Hello Print Studio in Margate

Last weekend I visited Hello Print Studio in Margate.

It's run by Nick Morley and Emrys Plant. Nick, who is also sometimes known as linocutboy, showed me around the space... (He doesn't usually have a lamp attached to his head).

Hello Print Studio is part of Resort Studios, a space for creative people to work and share their work with the public through workshops, talks and exhibitions. Resort Studios was founded in 2013 with a vision of encouraging "experimentation and collaboration in an inspiring and professional environment" (http://www.resortstudios.co.uk/about/who-we-are/).

The print studio is a light, high-ceiling'd space with equipment for screenprinting, etching and relief printing.

When I visited they were getting ready to run a Gocco printing workshop.

I liked the small individual studios within the print studio, made of a collage of wood, glass and pieces of stained-glass windows and doors. Wouldn't it be inspiring to work in one of these?

It was impressive to see the hard work and vision that has gone into starting such a venture. The people and the space bring an exciting creative energy to Margate.

wood block printing workshop with Sarah Lawton

In July I went to a wood block printing workshop taught by artist-in-residence at East London Printmakers, Sarah Lawton.

Sarah had spent some time in Gujarat state in India, working on a collaborative project with local artisans (block print and embroidery) during an artist's residency. She shared some information about this experience and its outcomes - one outcome was an artist's book Sarah had made called A New Manifesto Ten Indian Insights and another was some garments that Sarah had block printed.

The first thing we did in the workshop was do some block printing on fabric using textile ink and blocks that Sarah had had made in India.

Then Sarah demonstrated carving plywood using Japanese woodcut tools, and the workshop participants each drew their own design on a piece of plywood and cut it out.

I printed my design of birds flocking, onto a piece of cloth. I didn't love the print, but I didn't come with a specific design in mind, this was just an image I had been thinking about so I could develop it more to make a better print. Also I found the plywood difficult to carve as I mostly just use lino when I do block printing. Lino cuts in all directions easily but with wood you have to follow the grain, especially with plywood - or it splinters.

During the workshop we also made a collaborative print on paper using Sarah's Indian wood blocks and gouache paints:

I found the workshop very interesting. Particularly hearing about Sarah's collaborative artistic practice and seeing some natural dyes which Sarah had brought back from India, which she said should work alright as printing pigments if mixed with a medium for textile printing. I love the idea of doing the whole printing process using organic sustainable materials such as natural dyes and wood (although lino is easier for me to carve). I've never tried mixing plant dyes with textile binder but I'd like to.

Imprint exhibition

I went to the private view of Imprint - an exhibition of printed design, at Craft Central in Clerkenwell.

I was invited by my friend Katherina Manolessou, an artist and illustrator who makes screenprinted artwork.  Here's Katherina at the private view:

Katherina's screenprints are witty and full of fantastic creatures.  They're great!

I also liked some printed textiles by Kate Clarke in the Imprint exhibition.  I saw bright screenprinted pouches featuring blown-up fruit and flower designs.

Imprint exhibition continues until 21st September.

Marimekko pear tea towels

I saw these great pear tea towels by Marimekko today, for sale in Heals:

I love the simplicity of the design.

I've been a fan of Marimekko before I saw these images. Marimekko is a design company from Finland who hand-screenprinted all their textiles during the 1960s.  Perhaps their most well-known design is this one, called Unikko, designed by Maija Isola:

One thing I love about Marimekko designs is that although they are now a global textile and interior design company, their designs are brilliantly simple and look like they could be printed at home by hand - those pear designs could be printed with a stencil or screenprinted with a couple of paper stencils. And I mean that as a compliment - as I say, I love the simplicity of these designs.

lena corwin

One of the most inspirational and useful books I've read about handmade printmaking is "Printing by Hand" by Lena Corwin.

It's got very clear instructions and photos of stamping, stencilling and screen printing - all of which you can do without specialist equipment, following her instructions.  And lovely projects to demonstrate their use.

The book is from the US, so some of the materials are not as commonly found here in the UK - acrylic mounts to stick cut-out pieces of foam on to make a printing stamp, for example.  But it's still a really useful guide, and I have got people to mount cut-out foam on cardboard and brush on pva glue to make it more waterproof in some classes I've taught.

I just looked at her website again recently, and was excited to see that she will have a new book out in October called "Made by Hand" which promises "A collection of Projects to Print, Sew, Weave, Dye, Knit or Otherwise Create."  - That sounds great, I love trying out new projects and frequently do, as I teach community arts and crafts classes - not just about printmaking, but using various crafts, so I'm often looking for new ideas for my classes.

Anyway - I recommend her printmaking book to anyone starting out or developing their print projects at home.

doorstop and Lotta Jansdotter

 

I made this doorstop following a pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's book "Simple Sewing".  I didn't print the fabric, it's an African fabric I bought in Dalston Market.

I like Lotta Jansdotter's work and have 3 books of craft projects by her.  She makes printed textiles, and you can see a good demo of handmade printing, "Stencils and Yams", by her with Etsy on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnu0AsoPJb0

I like the simplicity of Lotta Jansdotter's prints and her sewing projects are also easy to follow.  It didn't take long to make this doorstop, which is just what I needed in our new house, and is made up like a saggy box - 4 sides, a bottom and a top with a handle, all stitched together, and I filled it with rice for the weight.

You can see Lotta's work on her website, and she also has a blog which you can go to from the link on her website: http://www.jansdotter.com/

Kiran Ravilious

While surfing the internet recently, enjoying looking at hand printed textiles, I came across the inspiring artwork and blog of Kiran Ravilious.

I think it's not allowed to reproduce people's online photos without permission, so I can't show her work here, you'll have to visit her blog: http://blog.kiranravilious.com

Kiran hand prints lino blocks onto textiles and sells cushion covers, bags, children's clothes etc. on Etsy.  The lino blocks are beautifully carved designs which seem to take inspiration from organic forms.  I also like her post about her studio in a lovely shed in her garden.  Check it out!  As I mentioned - very inspiring!