The fen owl

It's been a while, but at last I've made a new reduction linocut print, based on the short-eared owls at Burwell Fen...

A bit rough and ready I feel, think I need to get back into some regular printmaking!

Scrumptious succulents

A couple of months ago I had a lovely afternoon with a couple of pals, visiting gardens in an 'Open Garden' event (Moseley in Bloom, in Birmingham UK). The gardens were, of course, just beautiful, and a common theme seemed to be succulents - people had them planted in pots, planters, kitchen sinks, and all sorts of places. They looked fab, and inspired me to try a reduction linocut, and this is how it turned out...

This was the first chance I've had to use the Ternes-Burton registration system (available here in the UK) - suffice it to say I will be using it forever more, it's that good!

I started off with some sketchbook research. On the left-hand page I have made cut-out shapes which I played around with until I found a composition I liked.

Some in-progress pics...

There's now a gap where I didn't take any pics. We did have a few weeks of hot and humid weather when the ink was taking forever to dry, so I think this was the reason...

I printed an edition of 6, on Hosho paper, and for one of the prints I tried the reverse, slightly rough side of the paper. You can see how the ink coverage is patchy (I don't have a relief press, these are printed using a baren and/or wooden spoon). Always useful to know!

Coverage was much better on the smoother side of the paper.

Finished print: Scrumptious succulents, reduction linocut, edition of 6 on Hosho paper with Caligo Safewash inks.

A charm of goldfinches original print

Here's another drypoint with chine colle, a charm of goldfinches (a couple of versions). We seem to have lots here at the moment! Hope your Christmas break (if you've had one!) has been all you wished for, and that 2016 brings health, happiness, and lots of art!

Chinese lanterns drypoint and chine colle

Chinese lanterns original handmade print, drypoint and chine colle. Loved doing this, the chine colle adds a real fizz of colour!

Drypoint hares

Here are a couple of small drypoint prints - 7 by 10 cm. Loving watching my local hares!

P is for pea

This is my contribution to the Linocut Alphabet group on Facebook...

Hare linocut

Here's a new linocut print, based on a pic I took when out watching hares down the farm track. I've been in a bit of a creative hole for a while, so I thought I'd keep this simple, a one-colour print. Though I will now go and try out some different colours too!

5 by 5 and a half inches approx, on Hosho paper.

Some experiments with collagraphs

I've been playig around with pressed plant material from the garden to create some collagraph prints...

Moonlight hare

Here's my latest reduction linocut print, inspired by the hares in the fields around here - Moonlight hare.

Hope you like him!

Coot collagraph

A couple of prints from a small collagraph plate, with added watercolour, based on a picture I took at a local nature reserve. I do enjoy the slight variation that comes with printmaking (my printmaking anyway!)

Cat monotype print rediscovered

Was looking through an old sketchbook from a couple of years ago and found this monotype print that I'd stuck in - I remember making it and not really liking it much, hence it got stuck into a sketchbook and forgotten about. Having rediscovered it I find I quite like it - shame I stuck it firmly to the back cover, where I can't remove it or even scan it easily! Do you ever encounter forgotten pieces and find you like them?

Walks at Wicken

These are drypoint monoprints, based on some of the sights on walks I've had around Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire... Enjoyed playing around with the compositions for these, lots of possibilities!

Drypoint paper plates - something different!

Here's a bit of an experiment - this is using drypoint paper plates (these: http://intaglioprintmaker.com/category/paper-drypoint-plate). It's thin card with a coating that you can scratch through with a drypoint tool. You can get nice drypoint lines, and the toned areas (the blue and black here) are made by tearing the surface, exposing the card. I enjoyed trying this out, but the plate doesn't last too long!

 Printed area is A4 or thereabouts.

Spring arrival at Wicken Fen

My latest print, a reduction linocut: Spring arrival at Wicken Fen. The swallows are starting to arrive, spring is here and summer can't be far away!

Reduction linocut on Zerkall 210gsm paper using Caligo Safewash inks.

Crocuses linocut

Hello! Here's another small reduction linocut print, to go with my snowdrops and winter aconites...

Printed area is 2.5 by 4.5 inches approx, and it's printed with Caligo Safewash inks on Zerkall 210gsm paper.

Spring is here

I'm really not very good at promoting/marketing stuff, but here's a quick look at what's available in my Folksy shop - a hint of Spring...

Long-tailed tit drypoint print

Here's a recent little drypoint print, based on a post-mortem study I made last year of a sadly deceased long-tailed tit. I really like it, though I'm not sure how well 'dead bird art' goes down in general! What do you think?

 Printed area is approximately 6 by 5 inches.

Winter aconites linocut

Here's another little linocut, to go with my earlier snowdrops print - this in Winter Aconites, such cheerful little flowers at the end of winter!

Snowdrops linocut

Hello again! Here's a small two-colour reduction linocut, inspired by the snowdrops currently gracing my garden.

It's still cold but it feels like winter is on the way out...

My latest linocut - lapwings

Here's what I've been up to over the past couple of weeks - a three-colour reduction linocut.

If anyone can come up with a better title than 'Lapwings', please do let me know!