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.

3rd State

 I took two impressions this evening from the current mezzotint plate in progress. Ist impression at the top, 2nd at the bottom. Printed the 2nd impression with a little more pressure so combined with the better inking it's a crisper image, although you wouldn't believe that from the dodgy photo. Trust me it is. 

Almost there now just some tidying up to do in parts then it will be ready to edition and show at Art in the Pen in August.

Hawthorn Printmakers Charcoal Black ink. 

220gsm Fabriano Rosapina.

Image 200mm x 300mm

Working proof

 Time to see what the state of play is with the latest plate. So I inked it up and pulled a proof.

This is the plate, which looks quite well developed and for once I've managed to take a half decent photo of it.

And the print, still some way to go. The design is there but the lighter areas still need a lot of work.

Starting a new plate

 For some time now I've had an idea in my mind for a new mezzotint. Based on a woodland lane that leads down into the valley near my home. I splashed some ink around and came up with this.

It's very rough but a fair approximation of what I had in my mind. So I made a more careful pencil drawing in reverse ready to transfer to the plate.

Now we are getting somewhere and the image can be transferred to the plate. I usually have plates with grounds prepared in advance, it means that once I have an image I can get straight on with the engraving without having to spend hours preparing the plate beforehand. The first stage is to start establishing the lightest areas of the plate.

Visions of Landscape

 Visions of Landscape Exhibition at The Storey Gallery, Lancaster. On now until 22nd April.

Batik paintings by Simon Clarke, Paintings by Michael Howley and Pete Clarke, Photography by Phil Darby, Ceramics by Stella Boothman, Anne Cahill and Sue Turner, Encaustic Wax by Susan Brazendale, Glass by Karen Redmayne and prints by Anita Burrows and Stuart Brocklehurst.