The happy printmaker
Lots has happened since last I wrote here. I bought a second-hand press from a good friend and since then I haven’t looked back. I’ve become a member of the FabLab community and have learned how to make my own perspex laser cut matrices that I’ve enjoyed layering over monoprints and collographs. All of the scrap pieces of paper I shall make into a sketchbook so that nothing is wasted… I’ve been experimenting with different ways to make collagraph plates; some are perspex, some are on mountboard and I’ve tried different ways of varnishing them - button polish shellac is my favourite, to date. I’ve been using different oil based inks, Hawthorn Stay Open and Caligo Safewash. Both are fine and I’ve been layering thin monoprints over collagraphs, very enjoyable. I don’t worry if a print doesn’t work out as I can use it in a collage or sew into it or make it into a book.
Several years ago I bought an old Singer treadle sewing machine that I haven’t used and an ex-colleague from Westonbirt came to visit and helped me to get it threaded and running. It’s really good fun and I can oversew all of the torn pieces of print and newsprint scraps into something more permanent. It has opened up a world of possibilities and after doing some research on Google I discovered that the machine was made in 1896 or thereabouts and amazingly it’s in fine running order. Being manually operated it’s environmentally friendly and I’m really excited by all of the possibilities on offer now.
