I’m still busy busy, getting ready for the BCTF (British Craft Trade Fair) at the beginning of April. Too busy to post too it would seem! Here are a few process photos of some views of Port Meirion in Wales. I will be doing some prints of the place itself, because I love it, but I do also love the view away from it, across the estuary with the sand banks and hills in the background. Just a couple of layers to go then I should be done. I realise that some of the colours may look a bit weird, but they will be covered up with the next layer.
I will post much nicer photos when they are finished!
I’m beginning to think that my border collie print was relatively easy compared to this one!
“Oh what fun it would be to do all that curly fur” I thought…. Thank goodness I have a very smooth haired dog to do next.
Here are some photos of the progress so far. Admittedly, this does still look a bit strange, and now the red is on there, little Boris seems to be receding somewhat! Luckily I haven’t cut the dog body out of the block yet, so will add some more depth on his chest and head when I do the eyes and nose. Hopefully he will come back to life then! Next step is the brick wall behind him, then the grass and then a bush on one side… I think its going to be about 14 colours in the end!
I started this print way back in October last year but had to put it aside for a while for all the fairs I was doing before xmas. Also, I wanted to take my time over this (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!), as I was quite apprehensive about how to do the ‘shine’ on such black fur. I can’t tell you how long I stared at my dog to gauge the right shade of grey/blue to use under the final very dark blue/black – she did look a bit worried at times!
Final print
Here are the process photos. I used two blocks, one for the dog and one for the background. There are three colours on each, and as they don’t overlap, drying time was quicker and there is no thick build up of ink which can make the print look quite shiny.
These are still drying, then I have to edition them. When they are done I will put them on my online shop!
(If you hover (your mouse) over the picture, the caption appears).
Cutting out the main ‘dog’ block
Offsetting dog block onto background block
Pale orange/pink on floor and light blue/grey on dog
Cutting out the first floorboard lines, after the first solid colour was printed
I had a fabulous time last weekend at ‘Lustre’ design fair at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham.
The preview on the Friday was really busy (and made a few sales then too, so that was wonderful) as was the rest of the weekend. Had so many lovely comments about my work, backed up by good, steady sales – thank you to everyone who bought one of my prints or my cards, I hope you will enjoy them. I got a new gallery lead too, as well as a few emails from people requesting to buy a print that they said they regretted not buying at the time!
I was the only printmaker there (I think), so no competition! Definitely going to apply next year and hope they let me in again! Here are some photos of my stand and one or two other makers. It was very well curated and executed – huge thanks to all involved in setting it up!
