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With only 3 days to go I’m getting very excited about Saturday’s printathon!  I’m flying solo, but am very much looking forward to the luxury of a day in the studio, knowing that I’m not really alone as many printmakers across the globe will be experiencing the joy of print. 

Print Day in May has given me a licence to print – not that I need permission, but with a full-on job and family it’s helped to keep me focused on a project.  I’ve been planning my print for a while now and have carved out the lino line-up in anticipation. 

I have decided to develop my skills and test myself by creating my first ever 5 block print.  With only a small manual press and a bamboo baren I’ve always worried about registration and getting that perfect line-up. 

I recently learnt the technique of printing onto paper and transferring the key block directly onto the lino and then using talcum powder so I can start colouring in the sections that I want to retain in the next block.  This has really helped me to realise my design, along with getting more organised with my paper and taking the time to register my corners properly! 

If you’ve seen some of my previous prints you might know that I have a thing for steam engines, machinery and the industrial aesthetic more generally.  For this project – currently titled Miscellaneous Linkages – I took my inspiration from a technical drawing of a steam engine.  I wanted to give this life and turn it into a graphic looking illustration using layers and different colours and create tone and shading. 

I’ve planned out my colour palette by mixing various combinations of Caligo Safe Wash Inks – my printmaking ink of choice. I want to try out subtle differences in the layers and experiment by using a brighter and bolder colour for the final key block to provide definition and bring everything together, hopefully giving the image that graphic quality that I’m looking for. 

I’ve made a few proofs and started to print my first layers so that they dry in time as I always get a little impatient when waiting for prints to try and I’m learning to cultivate patience as a lino printmaker, although I still like the immediacy and expressiveness of the monoprint.

I’ll be trying out different papers as I was so inspired by the blog post here from the Japanese Paper Place.  I’ll be mainly using Washi paper – specifically HoSho and Shoji Gami Kozo paper.  I’ll also be experimenting by printing on traditional Chinese Sumi paper that is yellow with a red grid so do keep an eye on my Instagram feed @woodleastudio and let me know what you think of the results. 

Happy printing one and all! Kristy

https://www.woodleastudio.com/

https://printdayinmay.com/2019/03/18/kristy-from-woodlea-studio-i-print-to-feel-more-myself/