Monoprinting Demonstrations

At the end of this month I'll be demonstrating monoprinting at 2 locations around Brisbane.  My focus is on how monoprinting can be done at home with everyday objects, leaves and paint.

Lately I've been experimenting with making gelatin plates again.  I gave up on gelatin plates after some disasters I attributed to our hot and humid weather, it just wasn't a practical way of working for me, having to keep refrigerating my plate, problems with condensation etc.  In recent years I've been monoprinting with my etching press Thumper and also using my permanent Gelli Plate.  And I've been more than happy with the results.

But recently I came across some discussion on the internet where people were adding other ingredients into their gelatin plates - like alcohol, sugar and glycerine.  All of these products are supposed to improve the quality of the plate.  So I've been testing out a new recipe for a plate with gelatin and glycerine.  So far, so good.  I used the plate quite extensively yesterday in over 30degree celcius heat, no problems.  The plate's been sitting on my bench all day today with just some plastic wrap over it.  I'll give it another run or two over the next week without refrigeration and see how it goes.

I'll be using this new plate at both my upcoming demonstrations, producing a heap of wonderful prints using everyday objects, leaves and paint.

Details of the demonstrations:

Location:  Caboolture Hub, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture
Date:  Thursday 30 January 2014
Time:  10am
Cost: FREE
Bookings: 07 5433 3710

Location:  Level 2 BCC Brisbane Square Library, Brisbane CBD
Date:  Sunday 2 February 2014
Time: 10.30am
Cost: FREE
Bookings: not required

Sculpting with Books

This week my Mum Jan and I flew to Sydney to attend a 2 day 'Sculptural Books' workshop with Lizzie Buckmaster-Dove. The workshop was held at Art Est Art School in Leichhardt.

Lizzie works with paper and found objects to create assemblages and 3-dimensional works.

This workshop was to learn about creating sculptural and 3-dimensional objects using old books, exploring techniques of cutting and folding.

I went home with plenty of ideas on how I could incorporate the techniques into my existing art practice, though I'm certain my short attention span and lack of accuracy could be a problem!

I'm busy cutting, cutting, cutting, cutting,
and cutting some more.
The days went quick though!

Yes I've still got 5 fingers,
luckily no band-aids required this time.
The tool is a surgical blade, VERY sharp but
necessary for this type of work.
 

Lizzie (right) and I with our 3D sculpted books

My completed book, "Honey, from flower to table",
hence the reason why I cut hexagons to
represent a bee hive.

Another book I completed, with
a moth motif cut from the pages.
Each page is cut by hand.
Great therapy.

The cut out moths make an artwork in themselves.
The possibilities......!

A close up of the cut out.

A book I folded on the plane on the way home.
Shame I couldn't do some more cutting, but
scalpels are definitely off the carry-on list!

Mum's book, the theme was 'Circles',
hence her choice of motif.

Mum's other work, cute little birds!
Simple but very effective.

Going Bananas with Printing

Woo hoo!  Christmas holidays, time for some creative play in the studio.....

Today's fun has been printing with the trunk of a banana tree.

Floss (my ever reliable garden fairy) has given me a wonderful Christmas present in the form of a banana tree trunk, which I have sliced up.  I use the cross sections of the trunk to do hand printing using a roller and block printing ink.  It has the most wonderful pattern that gives me goose-bumps every time, a beautiful natural design.

I'm going to create a solar etchng plate from one of the prints, so that I can reproduce the print multiple times for book covers and other goodies that I create. 

The slices of banana trunk

 

My roller and black Block Printing ink

One of the beautiful prints, its
like the inside of a shell

A close up of the banana trunk cross section,
fleshy and fibrous - no wonder it makes
great paper and material for baskets!

Creative Experiences in Japan

This week I've just returned from my 5th trip to Japan.  My partner Craig and I share a passion for all things Japanese, though after 2 weeks in a concrete jungle I'm very grateful for my beautiful house and garden!

This time we spent most of our holiday in Kyoto.  We first visited Kyoto for a couple of days back on our first trip in 2001.  This time I wanted to fully explore Kyoto's reputation as the creative centre of Japan.

I wasn't disappointed.  Prior to the trip, I had organised several guides to act as interpreters to help us to connect with the Japanese culture and arts.

With the assistance of  our guide Takano-san, we participated in a number of art 'experiences' - paper lantern making, woodblock printing, shibori dyeing and basket making. 

Mitsuhara took us to a popular temple area with beautiful autumn leaves. 

Chizuko took us through the Nishiki markets and gave us a cooking lesson in her apartment.

Such personal 'hands-on' experiences with English-speaking guides enriched our holiday, although we still had plenty of time to indulge in our favourite activites in Japan - hot onsens, eating Japanese food, and filling my suitcase (and Craig's) with washi paper!

Autumn Leaf reflections

Fallen autumn leaves carpet the temple gardens

Saiundo Fujimoto's shop caters for traditional
Japanese brush painting

Basket making with Takano-san (our guide), and
Oike-san

The finshed basket made from bamboo
 

Shibori dyeing - the director of the Shibori museum
likes to personally help you reveal your dyed scarf!

Paper Lantern making

Finished lanterns at the Akari Design Workshop

Trying traditional woodblock printing
with artist Ichimura - awesome!

Ichimura is printing labels for sushi products.
Amazing that its done by hand, several blocks & colours
rather than printed by machine.

Getting refreshments at a vending machine
during one of our cycling adventures around Kyoto

Not too sure about these sandwiches - strawberry and banana!

My new favourite store - Bumpodo Art Supplies in Tokyo

Woodblock carving tools, only part of the range available

Etching Inks, Bumpodo's own brand.  Great value and
quality.  I bought some of these last year in Osaka and
am very happy with them, so I stocked up this time,
20% off as well!

2nd hand bookstore. 
I bought some vintage books with
beautiful papers and text.

 

Xmas Gift Shopping Hints

Getting nervous about the prospect of Christmas gift shopping?  Yes its only six weeks away!

Well don't worry, here are a few great places to look for handmade and unique items that will be much appreciated by your friends and family....

The Collective Store
www.thecollectivestore.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TheCollectiveStore
104 Bay Terrace, Wynnum

This is an artistic hub filled to the rafters with beautiful well-made and thoughtful handmade gifts by local artisans.  I have just delivered my first batch of monoprinted journals, bookmarks and cards. 

Its a bright and airy shop, with large windows
for after hours window browsing!

Leonie the owner of The Collective Store,
 proudly showing off
some of the artists' beautiful work.
I think she's got the best job in the world,
surrounded by all those goodies.

Here is my little shelf, filled to the brim with delicious wares!

Another Xmas shopping opportunity...

Bontanique Christmas Bazaar
Auditorium @ Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens, Toowong
Opening & Preview Thursday 21 November 6pm
Friday 22 November - Sunday 24 November

I'm exhibiting my monoprints - framed works as well as books, bookmarks and cards.  There's also workshops being run inconjuction with the Bazaar.  Refer to the flyer below for more details.
I'll be at the opening, might see you there!

My final recommendation is...

Christmas "Art Shop"
St+Baker+Studio
Ground Floor (facing Moreton Bay)
Mon Komo Hotel
99 Marine Parade
Redcliffe
17 November to 24 December

Jo St Baker, owner of St+Baker+Studio (and gallery) is holding a fantastic exhibition of artwork and small art wares, including works from local printmakers from Impress Printmakers Studio.   I'm exhibiting some more of my monoprints, both framed and made into books etc.  Of course, as you know all of my monoprints are unique, so all artworks will be quite different in each location.


No excuses now!

Under Foot - an exhibition worth seeing

Last week I went to an artist talk at an exhibition 'Under Foot' by Mary Elizabeth Barron, at the Redland Art Gallery at Capalaba, southside Brisbane.

In Mary's words, the rationale behind 'Under Foot' is:
"The beauty beneath our feet on nature’s floor is the source of inspiration for Under Foot. The fibre work evokes a sense of pleasure through drawing attention to the intricacies found in natural debris. The colour, shape and textural qualities of leaves in their dying stages, fallen bark, twigs and other plant materials in this environment are complex, intriguing and beautiful."

Mary has produced a body of fibre-based work using basketry and botanical papermaking techniques.  The resulting exhibition is both a curiousity as to the range of fibres that can be formed into vessels as well as a shrine to the beauty of the objects that she has created.  An exciting variety of textures, colours, and fragility gives the viewer plenty to admire and wonder at.

Well done, Mary and thanks for the opportunity to hear you talk about work.  Its an exhibition I would highly recommend for anyone interested in seeing something quite different.

'Under Foot' is on until Wednesday 4 December 2013

The Redland Art Gallery in Capalaba is located at Capalaba Place on Noeleen Street, Capalaba

Opening hours:

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm

Wednesday 9am - 5pm

Thursday 8.30am - 7.30pm

Saturday 9am - 4pm

Mary talking about her work

The wall of 'Shrines to Nature'

Vessels of Nature

I bought this one!  The vessel is made from Ecualyptus Leaves.
I can't wait to get it on my wall of my studio.

Vessels of Nature - Corn Silks.
Beautifully transparent, almost glowing.

I've BEEn gelli plate printing....

I've just wanted to share with you the results of a quick session of monoprinting using my gelli plate.  I needed some pages to cover some books I'm making for Xmas stock, and wanted to give my bee stamp a run.  I handcarved the bee stamp from an Ezi-Carve block.  I used a 'chicken wire' stencil in the background to imitate a honeycomb effect.

A very enjoyable and productive hour........

My handcarved bee stamp and honeycomb stencil.

 

Bee prints everywhere!

I used a combination of monoprinting and stamping

Repetition of the image adds movement

You can see the effectivess of layering the
bee image, slightly off centre each time

The honeycomb stencil used as a resist
lets the white of the paper show through,
adding light and breaking up the background