Printing seasonally

Using the natural world as inspiration and resource.

I can lose whole days when I am printing in my studio and I am not sure I would have it any other way. I find printing totally immersive and it takes me to a new, calm space. I use a vareity of techniques to include lino, gel press, collagraph, eco printing and even just simple monoprinting. All have their place in my studio practice.

I will set aside a day to print as it is usually a mucky business requiring lots of resouces to achieve what I am after. The day begins with the gentle gathering from my garden and the hedgerow beyond my garden gate. I am blessed to have a hedgerow untouched by the council nearby and it is my favourite place to gather from. Never taking very much, I will gather leaves, stems, flowers and twigs that inspire me. This gathering practice keeps me grounded in the season. No one knows that hedgerow better than me…..

Printing with the seasons means that mother nature is in charge, not me and I love that. I notice, and can therefore capture, even the smallest seasonal moment. My seasonal art practice as a whole keeps me very grounded and connected to the natural world and as my basket of ‘gatherings’ look back at me I can feel the excitement building. Next, I need to decide on the technique to use. I might decide to sketch a stem onto lino before cutting and printing. I might build a printing block using old cardboard and masking tape or I might get the gel press out and gently press the finds into the press to make the prints. A long day, lunch on the go and more tea than I care to admit to, I will emerge out of the studio often with far more paint on me than on the papers.

I am never disappointed with any of my prints. If they are really good they may just stay as prints. If they are pretty good they will usually become book covers and if they have some appeal but are not widely exciting they become book pages or collage fodder. They all find their place. I could go out gathering the very next week and my prints would be very different and that, in itself, is joyful.

Occasionally, I keep a print in the sure knowledge that once it is gone it is gone and I may well regret that. Every so often a print emerges that speaks so well of my artistic voice that I just want to treasure it. This print will remain with me forever as it not only sums up what I am about as an artist but it has beautifully captured the hedgerow that has such a special place in my heart.

For those interested in my book making project

Thank you so much for all the feedback on my post where I discussed my small idea ‘Making seasonal handmade books’. I am pleased to say that I am going ahead with this project and will be launching it here on the 1st July. My thinking is really taking shape now and I am excited to share that with you very soon. This will be for anyone who wants to adopt a creative practice of making books that reflect their creative voice while being heavily influenced by the seasons. I will be unpacking exactly what I mean by that and sharing how it will be structured soon. What I can already tell you is that it will be a quiet, slow and deeply personal project and, yes, there will be printing. Until next time. x