20:20 Exhibition Touring during 2017

Throughout 2017, the Hot Bed Press organised 20:20 print exchange will be touring the UK, sharing the work of 508 artists from 39 print workshops, this year including prints from Hong Kong and Australia for the first time.

I submitted 2 print editions this year - a bit crazy I know! Images below. One was through Hot Bed Press in Salford, where I'm a member, and another through Prospect Studio in Rossendale, where I printed most often in 2016.

'Meandering' is a 2 plate linocut, based on a sketch for print that I did looking over the stunning Dovey Estuary in mid Wales, just outside Aberdovey / Aberdyfi and Machynllyth.

Above is 'Adjusting the Sails', another 2 plate linocut, this edition using a technique of scratching into lino to create tone, something I experimented with after seeing the Picasso linocuts at Lady Lever Gallery last year. The name of the print is based on a quote from a lovely card given to me by a former colleague: "We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails".

The entire collection can be viewed online, along with prints from previous years, on flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/hotbedpress/

Venues for the touring exhibition can be found at www.2020printexchange.com

Strumble Head Lighthouse variations

Day 3 of the Ian's workshop and the 4 colour reduction linocut of Strumble Head lighthouse in Pembrokeshire suddenly came together. Because we used graduations of 2 colours on 3 of the 4 layers, there look to be more colours in the prints than you might expect. The colours were mixed by Ian and standard to all 3 of the workshop participants, so that we focused more on tone than colour - a useful exercise. As some of the graduations were reversed, there are variations in the series of 4 prints. They each have lessons for the next time, but I'm pleased with the results. Let me know if you have a preference!

Linocut of Portnahaven on Islay

Day 1 of Ian Phillips' workshop in Machynlleth, we worked on a black and white lino cut. I chose to work up an image of Islay that I sketched last year during the Islay Whisky Festival, looking over the small cove at Portnahaven. I've included below the print, the plate, the simplified sketch used to translate it to lino, the original sketch - and finally a reference photo of the same spot. They reflect the many adjustments and choices in developing a lino print...

Linocutting in Wales

Spent a great day today cutting an A4 mono lino design on a linocut printmaking workshop in Machynlleth, in Wales, with Ian Phillips. He does some amazing  large scale work - A2 upwards - and is clearly influenced by his experience of printing with Torres Strait Islander printmakers in Australia. Looking forward to day 2!