Multi-Colour Printmaking

This is the first day since the 19 February that I've been able to use my wonderful (but heavy) Albion Press. (I had a bit of surgery and had to wait a while for healing to take place and to regain my strength) And what better than this life affirming, colourful project.

In 2011 I became involved with An Inventory for Al-Mutanabbi Street and it has remained close to my heart ever since. I have been looking at files for my submission to the project with a view to making a second edition, proceeds of which will be donated to Medecins sans Frontiers. I hope to have this ready for BABE 2013 (Bristol Book Arts Event) on 20-21 April.

And, I was recently reading Ama Bolton's book, also made for the project. 

I love the different coloured paper used throughout her book, and I took inspiration from this to print my new edition on multiple coloured sheets of paper.

The first few are muted . . .

. . . soon growing more confident, using raspberry reds and bold blues and greens. One hanging rack full.

I use masks to help with inking up, otherwise the plate requires way too much cleaning before pulling a print.

A plate on the press ready to go . . .

in various colours.

Two hanging racks full (44 sheets and counting - what a gloriously busy day I've had!)

The next stage will be letterpress, but that will have to wait until after the Easter break (boo-hoo).

BABE 2013: Bristol Artists Book Event

BABE 2013: BRISTOL ARTISTS BOOK EVENT

Saturday 20 April 2013 to Sunday 21 April 2013

11:00 to 17:00

Free Admission

BABE is back and bigger than ever for 2013. Spread over 3 floors more than 80 artist bookmakers, dealers and small presses from Bristol and around the world will come together at Arnolfini to show and sell their work.

Listed here are some that you can see: Karoline Rerrie, Mandy Brannan, Elizabeth Willow, Ensixteen Editions, p’s & q’s Press, Alex Pritchard, whnicPRESS, Essence Press, Pet Galerie Press, Daily Twit, Moon & Stars Press, Andi McGarry/Sun, LemonMelon, Katriona Chapman (Tomatito Press), KAREN JOYCE, Caseroom Press, Robert Ridley-Shackleton, Charlotte Hall/Eccentric Horace, Café Royal Books, Mark Pawson, Index Press, Jill Carter, Battenburg Press, The Sidney Nolan Trust book artists, Karen Mercer, Cally Barker, Otto, M COLLECTIVE, Edition MailWorks@Bruxelles, Coffee Club Collective, Ambeck Design, Artistsbooksonline.com, Maddy Pethick, Ros Blackmore/covet & whistle, Revolve:R, reassemble, Benedict Phillips, Charlotte Vallance Illustration & Design, Liver & Lights: Another Manifesto, Impact Press, Carolyn Trant - Parvenu Press, Ciara Healy, MBAG, Drawing & Image Making UCLan, Redfoxpress & Antic Ham, Sarah Bryant, Atlantic Press, KALEID editions, Bristol ABC - Artists' Books Club at UWE, Jane Cradock-Watson, UWE Bristol Graphic Design Department, LOAf, AMBruno: Books in dialogue., Umbrella, HGmakes, and me, Mavina Baker - Teacup Press. Do drop by and say 'Hello'

BABE provides a relaxed and friendly space to meet and chat to artists about their work and buy works of art. Prices start from just a few pounds.

Across the weekend there will be a number of performances, interventions and informal talks. Open until 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.

For pre-bookable Workshops and Book Surgeries, please call Arnolfini Box Office on 0117 917 2300.

Black Swan Arts Open 2013

Black Swan Arts Open, 2013
27 April - 25 May 2013

Black Swan Arts is inviting submissions to the 2013 Arts Open competition and exhibition. The competition, now run annually, is in its 11th year and will encompass a diverse range of works including: painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, print, photography and digital media.

The Open attracts some of the best contemporary artists and makers working in the UK and in 2012 over 500 entries from across the South West were submitted. The competition will be judged by respected arts' practitioners and academics from a variety of backgrounds and fields of expertise. This year we are pleased to announce the following judges:

Irena Czapska – Director at Spike Print Studio in Bristol
Dr Jo Dahn – Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Art and Design at Bath Spa University
Charlie Thomas – Photographer and Awards Manager at The Association of Photographers Limited in London
David Chandler - Frome based Artist, Black Swan Arts Prize winner in 2010, Arts correspondent for Frome FM and Frome TV.
Tom Bayliss - Frome based Artist, Black Swan Arts selection 2012, co-founder and curator of the Tool Shed gallery, Frome.

The exhibition will run from 27th April until 25th May 2013 with a launch evening and prize-giving on Friday 26th April. Prizes include:

The Black Swan Arts Prize - £750
The Bax Family Fine Art Prize - £250
with further sponsored prizes to be confirmed

Submission: Submissions will be via an online form. A maximum of 4 works can be submitted at £10 per entry (e.g. 1 work = £10, 4 works = £40) and all entries must be for sale. Work in any medium will be considered including fine, applied and digital.

Dates:
Submission Deadline: 29th March (Good Friday)
Judging: Saturday 6th April
Launch Evening and Prize-giving: Friday 26th April
Exhibition: 27th April until 25th May

For submissions please go to www.blackswan.org.uk

For more information please email: exhibitions@blackswan.org.uk
Black Swan Arts - Contemporary arts gallery and studios, shop and cafe in the heart of Frome, Somerset.

Artists’ books show and tell at Tate Library

Artists’ books show and tell at Tate Library – 5 April 2013, 12.30-14.30

Explore Tate Library’s collection of artists’ books. The collection, which numbers approximately 5,500, includes works dating from the 1960s onwards. The collection is international in scope but has an emphasis on British artists. Examples on show will be drawn from across the collection, demonstrating themes and interests of artists.

The visit is free but booking is essential – see the What’s on section of the Tate website for full details at www.tate.org.uk/whats-on. The visit will be held in the Library and Archive Reading Rooms at Tate Britain.

Please note that this event is for individual visitors and is not appropriate for student group visits. Group visits can be arranged on the first Friday of the month. Please contact Maria White well in advance of your preferred date. maria.white@tate.org.uk

Online booking now open at: www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/talks-and-lectures/library-and-archive-show-and-tell-artists-books-tate

IMPRESS 13 International Printmaking Festival

A Festival Diary is now available for IMPRESS 13, a printmaking symposium with exhibitions, meet the artist events, music, film and workshops, all organised by the Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative. Most exhibitions will run throughout March, some are for a shorter periods of time, and a PDF of the diary is downloadable here.

'Posters' (below) show information about some of the Meet the Artists (private views) that you may be interested in. There is lots more going on, and the whole diary of events is available on the website.

Get tickets for the following before they run out . . .

1. Talk by Hughie O'Donoghue at the Launch event on the 1st March
2. Talk in Gloucester Cathedral Chapter House with poetry reading to support the exhibition "Red Ink"
3. Talk by Paul Croft at Deepspace Works Cheltenham
4. Talk by John Randall of the Whittington Press at the archive of the Press in Cheltenham

Pie in the Sky - a re-visit

The start of a new poster. Pie in the Sky. Written by Joe Hill in 1911 and the sentiment still relevant. 

I started working with this idea last April but didn't feel I'd quite got it right. I think my imagery was too understated. So I've re-cut the text, making it more expressive and dynamic. 

Now I'll change the image from empty hands to starving infants . . .  

1st mock up. The image will be linocut, and I will try out letterpress for the text on the sides. 

And maybe a book with the more of the text . . . ? depending on who has the rights to it and if I may use it.

Meanwhile take a look at what I found while out with Rufus, my stalwart walking partner.

I'm exploring ideas relating to memento mori and this is such an odd find. I think it's a sheep's skull but there are none where I walk, and there where no other bones at all . . . strange. Someone must have thrown a sheep's head into the undergrowth, why?

I particularly like the shadows in this photo.