Further Developments

Moving on from the linocut I produced for the 20:20 exchange, I decided to try a similar idea but with a more dynamic form and use the plate to try some different colour ways as well.  So far I had built the colour up from light to dark, but with one version here I started with the dark brown and the the subsequent two colours were lighter.

This resulted in the three versions below.

I then wanted to try something with a finer form and explore the background shading approach further. Again I used the opportunity to try some different stages of colour layering, with two, three or four colours per print.

This is one of the aspects of printmaking that I really enjoy, that you can take one plate and develop such varying results as below.

Next I think I look at placing two of the forms within one print.

Hot Bed Press 20:20 Project

Towards the end of the year the studio participated in the 20:20 project organised by Hot Bed Press in Salford.  It is an exchange project where each artist produces a print in an edition of 25.  These are then sent to Hot Bed Press who retain one print for exhibition, and the remainder are redistributed and returned to the artist as a random set of prints from artists around the country.

The name 20:20 comes from the restriction that each print must be made on paper that is 20 x 20 cms in size. It was a slightly daunting project to participate in as I have never made an edition of that size before.  But after a few trial pieces I decided to work on a reduction lino print.

The final result is below, I was fairly happy with this as it presented a few new technical challenges that I had not encountered before but resulted in an image that I was pleased with.  I have since been working on some variations of this work which I will show later.

You can also see the work of all ten artists from Ochre Studios who participated here.

Charlotte's Thought

Foundation Maeght

Whilst visiting a friend in southern France we went to visit the Foundation Maeght, near St Paul de Vence.  A most unusual place it is a privately conceived and run art foundation, with exhibition spaces and a sculpture garden.  Opened in 1964, there are permanent works on display by Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, George Braque and many other prominent names of modern art.

 

During our visit there was a temporary exhibition of works by Fabrice Hyber called Homeopathic Painting, a review of over 20 years of work in a style he likened to storyboarding.  Multi-media paintings with drawings and thoughts placed to form a type of narrative.  Personally it was not something that grabbed me that much.

 

The selections of permanent exhibits in the grounds though were far more fascinating and well-spaced around the gardens allowing the opportunity to see many of the works in the round.  There was also a small chapel containing a beautiful stain glass window designed by George Braque.

 

All in all it was a fascinating visit and the small neighbouring town of St Paul de Vence also boast a strong artistic heritage and probably more galleries than Cork Street

Braque window in the chapel

Ceramic piece by F Ledger