The Linocutter has a new adventure

Today I planned a new print

2011-09-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

Pleased to report that I have acted on my resolution to get down to some work and am now at the transfer to block stage. I drank rose and vanilla tea while I drew so this all has to work out!

2011-09-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

My print, True, Good and Beautiful (below) is a finalist in a local artshow on the North Coast of Australia, Ballina a small town near Byron Bay. Very happy to be part of it because it is for a very good cause. Also nice to exhibit something again, have been pretty quiet but now have a month off paid work so shall do some artwork. Currently obsessed with Magnolias but there was a wonderful exhibition of orchids locally....just so beautiful. Shall post some images after I get started with the print, currently there is just a lot of things percolating around my head and some time to do something with the thoughts!!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Artfelt-Art-Prize-Exhibition-2011/187536207957362?sk=wall

True, Good and Beautiful, final version of this print

2011-08-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

Finally got round to finishing this one off, hideous to print as it turns out, had a nasty day wasting good paper!

Trading Card Project

2010-10-16T02:23:00.000-07:00

I have (so I thought, what with the divorce, new job and sorting out a new life)been way to busy to print and do art but something came over me and I put my hand up to be involved in a project where 54 artists create a 58 prints to create a pack of cards. It is called the trading card project (and details can be found on Barret Galleries Alstonville web page) So the prints are really tiny 6.4 x 8.9, the size of a card. Anyhow I went off to Scott's press (we have a great relationship, me and that press) and whipped off 65 prints in a few hours!!!! done done done, how easy was that! The moral of this story is just do it! because sometimes putting off printing takes more time than doing it!

Sewn prints

2010-06-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

I was thinking of this print which I printed again yesterday, see post below for the basic imaga, which has led me to plan another sewn print utilising other prints (death of the angel of mercy and storm at sea) whch I also printed yesterday....shall post a final image in a few days...maybe

More printing pleasure!

2010-06-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

I was astonished today to have more printing success with Scott Trevelyan's press at his very pleasant studio. I love his artequip press and am very grateful to have found a press that seems to like me. I set it and printed, very few booboos and these mainly related to spots in the ink (so annoying when you have to clean up just to get rid of them) and other acts of general carelessness unrelated to the press!

This print is called Secret Cull, when I first cut it I printed it on delicate paper in black, then 'ghost' prints and sewed it together with cotton thread. I never editioned it. I have a photo of the big print but it is very hard to photograph.

Shall try to post it next...

Scott's studio is for hire and I will post some photos of it after next printing session.

found a press

2010-05-20T00:49:00.001-07:00

I printed today using a very nice press in a wonderful studio overlooking a beautiful northern rivers rural scene. As I contemplated the friendly press that was being very agreeable to me...and ate my vegemite sandwich, I felt like I was in heaven!

I am very fortunate to be able to print at this studio, which is really idylic and it makes me think I will never buy a press because if I did I would be printing in a garage and that cannot be so good for ones soul!

Surely some good work must follow, this print is a reworking of one already editioned, I used it to get used to the press because it is not so big and I could use less paper up as I worked into the mysteries of the new press, which as I said turned out to be very kind to me!

discovering imperfection and living with it

2010-03-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

I printed at home today, I have yet to go to the press. I got some advice regarding printing and more or less took it. Thanks Daniel. These prints were enjoyable to print and I had no sense of tragedy after they were done. I have decided to live with the imperfections of the hand print. The light green is a bit harsh but I really liked the darker grey green that I used instead of opening up the tin of harsh carbon black. I have cut the print with the woman a lot since the last time I posted. I plan to print the two colour print again with a more muted underneath colour. Also the Hosho (Melbourne Etching supplies) I used worked well for the single colour. I used a Zerkall paper for the two colour. It was OK but the coverage was not perfect ofcourse with little flecks of white instead of the velvet coverage I can get with a press.

proof segments

2010-03-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

I am liking them better now, at first I was a bit appalled! I think when I get to the press with some good paper I will be happier. I cannot get a good print at home ever. I don't know how every one else does it! I mean I do, but it just never works for me. There is something so clean and black that I cannot seem to get, even using thin paper. Also I like thicker paper, I find the flimsy paper drives me wild with anxiety that I get a crease or crinkle where I should not.

Very rough proofs

2010-03-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

I did get to the proofing point today and did so. Cannot say I am thrilled. I need to leave them alone, maybe do a painting. The woman needs some cutting so that the lilly leaf disconnects from the side of her head. I am just sort of half liking her and the other one needs a good print on a press for me to really say. This one probably can amount to something with another layer. I always prefer to get it in one go but it does not always happen.

Now it has been a while since I had printed, but I could not believe how disgusting the graphic oil based was to clean up. I usually proof with a waterbased ink but it was to hot to do that with two prints, so i used the oil based. I softened it with vegetable oil, but it just would not seem to budge and even the turps stugggled. This is really black sticky ink!

Oh well, now to get back to the real world.

more cutting progress

2010-03-09T03:45:00.000-08:00

This is how my woman is going, I had some moments of very enjoyable cutting where I just went wild, then I stand back and go....maybe that worked?....anyhow I guess the puddings in the proof or something like that which will be in the next day or so.

extending my print into another panel and helpful cat

2010-03-02T03:58:00.000-08:00

I have started another panel. This one is not so free form as the other and I have thought about it for a while, trying to work out a good face for the woman. Anyhow I was working quiet well (in front of the TV) when Minty decided to help! Really that was the end of it for tonight.

I wanted a serious but contemplative look and pose. I was not intending to do multiple panels but fortunately this one is growing of its own accord which is good because I am not struggling for ideas.

The cutting is done

2010-02-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

I have been cutting away this week, mainly because at the moment I have little paid employment. This is bad for my wallet and good for my art as long as I have enough supplies! You can see that the way I cut my designs is to paint my block black and just go from there. I make marks in pencil and sometimes use them as a guide and sometimes not!

I will probably print next week. There is a gallery in Alstonville called Barret Galleries and they have a press which I can hire or strike some sort of deal!

The print was indeed inspired by my pond. There is a gudgeon in it, which I have never seen so it is pretty elusive so I have only hinted at its presence in the print. I had a water lilly flower that was pretty elusive also as it emerged from the water on a few occassions, only to be flattened in storms!

So anyhow I shall no doubt do some more work on it after it is proofed. I am thinking to print it in a light colour and maybe another layer on top, we will see.

getting inspiration back

2010-02-20T04:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I said I would start work and it has been difficult. So long ago since I last cut a print, nearly a year. I drew my pond, I did not know what to do, I planned something, started it and abandoned it. There was a lilly in my pond except a storm cut it down. At night it closed up and it opened during the day.

Strangely, I suddenly started work this evening while my daughter had 6 friends over. After I had fed them pizza and retreated upstairs I just knew what to do and started. This is just the beginning of the cutting. I can only hope it continues to work for me. I don't know if anyone else is like that. I can never plan a print. It just has to happen. Add when it does it is very easy, while before it is impossible. Anyhow I hope this print works out...I hope a lot of things work out. I might have a proof to post in a week.

Our New Garden!

2010-02-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

We have arrived and moved into our new home, we love it here. One of the best things about our new home is the beautiful garden built by the former owners. The rocks are covered with moss and lichen, there is a beautiful pond and a sense of peace which is exactly what we need.

I am very much hoping to start work this week. I am interested in pursuing more work involving flora. The garden may become my next project. Plants tended and cultivated...

It has been a long time since I made a print. It is good to be settled and have a home. I will now have time to read all the Baren emails and maybe try some woodcutting again!

Hand Coloured Linocut

2009-08-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

I needed to find a present for a friend who is turning forty and I went through all my stuff and found this, I did this late in 2008. I thought I would post it as things have been very hectic and I have not had time to do much printing. I really miss it and finding this and going through all my prints made me want to get back to making some art as soon as possible! Just a few things to sort out first though so I have to 'hold that thought' for just a while longer.

This print consists of a grey cloured ink, printed first for the background, then the birds were inked in black and printed in the second printing. I then hand coloured with water colours. The print is about the importance of wetlands for the environment. The birds are creatures that depend on the health of the upper and lower water ways, and they are not just Australian birds, the wetland birds travel across the world and we are just one stop. The title of the print is....

The Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints

2009-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

I was very happy to open a letter from the Glen Eira City Council and find that my print Marriage Line had been accepted in the above award. This print featured on the invitation to the Impress exhibition below.

Anyone who is keen on linocuts should note that this award, which is highly regarded in Australia is open to international artists also. Check out the link and perhaps put it in your diary for next time.

http://www.silkcutlino.com/

I met some woodcutting relief printmakers today.....

2009-07-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the Impress BBQ, I met some new artists and it was wonderful because they were relief printers. I encouraged them to join Baren and hopefully they will. I told them about the face book page (not that I am joining that!) They are both very talented and it was wonderful to talk about woodcutting and relief printing in general. It would be nice to form a little sub group of Impress for the relief printers!! It is so refreshing to talk about ones particular interest in printmaking! Which is obviously what Baren is about, but it is very exciting to talk face to face.......

Alex Gillies;

http://againstthewoodgrain.wordpress.com/

If you are near or in Brisbane this coming Friday and weekend, Alex has an exhibiton, the details of which are on his website.

Natasha;

http://www.redbubble.com/people/gibson/art/2865302-2-another-mans-castle

Exhibition of prints, in Brisbane, Australia

2009-06-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

My Community Printmaking Organisation, Impress is having its annual exhibition, this Friday for anyone in or near Brisbane, Australia. I will post some pictures of the opening which is happening tomorrow. I have not been doing any creative printmaking lately. I have worked on some editions and some administrative work. Hopefully I will be able to get into some new work soon.

Segment of a 'perfect' lino

2009-05-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

Linocut: The Brambles became Roses

2009-05-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

I have become very interested in Saint Francis and have been reading various books about him. I have a friend who is a Fransiscan Brother. He has lent me some old books including The Little Flowers of ST. Francis, written 100 years after his death by Brother Ugilino. I have not yet read the whole book, but I love the Brother Juniper chapters. There will be a print coming about Brother Juniper soon enough. One story about Saint Francis that I have only so far seen on the web is how Saint Francis threw himself on brambles to distract himself from temptation, however the thorny brambles became dog roses without thorns, thus saving him from harm.

A note those on the Baren Forum. I am doing some work for a number of shows coming up and I have to do them in lino as that is my best medium. I am not sure if you want to see these prints so I am putting linocut in the title.

This print is my first 'rough' water based ink proof and thin rice paper. There is only a small amount of cutting left to be done then I shall print it 'properly' I am pretty certain this print will require a press as the blacks cannot be patchy.

Saint Francis

2009-05-03T23:46:00.001-07:00

This is a 'final' version of the Saint Francis relief print. I rolled the paper with gold acrylic, printed with black water based ink, then over printed with graphics oil based (with some extender) . I did this so I could do it all in one day, usually I prefer oil based ink but I wanted to acheive something quickly!

2009-04-13T03:38:00.001-07:00

I found that the second cutting was much more satisfying with wood than lino, infact I don't do second cuttings in lino! the woodcut was slightly more elegant and the printing of wood is preferable to lino. Now I love instead of loathing my block, so how do I protect it when using water based inks, I wiped as much off as possible then wipred with a wet sponge and it seemed to clean up OK. Yes and I really got the hang of using the tools and sharpening them which was very satisfying also. I am surprised by this result. The cut woodblock is quite beautiful and could nearly (I stress nearly, infact make it possibly) be a wood relief icon. What do people do with their woodblocks when they are done, oil them? have them on display?

The winner is.....

2009-04-13T03:36:00.001-07:00

2009-04-12T06:08:00.001-07:00

sorry about the orientation but I cannot change this, I am technically no further advanced than a medieval artist afterall! anyhow I cut the wood block in about 8 hours and the lino in about an hour (while talking to my daughter, to give me something to do with my hands because she had a lot to say and my input was not really required!) I am thus far dissapointed that wood is such a waste of time, so exhausting and so much not worth the effort. It is obviously exquisate in japanese prints, but maybe not my thing?

comparing lino and wood again

2009-04-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

A happy accidental ghosting, gives me ideas

2009-04-12T00:58:00.000-07:00

Article on Medieval Woodcuts

2009-04-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

I was just looking around the web as I do and I found this interesting article on woodcuts. I was interested to learn that in these times the labour of woodcuts was divided into different occupations, designer, cutter, printer in what I imagine is similar to that of the traditional japanese woodcuts. I am actually cutting a woodblock of Saint Francis at the moment....we will see how it works out. I have learnt a lot since the first one and have succesfully resharpened the tool that featured in an earlier blog. I would be interested to learn more about medival woodcuts.

http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/incisiveline/handouts/printresearchpapers/medievalwoodcutsessay.pdf

Lino inferior to wood?

2009-04-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

My first woodcut attempts have not impressed me at all. It is probably my skill level with the wood but there is a lot more freedom with lino, for example I shall post Dugong 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Could anyone print this with wood? I cannot imagine going around the corners and cutting such an even smooth line with wood, but maybe thats just my inexperience with this medium? Off the top of my head that print was 40 by 60cm. I printed it with the best press in the world that I have used (the wonderful hydraulic press at QCA) Nothing can compare to this press except maybe a bigger and better hydraulic press! It is to be able to use this press again that I consider doing honors (an extra year so that I can say BFA (Hons) It is certainly not a love of theory. Maybe I will or maybe I won't but I know that I will always love that press!

2009-04-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is my first wood cut, look at it and feel very good about yourselves all you people who cut wood and sharpen tools succesfully! because this was a unhappy experience for me. The good thing is that wood prints better than lino. Much better and very easily. The bad thing is that I have probably brought the wrong sharpening stone for the wrong tool. I have destroyed in one sitting that poor little tool tool can see in the photo. I was (under advice of nice man at the shop) told to buy that arkensas stone that you can also see, and to sharpen very carefully. Well I obviously did not sharpen carefully! I also did not pay attention to wise advice on the barenforum ! This tool now cannot even cut lino and upon inspection I can see that the tool was to fine for the stone edge , any suggestions about restoring this tool to a workable edge would be welcome.

2009-04-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Diver

2009-04-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

Because there is no love in our hearts

2009-04-02T04:01:00.000-07:00

A Murder of Crows

2009-04-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

Free Cassandra

2009-04-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

I have just finished this linocut, I am still working out how much colour I am going to put into it. This print is hand coloured T/P

later note: The print I entered in the Silk Cut was not hand coloured, just the black and white version. This print was renamed Marriage Line.

Free Cassandra

2009-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

2009-04-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Repentance

2008

Repentance from Vario

2009-04-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Repentance was printed for a folio called Vario. This folio was organised by Australian printmakers, such as Tony Ameneiro, Angela Gardner and involving printmakers from Cardiff UK – to see them go to: http://www.virtually-6.com/newsandlinks.html and printmakers from Hawaii . There will be 48 prints in total, but I only get 24 as part of the exchange. There will be four sets of 48 prints which will tbe exhibited at locations in Cardiff, Hawaii and South Eastern Australia, but I am not sure exactly where yet. My community printmaking organisation called IMPRESS will host an exhibition in 2010.