Friday, 18 September 2015

Muogamarra in the Spring

Here is a selection of wildflowers at this national park, not far
from where I live.

It is only open for 6 weekends a year in Spring. Nearby is Pie
In The Sky cafe, convenient for coffee.

Way too busy there, queues of people, a Bikie haven, so off to
Cowan general store for an ice cream and our quiet lookout all
to ourselves.









 Scribbly gum bark.



Great vistas at the park, and below an interesting rock feature. 
The stone plate has a hole right through it, big drop.




 To finish, a break at the lookout at Cowan.

Exhibition looms

This is another week, another batch of printmaking flurry.
Last week as we go off on school holiday break for a fortnight.

Prints to ponder, finishing off, selection, titles, prices, framing,
a bit of last minute pressure.

 While I could grab people, amongst all the activity, to contribute to a newsletter 
for June, a foundation member of nearly 4 years. She may find it difficult to 
return for a while, due to health issues, so we sent some of our shared experiences. 
Maybe she can come to our opening of the show at the library.

 Monoprints with leftover ink, cheerful messages from members.

 Pockets for special pieces, interesting and different papers.

 The story page of our group.


 Some of Vivienne's work, above and below.


 Marianne's Jenolan rock formations.

 Caroline's sketches and prints of fern fronds.

 Studying results from the press. John and Marianne.

 Inky roller.

 Mikaela hard at work. Studies of fellow commuters to be immortalised in drypoint.

 Very important staple - morning tea cake, warm from the oven, home-baked goods.

 Love our studio's door knob, have put this in my artwork before.

 The balcony that runs from our studio, looking over the giant Lilly Pilly.

 Rustic elegance of an old fireplace and mantle.

 Mechanical marvel, our press.

The little sign that leads into the room.


Saturday, 12 September 2015

Press Gang day

Here is a page of Press Gang activity, we are gearing up for our
next exhibition.

 The front desk where John holds fort, good reference books on printmaking, 
the roll, maybe examples of various print methods.

 Interesting ink colours being prepared in readiness for collagraphs.



 Caroline's framed mixed media and collaged works, incorporating some woodblock and stitching.

 The press where magic happens, we wait with baited breath to see the results revealed.


 Our sink, painters have been here before us.

 My pile of prints, decisions to be made, a tree or not a tree (to be added)?

 Helen hand carving vinyl.

 2 different collagraph plates, mine and Cecily's, showing shapes and textures.


 Inking up Vivienne's collagraph plate, native fauna.

 Berri's reduction linocut. Showing the various stages and results. 



 A good mottled effect in the centre of this flower.

 John displays the results of Cecily's fish print.

 Very experimental, pre-washed paper with food dyes used as you would 
watercolour,then overprinted with a drypoint. I'm very happy with this, 
thanks John for choosing the right positioning of the landscape.

 The drying racks filling after a productive day. Berri suggested this shot.

Rather than wasting this lovely shade of blue ink, Berri 
attempts a monoprint using a spoon as a barren  tool.