Tuesday 28 October 2014

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

A flock of my corvids have
made there spooky way into
the window of
Moss Prints in Cheltenham.
Pop along to Suffolk Parade for a closer look.

Monday 27 October 2014

AUTUMN COLOUR

At this time of year, nature does it all.
Berries and leaves at Westonbirt Arboretum.

 

Friday 24 October 2014

I LOVE WEDNESDAYS

I have been teaching printmaking classes at Hampen Factory for nearly 10 years now.
Set in the middle of the Cotswold countryside just outside Cheltenham, enthusiastic artists have enjoyed the tranquil location and learnt a wide range of collagraph and creative techniques.
I have run a 10 week collagraph course on a Wednesday since the opening of the studio and it is the oasis in my week.
The course has attracted really talented and committed printmakers.
Week after week they have put up with my lame jokes and taken on board some quite challenging techniques.
This term we are exploring tile cement and carborundom plate making
and experimenting with the inking process of blended rubs.
Everyone has made the most glorious prints.
I have just popped up a few examples,
 
but could quite easily
have shown one from everybody.
So apologies to those I have not put up.
It's half term now and I am beginning to take names for next terms 10 week printmaking course. But there is going to be a difference. After so many happy and creative years at Hampen I am moving my courses and workshops to a new venue in Cheltenham. Wednesday will remain my oasis day for teaching printmaking, it is just the space that will change.
So for new course and workshop dates check out my workshop page, http://suebrownprintmaker.blogspot.co.uk/p/workshops.html and keep an eye on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Brown/1478939815714857 details.

Sunday 19 October 2014

BUS MANS HOLIDAY

I had this weekend off so I decided to take a bit of 'me' time
and booked myself into a screen printing workshop
run by the Squeegee Warrior, Ian Perry at Unit Twelve in the heart of rural Stafford.
What a splendid time I had, Ian is an excellent teacher making screen printing
accessible for any studio or indeed home.
Lots of lovely low tech tips that created
professional looking prints. 
I had always been a bit tentative about making screens, but Ian made it simple.
We all had a successful weekend, fellow workshop participant, Kate tried some really exciting techniques.
I just love the repeat of prints laid out all together.
I was chuffed to bits with the result and now can't wait to get some kit to try this in the shed.
It is great to learn new techniques and I would recommend Ian's screen printing courses http://www.unittwelve.co.uk/printclub.htm
All fuelled by cake of course and well worth loosing a tooth over (private joke).
Thankyou Ian.
 

Tuesday 14 October 2014

CREATIVE SKETCH BOOK WORKSHOP

 
 
This weekend has been a very busy one, I have been teaching my signature workshop,
Creative Sketch Book techniques, it is two days packed with techniques to beat the blank page syndrome of a new sketch book. I tell everyone my secrets and off they go!
I start off with gum Arabic transfer. This technique uses a simple photocopy and
 nothing more technical than a wooden spoon.
The results are a printmaking triumph in my opinion.
We then add Indian and Quink ink and bleach,
acrylic paint comes into play together with acrylic transfer.
This transfer technique takes a little practice, but can yield spectacular results using colour photocopies and magazine images...no nasty fumes.
Then printing with wallpaper and acrylic paint makes an atmospheric resist when washed with Indian ink. 
With all this information layering, mixing and playing happens.
It is essential that it is a two day workshop, it gives everyone time to absorb the techniques and develop a layered sample. The only real rule is let things dry between applications, but even this rule can be bent.
Everyone went away with several of these
4 page leaflet books. We had a happy, if not fraught hour learning how to glue these together to create a strong tactile booklet.
Interested in having a go? The next Creative Sketch Book workshop will be in March 2015 at The Yard, Art Space, Cheltenham. 

Tuesday 7 October 2014

CREATIVE NOVEMBER AT HAMPEN FACTORY.

November can be a grey uninspiring month, especially with the anticipation of twinkle and festivities that December brings. So I am filling November with creative workshops.
Kicking off on 1 November with a mono print technique that pushes mono printing that bit further, using the viscosity inking process that I teach for collagraphs you can produce complex looking images with one pass through the press.
All these images are done in one pull.
The very fine lines are imbedded into the image, not added afterwards.
15-16 November is a 2 day workshops exploring mixed media techniques that will get over the blank page syndrome we all suffer from occasionally.
Transfer techniques, acrylic paint, ink and bleach are just a few materials to play with.
At the end of the weekend the samples are turned into a useful reference booklet (or bespoke festive card for a special person).
29-30 November is a 2 day workshop learning how to make the most sophisticated collagraph technique available (in my opinion). Silk Aqua Tint, looks like an etching but uses collagraph processes. On the left hand side is the plate, on the right is the print.
 It produces subtle results not usually associated with collagraph, but if it is your first encounter with the technique it is a great place to start.
 
All these workshops are suitable for beginners and experienced artists looking to develop new techniques. You do not have to be a printmaker to enjoy any of these classes.
For more details and booking contact me, sb.brown@talk21.com