Print making day week 3 more dry point and a little lino

acrylic perspex plate        7.5x7.5cm         ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Before going to the next class I had done some research on dry point. I remembered reading about artists using acrylic perspex instead of metal plates. As I had some knocking around the studio I dug it out and decided to make a couple of experiment plates to see how it would work. The problem was I don't have an etching needle. Not to be deterred and I hope I don't make any printmakers wince too much, I thought to myself well it just needs to be sharp and pointy enough to scratch the surface...... out came a trusty school type compass. I warn you now, if you decide to have a go at this, the process quickly becomes very addictive.

  Whelk        dry point  7.7x7.5cm          ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

Although this is very rough and ready I can see the potential in this process for me. This will be something that I can safely replicate at home providing I have a small press and a proper etching tool or two. The lines aren't as delicate but I think that is the fault of the compass and my clumsy inking of the plate. I'm sure a little more burnishing off of the ink would have helped enormously. I made three plates and whilst the drawing on this one isn't terribly good it did print up the best as it had the better cross hatching and hatching in.

Gingko and moon    linoprint   10x17cm   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

The last print that I did for the day was this lino. This is a process I have used before a few times and I have to say I just don't have the patience (or the strength in my hands) for it. I usually end up with more flesh cut out of my fingers than lino carved. When I have done it before I have always pressed the prints by hand but this time there was a beautiful old Albion press to use.

Now the design was supposed to be very simple and graphic just the moon, gingko leaves and the larger reflection shapes. (*note the small amount of lino that would need to be carved ;o) ) However being such a menace with the cutting tools I had a few mishaps and the smaller dashes had appeared in a couple of places. What to do? I decided to go with it and add a few more... The best thing I can say about this is that the handmade paper that it was printed on was lovely - such a shame I ruined it. Ooops!

Like I said lino just isn't and I'm sure never will be a technique for me. If you would like to see a master lino cut print maker please visit Sherrie York at Brush and Baren.



As if all of this printing wasn't enough we also had our homework to finish preparing for the next session. The collograph samples had to be shellacked in advance due to the drying time needed. Our tutor Jan Bullas is an expert collograph printer and I was very much looking forward to this section of the course.