Workshops
I run a number of workshops throughout the year from home or in other venues around the country.
These fun and interactive workshops will help you begin or extend your art making skills.
Workshops include:
Nature journaling
Nature Journaling is a wonderful way of making your own study of the natural world around you. The main emphasis is on YOUR observations of nature - recording and reflecting on what you have seen or discovered. It can be done anywhere, from just looking out your window at home to what you see on a walk to the park or a field trip into the mountains. It may also be just what is happening in the vegetable garden. Nature is everywhere ready to be explored.
This fun and interactive workshop will help you begin, or extend, your nature journaling skills.
Relief printmaking – woodcut
In this workshop you will explore multicoloured woodblock printing through the use of reduction and key block printing techniques. The main course outcomes of the workshop will focus on producing a limited edition woodblock print, with an emphasis on your own personal development of imagery and creative mark making processes. Topics covered will include composition; creative mark making; cutting techniques; ink handling and rolling techniques; registration procedures; techniques of printing with and without a press; edition printing; signing; and issues related to general health and safety in the workshop environment.
This workshop is suitable for both beginners and those with some printmaking experience.
A word on methods
Reduction woodcut method is best described by its name. One block is reduced in stages to a multicoloured print. This is done by gradually carving away the surface of the block with small chisels and rolling the surface of the block with ink at different stages and printing, creating a multilayered image.
The Japanese keyblock technique begins by drawing an image onto a block of 6mm MDF (custom wood), the unwanted wood is then carved away. This first block is called the key block and is usually the most detailed, signaling where the other colour areas will be. The image printed from this keyblock is then transferred onto other MDF blocks to allow exact registration. Generally there is a separate block carved for each colour. The coloured blocks are printed first and the keyblock is then printed as the final layer over the top.
Intaglio printmaking – drypoint etching.
This a great introduction to printmaking for beginners. In this workshop you will delve into the unique and sensitive printmaking process of dry point etching. This process is where the surface of a plate such as copper or PVC is scratched into using a sharp point creating a burr. Ink is applied to the surface of the plate and the burr catches and holds the ink. The plate is then wiped back using a fabric called mull, yielding a rich velvety line giving exquisite results when printed. We will combine various techniques with drypoint etching in the workshop including monotype to create a rich diversity in tone, texture and colour.
The main outcome of the workshop will focus on your personal development of imagery and mark making, geared towards a limited edition of dry point etchings using various surfaces such as PVC and copper.
Photopolymer etching
In this workshop you will experiment with the incredibly versatile and exciting medium of photo polymer plate etching (also known as solar etching). This material is made up of a photo emulsion backed by a thin metal plate. It is UV light sensitive, water soluble and safe to use. Using a variety of mark making techniques and imagery you will create a number of limited edition prints. During the course we will also explore several techniques of creating fabulous multi coloured prints using a variety of inking up techniques, multiple plates and some monotype processes.
This course will best suit those with some drawing or printmaking experience, although this is by no means necessary.
Botanical Illustration
In this workshop you will delve into the intricacies of botanical illustration. Through a series of drawing explorations you will gain a greater understanding of what you see and how to portray it accurately. These explorations will include: plant structure; the use of line, tone and colour to create form; creating perspective and elements of composition. This workshop is suitable for both beginners with a passion for plants and for those with some botanical experience.
