An interesting day printing

I chose a very cold day to experiment in my garage studio. With the help of my friend Ann we set out to hopefully produce some good prints from the template I produced earlier.

Well things did not go to plan ..... As I don't have a press I thought it was a good idea to put the paper and template between two pieces of hard board and drive over them in my car. Not a good idea when your friend decides to move the hardboard as you start to move!!! After a lot of shouting and then laughing we examined the print. Sounded good in theory but had not realised the pressure would only be as wide as the tyre, I somehow thought the pressure would spread across the hardboard. We had a few attempts but none where any good. Also the neighbours curtains began to twitch..."why is that madwoman next door driving her car up and down her drive?"

When Ann and I surveyed our days work the only ones I liked were the tissue paper and kitchen roll I used to take off the ink. I think this one looks like trees and furrowed field.

Printing template produced

This is the other side of my garage studio.

I have put the first coat of PVA on my template.

Its all very experimental so we will just have to see if it works when I cover it with ink.

I do have one major problem!!!!! I haven't got a press..... I am going to try and put the inked up template and paper between to pieces of thin hard board and drive over it with my car tyres.

The other alternative is to use a much thinner paper and burnish with a spoon.

Update Wednesday night

Clearing workspace

After leaving my studio in Vernon Mill I have set up in half of our garage. It has been difficult as the whole family seem to use it as a storage place. I spent all day yesterday reclaiming my half of the garage and cleaning the work surfaces ready for a bit of printing. My friend Anne and I are working on the same project which is our interpretation of a photo of sails. It is an experiment using the technique collagraphy. 

The fish on the wall is "Harry with the bloodshot eye" he was caught off the coast of India and given to me in 1973 and has remained a well talked about member of the family.

Royal Clipper

Just returned from a wonderful adventure on the Royal Clipper round the Windward Islands.

All In The Best Possible Taste

On a recent long haul flight I was able to watch the Channel 4 series about the making of 

Grayson Perry Tapestries, which I found extremely interesting. When I returned to Manchester I found that they were in an exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery so today I went along to see them.

They are beautiful, so full of detail and very vibrant well worth seeing.

I was not allowed to photograph them so I found these images on http://architectonista.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/grayson-perry-tapestries/   

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

This is an illustration for the Feb edition of The Sunday Times Travel Magazine.

It is in the Travel Smart section and has some very good tips on how to get good deals when booking your holiday.

Museum of London Feb Leaflet

This is the latest front cover of the leaflets I illustrated for the Museum of London.

Sunday Times Travel Magazine

This has been a lovely commission for the Sunday Times Travel Magazine. This is a monthly magazine which is full of interesting articles about travel. After all my research for the illustration I think I would like to visit Shanghai.

Museum of London Christmas Leaflet

I know it seems far too early to start posting Christmas stuff !!!! but this illustration has just been printed and is now out and about in London.

If you have seen my earlier leaflets you will notice they follow a theme of family activities.

Museum of London leaflets

These are two of the six illustrations I have produced for the Museum of London.

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/Whats-on/Events/

I have really enjoyed this commission.

Anglesey

In our new to us caravan that we have recently bought there was a large picture with a very boring photo of the sea in it. I have now replaced it with this illustration that I have just completed. Our caravan is sited on a lovely spot overlooking the sea at Red Wharf Bay Anglesey, so I was really excited when I found this old map of the Menia Straits and Anglesey. We often go up to South Stack to see the lighthouse and the sea birds, so I thought I must incorporate the lighthouse. The texture on the jug was taken from the photograph below which I took on the beach after a very bad storm. The starfish are called brittle star fish and they live in colonies of about 200 and are usually sub - tidal but the bad weather and high spring tide had brought them in.

The Ocean

Yes I've been having more fun with my Duck Family. I'm dreaming of sunnier times which I hope are coming this year!

The First Cut

Enjoyed a lovely day at Manchester Art Gallery at the First Cut Exhibition
The work was very inspirational and made me want to get out my craft knives.
All the flock of birds were hand cut out of old maps. The trees were made of recyled paper and organic material. They were hung so they didn't quite touch the floor so they slightly moved in any drafts.

Modern Vintage Illustration by Martin Dawber

This new book has just been published by Batsford and I have been lucky enough to have two images in it. The book is full of beautiful illustrations with a write up on how the images created have been influenced by various art movements.
My copy has just arrived and I am really excited about reading all the wonderful illustrations.

Exhibition at Vernon Mill Stockport

I am opening my studio and joining in with the exhibition tonight. I decided to put "Bert" up outside my studio and hopefully he will entice (or possibly scare) a few people to look around.

The exhibition is linked to the unveiling of the Queen's portrait. BBC article

Bus Shelter

I suppose this does follow my discarded objects....
I passed this at 7.30 this morning and it made me smile I hope it is there tonight and people add to it. In fact I've got a couple of items I would like to add. It could become a piece of Public Art!

More Discarded Objects

No illustration work at the moment so its time for creative play.

Been back in the studio again today. Plaster of paris now dried and I've covered the whole thing in PVA. This is all experimental so I am trying not  to be too precious.

 This is another discarded object...I think its some sort of ventilation flue. I picked it up from a scrap yard but had to pay for it (the bird **** that it was covered in came free!)
This has now been covered with a layer of PVA so I'm ready to go with this object as soon as the ideas come to me.

I seem to have accumulated so much junk in my studio. The problem is I have difficulty in throwing things away just in case I might find a use for them in the future.

Discarded Objects

It doesn't look a very interesting object but I found it in a pile of rubbish which was ready for the tip in one of the studios in the mill I experiment in.
I haven't become a SKIP RAT yet but sometimes I wish I had the nerve to stop the car and grab objects from skips outside peoples houses.

I have spent today experimenting with this and hopefully if its dry tomorrow I will take another photo.

Toilet Rolls

I found these images on a blog, so I looked up the artist Junior Fritz Jacquet What a wonderful use of toilet roll inners... I just use mine for Christmas crackers!

Good Cause

I have just finished this poster for my niece Clare, she has arranged this evening in memory of her mum Carol (my sister) I hope it catches peoples attention and they buy tickets!