"The artist...is also a born adventurer. His explorations, unlike those of a tourist, are rewarded by the discovery of beauty spots unmentioned in the guide books, and with tireless curiosity and an exceptional proneness to wonderment, he will come upon objects of remarkable interest overlooked or even shunned by more disciplined observers."

Augustus John, R.A.




Monday 25 February 2013

I've spent this last weekend teaching a very enjoyable linocut workshop at Alan Birchs' studio over in Rossendale.

I thought that in two days it should be possible for everyone to complete a two or three colour print. That was the plan when I started on saturday morning. However, why change the habits of a lifetime, after half an hour the plan went out of the window and from doing straight forward two and three colour prints we got a bit more ambitious.


We tried blending colours.



 Guess who the one is with nothing to show after two days work!!


We printed with both a baren using the registration jig




and used a press.


Printed a five colour reduction print


and a six colour one,


tried some complicated cutting


and more abstract stylised designs.

This is really impressive work from a group of students making their first reduction linocuts and I would like to thank all who took part with so much enthusiasam for making it such an enjoyable experience. Thanks also to Loraine and Chris for the photos.

Sunday 17 February 2013

Sprotborough Flash ; Colours 3 and 4


After the yellow and grey, colour 3 is the first green. Followed by a blue to fill in the sky and for the lake in the middle ground.


The next colour should be a pale orange, just dark enough to cover the foreground green. There is quite a bit of cutting to do before we get to the printing stage though.

Sunday 10 February 2013

Looking Back to Summer

Its snowing outside, so the new print I have started looks back to warmer weather from last summer and forward to hopefully warmer weather to come. Not much to see yet just a warm yellow printed over the whole area of the image with a few cloud shapes cut out.


The second colour, a pale warm grey adds a little more definition to the image, although most of this colour is going to be hidden under the next few printings.