Getting back in the groove

Finally back to work in the studio, plus the weirdest thing that's been said about my printmaking yet

Hello

It feels like a long time since I was actively printmaking, even though it’s really only been less than a month. What with our Canadian trip, the York Printmakers Print Fair and the admin of updating artist records for York Open Studios and contacting all the (160+) newly selected artists for 2024, I suppose it’s not surprising I didn’t pick up a carving tool or ink roller for more than three weeks.

I am however now three layers into a new reduction linoprint.

That second layer is a good example of how colours are affected by previous layers. You can see below the ink itself looked quite yellow (it’s a mix of transparent, process yellow, white and a smidge of cyan blue) but when printed over the previous blue layer (transparent, white and cyan blue) it comes out quite green, which fortunately is what I was aiming for.

I’ve got three or four more layers to go with this one and will of course keep you updated on progress, or you can catch new developments hot off the press (sorry) by following me on Instagram.

After the fair

Photo credit Chris Kendall Photography chris-kendall.com

Thank you to everyone who came to see us at the York Printmakers Print Fair. An astonishing number of people came through the doors and were gratifyingly eager to buy our work. Some fascinating conversations were had with people who share our enthusiasm for the printmaking processes, whether as fellow practitioners or admiring art lovers.

Back in June I wrote a piece on what not to say to printmakers and said then that I was sure I would have missed a few things. Well this fair produced a brand new one: an older gentleman who got quite cross and impatient with me because I referred to my works as reduction linoprints and he insisted they obviously couldn’t be because they were too detailed and had too many colours. I suppose I should take that as a compliment?? (Though I’m not so keen on his inference that I’m either a liar or an idiot…..or both). Anyway, I shall add that to the ‘life’s rich tapestry’ file, or as we say in Yorkshire, ‘there’s nowt so queer as folk’.

I’ll end with a quick pic of part of my stand taken just before we opened on the first day. Apologies for the rare selfie. I promise not to post another one for a while….

See you again soon.

Jane