Weekly Brayer April 23 - 30 2012

**bridog** · #1 04-23-2012, 09:46 AM

It has been a while since last had a weekly brayer in the printmaking forum.
Decided it was time again to start one.
I am giving an adult workshop this coming week (2 sessions) in our local art gallery's community activities space. Have around 10 participants to date signed up who will be learning to make a collograph print from a constructed plate. They will also be carving a relief block image and hand printing it onto bookweight rag paper.
For the collographs we will be using Akua intaglio inks and for the relief printing Caligo safewash relief printing inks. I was recently given a box full of mat board odds and ends by a local framing shop so these will be used as the base sheets for the collographs. Participants will take home a kit to create their plates at home, allow time for wet media (glue/ acrylic medium) to dry before we have our second session for printing.

I am working with a total of 75 grade seven students from three art classes at the moment several times a week on a relief printing project in a local school. However I am working with shorter class times (45 min) since they are modeled on a secondary school timetable. This is proving to be a real challenge so far in terms of the progress and believe a few additional visits per class are necessary to accomplish the goal. A totally new experience for me. Had to rethink the original vision and simplify this to a two color print on paper.

Diane Cutter · #2 04-23-2012, 09:58 AM

Funny you mention a collagraph workshop. I'm giving one this Saturday. All are artists but none printmakers. We'll be using the odd bits of matboard for the most part and Akuas. I'd told the guild I could only take max 6 in my studio but we got 8 signed up. It's do-able since they will carpool; my biggest hang-up with studio classes is the lack of parking space up by the house.

Diane

JenZ · #3 04-23-2012, 01:40 PM

Bridog and Diane-- How funny! I've been experimenting with Collographs this week!!! In addition to finishing my BarenForum exchange prints, of course.

I've been using foam pasted on cardboard. It's pretty fun but messy!

Jen

**bridog** · #4 04-24-2012, 02:23 PM

have sealed my plate with 4 layers of clear shellac front, back and sides
can't wait to apply ink and see what kind of image will be the result

Having some issues today in school trying to get grade seven students to fully understand the concept of two color block print (meaning two separate blocks are used). I thought they understood things after giving my demo a few weeks back but today several of them asked how they could get several colours from the one block

I think the simplest way to resolve this will be to have students first print a solid background colour from surface of an uncut block and then using my registration system print their carved keyblock over top of the solid colour.
This may help them to determine where they can carve away some areas from that second background color block to allow for a little white of the paper for more interest in their designs
I had to reiterate that they only get to choose a combo of two colours but could also incorporate white neg. space using the paper. Hope the concept is easier to explain to my adult participants this weekend

newday · #5 04-25-2012, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diane Cutter

Funny you mention a collagraph workshop. I'm giving one this Saturday. All are artists but none printmakers. We'll be using the odd bits of matboard for the most part and Akuas. I'd told the guild I could only take max 6 in my studio but we got 8 signed up. It's do-able since they will carpool; my biggest hang-up with studio classes is the lack of parking space up by the house.

Diane

Printmaking students are keen. Collagraphs have been my main area of interest in Printmaking, but having recently taught a whole term of collagraph, I have decided to try something else for a bit. Recently I have been using some alternative etching techniques such as re-working metal and solarplates and using different ways to stop out metal plates ready for etching and aquatinting.

As is usual with me, the imagery is abstract but I am enjoying the experience. Have included a small print (Titanic) Etching on copperplate 4" x 6".

I have decided to concentrate on my own work and have stopped taking weekly classes to do so. Looking forward to immersing myself and locking my studio door.

Diane Cutter · #6 04-25-2012, 04:51 AM

OOOOh, Jennifer, what a great image. I checked your blog and like the red, too. Sure wish I was a fly on the wall of your studio in order to watch you work this one.

Diane

**bridog** · #7 04-25-2012, 06:32 AM

lovely piece Jennifer
color and textures create a wonderful depth
also had a look at your blog. Also very nice examples of work. I admire the abstract qualities, something I have been a bit shy of trying myself. However finding yours are very inspirational.
Out of curiousity how exactly do you apply liquid metal? Are you melting down some type of soft alloy and applying to a plate surface to rework it?

newday · #8 04-25-2012, 07:47 AM

Thanks to both of you. You may wish to look at Maureen Booth who has made a WMV on the Liquid Metal technique. It is actually a cold weld glue which hardens overnight, allowing working time in between. It is a great way to use up all those old plates lying around the studio. Inspiring. If you like texture, this is definitely the go.

Diane Cutter · #9 04-25-2012, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the recommendation... I just ordered the video and, of course, since it's downloaded onto my laptop, had to watch it. I'm off tomorrow to find a liquid metal type epoxy... What fun!

Actually the stuff available here is J-B Marine Weld and I'll most likely find it at the West Marine store nearby.

Diane

LynnM · #10 04-25-2012, 04:49 PM

Hi folks, haven't been around here for a while.....hanging out in Watercolour at the moment. I do lurk occasionally, though

Since I had to withdraw from Maria's big print because I was moving last summer (actually packing and clearing out all summer, move at the end of September) I haven't had my printing area set up.....not sure when it ever will be. There's a couple of people wanting a print of my Iridium block from the Periodic Table project, though, so I may just get going on that.

I am busy sewing, though, with the bicentennial of the War of 1812, there's a demand for period costume, and I'm having fun helping people get the outfits they want.

Nice to catch up with you all! Very interesting print, Jennifer, I really like the textures.

Sounds like you again have your hands full, Brian, good plan for your grade 7's, would have thought they would catch on sooner. It's a distractable age, though.

Have only done a couple of collagraphs, but really enjoyed it.....I was pushed to it by our project on local buildings that I participated in several years ago, that was an interesting exchange.

newday · #11 04-25-2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diane Cutter

Thanks for the recommendation... I just ordered the video and, of course, since it's downloaded onto my laptop, had to watch it. I'm off tomorrow to find a liquid metal type epoxy... What fun!

Actually the stuff available here is J-B Marine Weld and I'll most likely find it at the West Marine store nearby.

Diane

All of Maureen's videos are great and I have learned something from each and every one. Have fun with the J-B Marine Weld. I used that as well as we cannot get Nural 21 in Australia either. Be prepared, the J-B Marine takes a little longer to harden for pressing images into.

Have fun.

Jen

**bridog** · #12 04-25-2012, 07:23 PM

looks like this J-B Marine Weld epoxy can be purchased here in Canada at any Canadian Tire store (national big chain store). Thanks Jennifer for the tip on this technique

Diane Cutter · #13 04-25-2012, 07:46 PM

Good to know the supplies aren't exotic...

Diane

Diane Cutter · #14 04-25-2012, 07:48 PM

Good to see you, Lynn... I've missed you! but it sounds like you are quite busy. Any chance we can see some photos of those garments? I love period piece costumes...

Diane

magrit · #15 04-26-2012, 09:59 AM

I haven't been around lately either. I've been checking in, but I haven't done any work in a while. I've had some website work, been getting my gardens in, and tomorrow I'm supposed to get a new roof on my house! We had a bad hailstorm here in March, and lots of people in my neighborhood (including me) are getting new roofs paid for by their insurance companies. Of course I'm a nervous wreck worrying about shingles falling on my rhubarb and grapevines. But, barring rain, it should be all over tomorrow.

It seems like everyone has been having a ball doing collagraphs. I've never done this, but I have been enjoying following the threads and seeing all the cool prints. I too think Jennifer's print is gorgeous.

Brian, you just can never tell when students are "getting" something. You look out at those blank faces nodding at you, and then you realize it's just a learned class response - their minds are often elsewhere! Good luck, you'll get through to them eventually, seeing is believing.

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