Apologies for absence, I've been creating new work!

Firstly I suppose I must explain my absence from my blog! I have been busy designing art and have my very first exhibition in Truro. I sometimes find time away from the computer helpful when I need to be creative as it can be a big distraction. So what have I been doing? Mainly linocuts and one series of prints I am particularly excited about are the ones derived from a short story:
The Peacock and the Moon...
To see my current exhibition visit The Truro art shop/cafe next to the museum.
More updates soon...

Elephant collagraph

A playful print, simply made.

I am very excited this morning as I am hoping that the press that my farther-in-law has made with a car jack will work!

New Lino Print

Mice in Cornfield:

I had the opportunity to print on an old book press today, with a great space to work and hang my prints. This week has been a rare opportunity to do nothing but printing thanks to my lovely husband who has been 'daddy day care'. So here is one of the new prints created this week...soon to be listed in my Folksy shop;

How to make a simple collagraph (part two)

Wow I should rename this blog post- 'How to combine art and a workout!'...

Once the image is dry the next stage is to add the colours that you want. Be prepared to use a lot of etching ink as the rough surface literally drinks it! Then follows your workout.. 1 and 2 and ...wiping the matrix clean.
I added further ink (red and gold) 'on top' with a roller as you would when printing in relief.

The matrix inked and ready to print.

And here he is.... I won't be able to print another like him so he is unique!

Collagraph Cockerel Progress...

I am currently exploring ways to add texture as well as colour to my prints in the form of a Collagraph. It sounds a very fancy name doesn't it? But it is something very simple to do. 
Through the use of Collagrah  (gluing materials to a matrix ) there are endless opportunities to create texture and tone. I am particularly interested in producing a fine line print similar to a drawing and combining it with dense textured areas.

First i used a thick piece of card, drew the image and then surfaced scratched the drawing with a sharp pointed tool a dart is useful for this if no etching tool is handy! I then painted with PVA glue and sprinkled it with a fine grit called carborundum. (Very similar to fine sand. A great word though, I dare you to say that fast three times!)

The varying tone is only the different coloured grit i used, graded from coarse to fine which also creates tone when inked. (This then needs to dry overnight)

 

The next step is to add a sealant such as shalack (I think that's how it's spelt) or varnish which seals the matrix. You need wet paper to make the print, if you don't seal the matrix the PVA will become tacky again in the press = disaster!!

The matrix sealed with a brown coloured shalack.

I am printing this image tomorrow so I will keep you posted with the results...

Doodling in the sunshine.

Nothing beats sitting outdoors on a sunny day with a sketchbook and pencil in hand. It feels like summer today and not a cloud in the sky.















With the odd insect having a browse at my sketchbook and the sound of the chickens clucking now and then the page soon filled up and I was away in a corn field before I knew it...

Design for new lino

Cockerel Blue

Drying and waiting to fly to a new home...