Wednesday 27 May 2009

SKETCH BOOK PRACTICE


I have been working in sketch books for about 10 years now. My sketch book is where I jot down ideas and play around with techniques. I wish I was the sort of artist who could sit down at a cafe and record what I see, but I do not work like that.
I sit in my studio and play with materials and images working out ideas for collagraphs and etchings. Here are a few sample pages where I have used acrylic paint, quink ink, bleach and printed textured wall paper.

I would be lost without textured wall paper, my idea of a good day out is a trip to the local DIY store, (I must get a life).






I facilitate workshops using these techniques encouraging sketch book practice, the next

weekend workshop is :-


October 17th-18th 2009

Mixed media techniques and Gum Arabic Transfer Printing
Using Gum Arabic and the humble black-and-white photocopy as your ‘plate’, you can make prints of hand-drawn or photographic images.
Together with a variety of mixed media techniques using ink, oil pastel, bleach and acrylic spend 2 days learning how to create personal sketch book pages.
( please bring strongly contrasting toner photocopies and sketch books).


Hampen Factory Arts Centre, Nr Cheltenham



For further details contact:
Sue Brown
T:01242 511941
E: sb.brown@talk21.com


Sunday 24 May 2009

COLOURFUL COLLAGRAPHS

I have been experimenting over the last few weeks with collagraph plates made with tile cement and carborundum. With the plates made I have spent happy hours playing with colour and inking them up using a viscosity technique. The most exciting discovery for me is using gold leaf under the ink. This changes the nature of the ink making colours brighter and adding glitz.
This work is a departure for me, but still uses all my favourite plate making and inking techniques.









Saturday 23 May 2009

OPEN STUDIO EVENT AT HAMPEN FACTORY












The 6th of June will be the opening day of the third Open Studio event at Hampen Factory Arts Centre, nr Cheltenham.
I have been running printmaking courses from Hampen Factory for almost 5 years now and I am really looking forward to the week long Open Studio Exhibition as I am showing with really talented friends.


I am showing a series of new collagraphs and etching inspired by Venice and corvus.
Sharon has developed a set of gorgeously coloured metal hangings.
Carolyn has been experimenting very successfully with mixed media collagraphs.
Caroline is making the most amazing narrative stitched applique; textile with attitude.
Lesley has strong figurative ceramics.
The event will look fabulous and while we are sitting in the studio for the week we will experimenting with viscosity inked plates and running classes so we can be seem in action.




















PRINTMAKING COURSES AT HAMPEN FACTORY

the next one will be a Non Toxic Etching Weekend. September 26th-27th 2009.
The 2 day course will cover etching aluminum with copper sulphate using Gum Arabic Transfer as a photographic style resist. This is the technique I outlined in the Winter 2008 edition of Printmaking Today and I am showing work using this way of working at the
Five at the Factory exhibition on the 6th June
Contact sb.brown@talk21.com for more details about the course.