Etching workshop with Christine Willcocks

During the break we did a workshop with Christine Willcocks - she is a printmaker who uses a special kind of card to create etched plates. These are then inked up in the usual intaglio manner. The advantage f the card is that it does not require acid to etch it, and unlike collographs, it does not need to be shellaced.

A lovely clean way to get some fine prints. Good for travelling

Only 'disadvantage' is low print run numbers .... but that can be a plus. And they can dent easily - so they are a bit more fragile than usual plates. Below is the image I played around with to see what was possible.

 the plate

the print

John Farmer Printmaker

A visit to the McClellan gallery in Langwarren is certainly recommended. 
There is a small but wonderful exhibition of work by John Farmer  (1897-1989)-  small, sepia-toned print. Some drypoint, softground etching and aquatint. Traditional subjects - landscapes, a self pro\\ortrait, a pine cone - all exquisitely done. They are tiny - one more than 6 inches square - but very detailed an traditionally etched beautifully printed on toned paper. His work is said to have been inspired by the Dutch masters. 

Red Tides

Red Tides, a set on Flickr.

More monotypes

Monotype landscape

Monotype landscape, a set on Flickr.

Monotypes I have been working on

Blue Tides

Blue Tides, a set on Flickr.

My latest printmaking project

Printmaking - small works

At last I think I am making progress with my printmaking assignment.
I have been stuck at a point not knowing how to combine images to incorporate mixed media into the printmaking process. Today I created some small prints that seem to resolve this issue.
These are works in progress - ... at last. Progress.

Printmaking class

Having thought lots about these prints, I have created plates from pasteboard and acetate plates to decide which I like best.
These are smallish- around 8x10 inches.
Here are the proofs.

And these are the pasteboard plates.

The plates start to take on a character of their own after they have been printed a few times.

Printmaking Assignment @ NMIT

I am working on some mixed media approaches to printmaking.

These are from my visual diary as I try to decide which materials work and in which combinations