Lino printing in gold ink

 Here is a peek at my Bristol lino print in gold coming up off the lino block - always a good moment when it has worked well.  I've started using gold ink for some of my lino editions and really enjoy the way it makes them look.  I think this lino print, with lots of little buildings, works really well in this colour way.  The gold does show up really well on white paper too, but this black Stonehenge paper is the one for me.

Brighton Lino Print

Here is a little peek at my new lino print - ink still slightly wet - Black Cat Devouring Brighton Pier

I'm not sure if there are many cats around who do want to eat the pier in Brighton, but this one certainly does and I am not going to argue with it...

This was so much fun to cut out (if you are into lino cutting) - all those lovely fur marks on the cat and all the fiddly buildings and landmarks in Brighton...not to mention the Pier itself, with incredibly intricate metalwork on it's structure.  I may have missed a few support struts out, sorry structural engineers.

If you want to take a look at Black Cat Devouring Brighton Pier in my online shop you can pop over here--->  ETSY or FOLKSY you can choose :)

Lino Printing Events - Fairs, pop ups and exhibitions...Autumn 2019

Six Puffins in Flight - lino print by Melanie Wickham

It's Autumn, one of my very favourite seasons and also the time when I start to emerge from my studio and bring all of my new lino prints to fairs, exhibitions and exciting Pop Up Shops!

I've popped a list below for you to have a peep at and there are several more things in the pipeline which I will gradually add when they are confirmed.  It is great to be heading to so many places out and about and not just in Bristol this year, so if you are nearby on any of these dates it would be so lovely to say 'Hello'...

Next events 

Print Fair - Holburne Museum, Bath 5-9pm 25th October

Present Makers, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton 9 Nov - 21 December

Totterdown Arts Trail, Bristol 15-16-17th November

Stanley Road Store Artists Open Houses, Brighton every weekend from 22nd Nov - 15th December

Etsy Made Local Fair, City Hall, Bristol 30th November

Bristol Bazaar, The Island, Bristol 1-24th December

Southville Centre Fair, Bristol, 7th December

Malago Christmas Fair, Bristol 14-15 December

I have linked to all the shows own websites/FB pages on my website if you want further details - pop over HERE

How to lino print - workshop alert!

Beginners lino printing - I am so excited to be running another lino printing workshop - this one is for anyone, beginners or slightly more experienced lino printers and we will be using nature as inspiration (perfect in Autumn as there is so much inspiration to be found in nature, all those lovely leaves, seed pods, nuts and berries etc).

This workshop will be in Bristol on Sunday 13th October, so if that sounds good to you follow the link here to get all the details and book on....

Lino Print fabric designs

I have often thought that some of my lino prints would work well as fabric designs and so have made a couple into repeat patterns and had them printed onto cotton - and I am so happy with it!

In the photo here are 'Pigeons' and 'Stars' - both digitally printed onto 156 gsm cotton in the UK, so fully washable and a great fabric weight for lots of different types of sewing project.

I have hand printed fabric with lino blocks several times and it can be great fun, but it is really time consuming and so makes the fabric more expensive (quite rightly as it takes a while!).  I hand printed my bedroom curtains with big birds and I love them so it was completely worth the process.

As these fabrics have been digitally printed I can have much larger quantities and so I have listed them in my ETSY shop if you fancy taking a peek.

I have no idea what projects might suggest themselves using this fabric (I am up for trying lampshades and PJ's first) so have listed a few different lengths as options to buy, but am really up for suggestions of what sizes of fabric would be useful...

Below is an amazing set of coin purses made by JoeJoeHandmade using my Pigeon fabric and I think they are just fab!  I love the contrast of the black and white with the zingy zippers.

I am really excited to see what else these fabrics turn into in the future!  Pigeons everywhere....

Ink Paper + Print at the Towner Gallery

I am so excited to be heading off to Ink Paper + Print on 21-22nd September - being held at the Towner Gallery  in Eastbourne the line up of illustrators, print makers and artists is amazing (and me, gulp!)

I will bring along my usual basket of lino prints, including a few new ones - like these Baby Tapirs - and also tea towels, tote bags, fabric, handmade purses and lampshades - would be lovely to say hello if you are passing by.

Greetings Cards

Great to get another delivery of my cards from ARTPRESS recently - including the new Christmas Card, yipee!

I'm so happy to have my lino prints on their lovely cards and it is great fun looking out for them in shops/galleries/museums as I travel around the country.  Do let me know if you spot any out in the wild...