Drypoint exploration

Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking process, which means the ink is printed from the depths of the plate - the areas cut away, rather than the surface. In that sense it's like etching - except that with drypoint you scratch directly into the plate, rather than using acid to bite the surface.

The lines created with drypoint are distinctive, because the ink is captured within the 'burr', the edge of the cut line. It is possible to use metal or perspex plates. In either instance the plats have a shorter life - because each printing serves to flatten the plate.

Enough of the background! Here are a couple of examples. To familiarise myself with my new Hawthorn etching press, I created a small drypoint image of Pittenweem on the Fife coast of Scotland. It's an atmospheric, beautiful fishing village - with cottages hiding from the sea down narrow alleys called 'wynds' which often connect to streets on other levels. My husbands family spent many holiday in the cottage on the right. It has been wonderful to revisit this beautiful area with him.

Test print - Pittenweem drypoint (perspex plate)

This image started as this little sketch, below:

Sometimes, I find I use drypoint to test a planned composition. This is a drypoint which I created as a little study for 'Above Ullswater' to see if I like the structure. I then went on to explore how to create this in a linocut. You can see more about this process in my blog on the topic here.

Initial drypoint test plate for 'Above Ullswater'

To learn more about my work, please check out my website www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you'll find my gallery, online shop and links to my social media.

In the 'Northern Collective' Exhibition in Keswick

I'm very excited to be part of this large group exhibition, which has just opened at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. The sixteen artists involved are united by spending time drawing together in the Lake District and various venues across the North West. Artist Geraldine Walkington, from Kendal, organised our first group exhibition.

On Tuesday we delivered work to the Circle Gallery promptly at 10am, for it to be hung by the team at the Theatre. The exhibition opened to the public the following day & runs from 10 October to Sunday 11 November. We held a private view on Sunday, which was my first chance to see all the work on the walls. I'd highly recommend popping in, if you are in the area. The Theatre is in a fantastic location, right by Derwent Water, with a café with views to the Lake - ideal for a lunch stop! The exhibition itself is really varied in media and style: including paintings, printmaking, textile art and assemblage.

I decided to include my large 'Serenity' linocut, which was commissioned by Macmillan, plus 3 smaller linocuts - 2 with a link to the Lake District. 'Over Morecambe Bay' is based on a sketch I did whilst up at Grange on one of Geraldine's Drawing Days, whilst 'This Way' is a linocut of a Lake District stile and footpath sign.

I've included in this blog post more detailed pictures of the whole exhibition, so that you can get an idea of the work on show and the artists exhibiting as the Northern Collective, even if you're not able to make the journey to Keswick. Images of the Preview are on my website. I hope you enjoy a look around, in person or online!

Artworks by Colin Binns in the exhibition

Textile art by Jaini Hadley on show

  

Paintings by Geraldine Walkington in the show



Work by Gerry Hickson

Assemblages by Petra Hartmann

Linocuts by Carolyn Murphy

  

Mixed media artworks by Ann Marie Foster

Paintings by Janette Phillips

Printmaking artworks by Lynn Pascoe

Artworks by Barbra Cropper

Katie Bentley paintings in the show

Julie Emary's work

Angie Mitchell linocuts in the exhibition

Priscilla Edwards & Marian Jazmik's work

Christine Sandford's artworks

After the exhibition preview, we had time for a short stroll near Derwent Water as the sunlight was fading. It was a glorious autumnal drive to Keswick and back home!

To see more of my work, please check out my website: www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you will also find an online Shop with currently available work. Thanks!

Lino printing on fabric

On Saturday, I held my first ever workshop on linocut printing onto fabric in the Lake District - with the huge support of local artist Geraldine Walkington. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my learning to date with our 5 attendees and we had a hands-on session printing onto a wide range of fabrics and getting some great results.

A few attendees were new to lino cutting completely and others were already highly skilled printmakers. Feedback was very positive and as you can see from the photos below, we had a fun afternoon and produced some lovely work.

 

The group printed onto cotton, as well as upholstery fabric and even leather.

 

 

We used water-based textile medium and acrylic paint, inking up with foam rollers.

 

 

In a short period of time, some lovely work was created... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see more of my work, please check out my website: www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you will also find an online Shop with currently available work. Thanks!

 

What a Great Print Exhibition!

It was a great day out! On a really wet and windy day today, we visited the second annual Great Print Exhibition, at the Rheged Centre near Penrith, on its final day. I'm so glad we made the effort, as the space was fantastic, the work inspiring and the exhibition was busy. It runs from the end of November to the end of February, with sales before and after Christmas - and the response has been excellent, I'm told.

With work from many well-known printmakers, a good number of Cumbrian print artists and a wide spread from across the UK, it was great to see so much high quality work in one place, well presented and well lit, with unframed work also available in browsers.

Some photos below will give you a feel for the exhibition and some of my own personal favourites.

To see my own work, please check out my website: www.carolynmurphy.co.uk where you will also find an online Shop with currently available work. Thanks!