impressions.

Two attempt and still can't take a decent photo of the print

Prospect Studios Mezzotint Workshop

 Weather wise it's been a pretty miserable weekend with two days of non-stop heavy rain making the rivers run high with brown peat stained water. So what better way to spend the weekend than teaching a mezzotint workshop in good company at my favourite studio, run by Alan Birch at Waterfoot in Rossendale. Just an hours drive over the moors from home. With a mixture of artists, some of whom had been on my previous workshops there and some others making their first mezzotint prints it's been a thoroughly enjoyable two days with some really stunning results.