Printing at the table.

As promised, here is a snippet about the lino printing process.

I bought a linocut starter set way back in 2015 but didn’t open it until last year!
The delay was due to two job changes and a house move, a busy and challenging time for us.

You probably recognise the brand, it’s quite well known.
This photo is my first time using Lino. The set came with traditional and soft cut lino and as I liked the size, I tried soft cut lino first.  There were some nerves as I was worried about cutting myself, but I soon got into the habit of cutting away from my hands!

My first challenge was the design.

Dear Readers; as friends and family are well aware, I am a big fan of sci fi and fantasy (among others) and this occasionally makes it’s way into my art!

Still with me? Phew!
Spock, that well known Vulcan champion of logic and emotion, has always had a dear place in my heart and I really felt his distinctive face would work well with lino.

After sketching out a rough outline and popping in some angles, I traced my design directly onto the lino. A border to frame it and it was time to start cutting. You can see my design below.

By this point I was getting excited! I could see the linocut would work so long as I cut deep enough.

My finished linocut:

The next step was to get the printing ink ready.

I used the ink that came with the set, water based black.

Getting the ink to the desired tackiness can take a few minutes of patience-too much and you risk flooding all the lovely cuts you’ve made, too little and the finished print won’t be dark or solid enough.

Remember, this was my first ever attempt, I knew nothing about registration or drying times!
Once I was satisfied that the ink was ready and my roller covered, I inked the linocut and covered it oh so carefully with a piece of cartridge paper I had cut specifically for this exercise.
Traditionally a tool called a baren is used to then apply pressure to the paper to ensure the ink is transferred.  I used a lovely old wooden spoon that my husband insisted on claiming back!

Here’s the finished print:

I am still so happy with this print, I love the highlighting in his hair, the angles of his face and the lovely section I put in behind him for a bit of background.

I loved every second of the process and wished I’d tried it sooner!

I did get a bit carried away when printing though…

Many worlds.

Art. Such a small but broad reaching word.

They say art is a journey and it really is.  A beautiful, fulfilling, frustrating, time consuming, thought provoking journey of challenge, process and discovery.
I confess I am still at the start of my journey, even after 20 years of dabbling.  A new medium or technique makes me feel giddy with anticipation and dread, often in equal measures. The excitement  tends to set in with new mediums and dread with things I have little or no experience in or if I worry about time constraints  (being a working mum, time can get precious and creating art often is at the bottom of my actual to do list).

I have tried lots of mediums over the last few years, acrylic, pastel, ink, watercolour, gouache, printing, pencil.  I love them all for different reasons!  I love gouache for its versatility, ink and wash for its lovely looseness, pencil for the detail. And that’s just 3!
Here are a few examples of my work in different mediums:

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Lino printing.

Lino printing is a relatively new discovery that I just can’t get enough of.  A combination of art, and for me, a hefty pinch of mindful making.

I plan on including a blog of my kitchen table process soon but right now here are 2 artist proofs I finally completed last week:

The cat on the right is inspired by one of our feline family members. As a cat lover, every time I look at him, I can’t help wanting to capture his sweet little profile, gentle nature and curiosity!

The left piece is symbolic of a personal ongoing journey.
A journey of realisation, self awareness, rising from grief, growth, so many things.

I think art is extraordinarily personal; artists lay bare their souls and pour out their hearts. These 2 pieces of work represent two ends of the spectrum for me: one was cathartic while the other was just pure pleasure.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cat Musings..

My husband loves cats.

Really loves them. I liked cats, but not enough to say yes to adding one to our family…
But then, randomly (in a moment of recklessness/desperation/madness), I said, let’s get a cat. Cautiously overjoyed, a few weeks later a beautiful boy we called Sputnik joined us.

2 years later we brought home another feline addition, a gorgeous girl our daughter named Juno.
They both bring so much fun and mischief and are loved and spoilt by the whole family!
The cats are often my muses, I’ve popped a few sketches and paintings here.

Welcome!

Welcome to Art All Hours!

A portfolio and blog of my art journey.

I have been sketching and painting for many years and recently took part in my first exhibition at a local art centre organised by my local art group.

Lots of my pieces are sat hiding in a folder. Join me in my journey as I try new techniques, step out of my comfort zone and generally create art regardless of what time it is!