making a new lino print...

Woodland Walk

Another new lino print...

This one has the most leaves I have ever cut in lino.
I haven't counted them yet, but that is the sort of thing I like to do - if there are statistics accompanying a piece of artwork does that add to it's depth and complexity??

This picture had a seven year old art director, with very exacting ideas and standards and perhaps slightly high expectations of what can be achieved in lino, but we got there!

All woodland creatures in place and a great selection of plants and mushrooms too...I wasn't allowed to include a slug, but a snail was alright.

I didn't cut this lino block in one go, it took a few days, one leaf at a time, and then suddenly they were all done and the printing fun could begin.

There is a very satisfying moment, when the ink is first rolled onto a brand new lino cut, ready for the first proof print because suddenly the image is really there, as it is going to be (in reverse of course!) and then there is no going back or fiddling about because at least one print is going to look exactly like this.

Thank goodness I hadn't hacked through a tree trunk or chopped the hedgehogs nose off, because it would have been very painful to have to recut this one...all those leaves, aaah...

You can look at this very same print HERE if you like too...

New A-Z animals print

Hello neglected blog - it's because I've been really busy, honest (and hibernating and adjusting to a new year and all those other winter time things).

I have been cutting away at lino blocks the whole time too, and I have really enjoyed making this print, a new animal alphabet - It's official title is:

 'Aardvarkbearcatdogeelfoxgoathedgehogiguanajellyfishlionmousenewtowlpigeonquailracoonslugtoadurchinvulturewolfxrayyellowhammerzebra'

and it is taking me quite a while to write the titles on the whole edition i can tell you....I am quite worried about spelling mistakes and missing out a whole entire animal, but, so far so good!

I am also trying to write the title at a jaunty angle to echo the circle of the print so that it looks fab when framed - it's a complicated business this being an artist thing.

When I have recovered from the whole editioning thing I will list the print in online places, but I'm going to have to shorten the title a little I think as search facilities don't seem to like 26 words joined together with no spaces, not sure why????

If you can't wait that long, and the nursery must have artwork NOW then leave me a comment or send me an email as there is always a way.....

Printing Cushions - A workshop...

Most of my printing time is spent printing on paper, and that is without doubt 'my thing'.  I love it and my brain is always filling up with ideas for lino prints, most of which never get out again, but I already feel that I have a good few years of lino print ideas stashed away just waiting for their turn.

As well as printing on paper I have also printed lots of other things, ranging from walls to pants (yes, underpants...) and printing on fabric has got to be number two.  I've printed hundreds of birds onto my bedroom curtains in the last two months and I'm now casting around the house for anything else that looks a bit plain!

If you fancy having a go at this or you have an idea that has been lurking at the back of your mind for a while I'm teaching a workshop this Saturday (25th Jan) at Makers in Bristol, where we are going to be printing cushions, so if you are free and want to join in the fun click here  to find out all the important info.

I love a project like this, where you can go from an idea to a finished item, looking great, with all the printing fun in the middle in the space of an afternoon!  The beauty of block printing is that even a simple shape or design will look brilliant as a repeat or mixed with another shape or in two colours, so this is a great chance to play around and see what can happen.  And there will definitely be cakes.

January projects...

It's gloomy outside, the allotment is underwater and the house looks a little sad without it's winter decorations, so rather than sit down and get on with the terrible pile of paperwork (that I MUST tackle)  I've decided to spend some time printing up some bright, cheery cushion covers instead.

I printed a set of curtains at the end of last year and it is now essential that I fully accessorize with matching everything.  I think as I get older I am more and more confidant in making my house more and more childish and playful and not pretending to be a grown-up...some may say it is not mature confidence at all, but instead yet another delaying tactic to avoid the paperwork, but we shall see...

Today - fun and creative projects
Tomorrow - dull figures and adding up and lots of cups of tea...

See you on the other side...

Isn't it the greatest feeling, the switch over into holiday mode!

I've done it today (although I have a little more work to do, but I'm good at pretending) and suddenly I can ignore the blustery weather and list of things I could do to 'get ready' for Christmas and instead look forward to the company and outings and feasting and playing that's about to happen.

I'm most looking forward to dragging a pack of reluctant children out for a walk when they would rather be in with their new 'stuff', one of the little pleasures of being a grown-up, and knowing that they will enjoy it really, even though they pretend not too...and walking time is such valuable chatting time, so they must come along in order to let me know what is going on with youths these days.

Last year I got new lino tools for Christmas, will I be so lucky again?

I've had a perfectly busy lino print time this autumn, so thanks to everyone who has bought a print or attended a workshop and although I have developed a slight parcel tape allergy, I hope to do it all again next year.

Due to the amount of packaging and paperwork I've done recently I am also secretly hoping to get a bit of quality lino cutting time in over Christmas, but I'm not sure whether that is socially acceptable - I'll let you know how it goes in the New Year...and it's so nearly the year of the Horse, yipee...

Print Christmas in Bristol this weekend

The last of the workshops I'm teaching this year has a couple of spaces still available if you fancy a creative break at the weekend - leave the errands and crowds behind and come along to Makers in Bristol on Saturday morning, where we will be printing Christmas...

Last week we made hundreds of cards, bunting, gift tags and printed wrapping paper and it all looked so colourful and festive and a good, messy and productive time was had by all (and we had chocolate brownies NOT mince pies).

If you fancy it book HERE.

Armadillos!

Nine tiny Armadillos

Yippee!!  I knew Armadillos were the next big thing...the first flock are off to sunny Australia with a couple of other friends.

Just wait, 2014 will be the year of the Armadillo - cushions, tea towels, wall decals, bunting and matching slippers and you were lucky enough to see it here first....