i have been experimenting lately with making drypoints using drypoint plastic and placing it over an image and sketching the image. i’ve had some nice results and they’re really fun to do as they’re really quick and make nice potential layers for a more in depth print. practical as well given the size of the press i am working with, i don’t normally like working small but i am enjoying making these and can see the potential in making loads of quick drawings and seeing where it leads..
Over half term i spent time preparing a structure i have built to be used as a temporary community gallery and workshop space. The structure is to tour outdoor events around north wales over the summer the first being Botanical beats a fundraiser for Treborth botanic garden, bangor. The event happened on sunday 5th june and was a great success, i spent the day running a drop in drawing and monoprinting session which mainly attracted children although there were quite a few enthusiastic adults, there was some really brilliant work produced. it was a bit of a pilot session so i wasn’t worrying too much about money but i think i should definately ask for donations next time.
i found this bit of rusty metal on the floor that looks like a butterfly..
A couple of days after the exhibition opening we took the year 10 group we worked with, kids from the other year 10 group and some year 11 pupils on a school trip to Liverpool. It was a great day out we went to the Walker art gallery and saw ‘High kicks and low life’ an exhibition of toulouse-lautrec prints which i found a great treat. Then we had lunch and then went to the museum and saw all the natural history stuff and more, there was loads to see and i think the kids really enjoyed it.
ok, wow time has flown that seems to happen when summer hits, it’s all go go go.. so what’s happened- well the opening evening of the schools exhibition went really well we had a presentation session looking at the progress so far of the residency projects with art teachers from around wrexham, arts connection and members of the print centre. Then later i gave a demonstration in gum arabic transfer which i made look very easy and is actually very tricky, i gave out notes but i’d like to hear how people got on with the process.
The whole evening was to promote the idea of residencies in schools and to encourage the schools to apply for funding, i think everyone can see the benefits but is very sceptical about where the money would come from.
