Printmaking

Movement (2009)

Since the birth of our daughter a little over 2 years ago, I am sorry to say that printmaking has very much taken a back seat. I have managed to keep my hand in creatively with knitting and other little projects such as making cards and making a little bit of jewellery but I really need to get back to the studio.


For our tenth wedding anniversary my husband and I spent a night in London, leaving the kids with various members of family. We got an early train to London and as the B&B was in Clapton, we decided to look round the Tate Modern first before dropping our bags off. It was the first time in far too long that we were able to wander round a gallery without yelling every 2 minutes "Stop that!", "Don't touch that!", "If I have to tell you one more time...!". Well, you get the idea. It wasn't until we got to the second floor and walked into the Merisa Merz room that I realised how much I had been missing the act of creating and just how all my interests can come together if only I had the head space. I got my notebook out and started jotting ideas down in quick succession.


The B&B we stayed in, Russells of Clapton cannot be reccommended enough. A 3 storey terraced property on the Chatsworth Road in Lower Clapton, the decor has been well and truly thought out. Quirky yet comfortable, funky and fun. Easy to get to by bus (the bus drops you off nearly at the front door) and plenty of on street parking if needed. We met some wonderful people - the local bookshop proprietor (Pages of Clapton) and his father and a lovely Spanish family to name but some.

http://www.contemporaryartdaily.com/2010/10/marisa-merz-at-barbara-gladstone/

Shwopping: The Swhop Lab at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane

A wonderful retrospective of International Print Exchanges hosted by Green Door Printmaking.
http://www.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk/blog-ipe.php

A simple enough premise: Paper should be such and such a size, please adhere to good practise (good prints, well place on the paper etc.) and editions of 10. An excellent introduction to good printmaking practise if you're not already familiar with it. For your pains, you receive 8 prints from fellow artists. A lovely way to get you work seen and to decorate your walls, not to mention a talking point for when you have visitors!

And in case you're interested, a selection of my works in progress:

http://www.greendoor-printmaking.co.uk/barker-hannah.php