Learning how to print multi block linocut cats on an etching press..meow meow!

I've been working on a birthday commission of my old colleague's  cats, Tig and Tab. After taking the jump and quitting another non-arty full time job to try progress my art, I was very pleased to get this commission just at the right time.I decided to try out multi-block printing on my etching press, as I've not had chance to do this yet, this was an interesting and challenging experience, so I though I'd share some of the key mistakes/learning points for next time with you.

Cutting the plates

The cutting of the plates was lovely and relaxing as usual whilst listening to women's hour and various dramas on radio 4.

Printing & registration

This is where trouble set in. Things I have learned:

1. Pad out the the front of your block with a scrap strip of lino to help prevent movement and even out the pressure when it goes under the rollers

2. Use something like cardboard with a bit of give and NOT lino to create your jig around the lino block. This helps prevent line marks pressing into your paper.

3. Either carefully pad out your template or just print in 1 direction on the etching press to help reduce movement again. I printed left to right with the following jig:

4. If working in an outdoor brick shed, make sure you get a fan heater so that your inks don't get too stiff and lose the ability to roll out or print evenly.

5. Close the door tightly if working on a gale force wind day..

6. If you decide to use your letterpress black over your linseed oil relief inks because you think that black is much nicer than the other perfectly good relief print black, then mix in a bit of linseed reducing oil to help reduce the stiffness of the letterpress ink. This helps achieve a good even overprinted image. I read somewhere about printing fat over lean so that each layer sticks to the paper properly. Or better still, maybe don't mix different types of ink on top of each other..

7. Take a break if everything seems to be going wrong.

8. Do a happy dance when everything comes together and you get some prints you are pleased with! Yay :)

Happy New Year's Eve to anyone who got this far down too!

My first solo Christmas Craft fairs

I just took part in my first solo craft fairs over the last 2 weeks. I've taken part in shared stalls before which have been well received, and so finally plucked up the courage to brave it on my own. I'm quite a worrier and so had my reservations before the first fair such as worrying about whether I had enough products to sell, worrying that no-one would buy anything, worrying that I would sell out and have an empty looking stall etc. But after lots of frantic making, a heavy husky cold and a huge packed suitcase, I made it to the Hope House Christmas market!

 A happy and blurry me with my stall

It was the perfect venue for stepping out on my own, the atmosphere was really relaxed and Christmassy with live music, lots of really friendly makers and some delicious winter stew and mulled cider. It was hosted upstairs in  a lovely newish venue, The Belgrave in Leeds. I'd not been in the upstairs before and was really surprised at the size of the room. It had a good sized dance floor where our stalls were and a 'proper' stage for the bands. It even had a back relaxed 'sitting room' style area with comfy sofas at the back. I will be definitely be going to a gig there soon.

There was a good flow of visitors and I  was really happy to have sold both of my framed etchings as Christmas gifts. My etchings and linocuts don't seem to sell as well as my books online, but when people see my art in the real, the reaction is so much better. I think I need to work more on my photography so that people have that same interest as they do when they see the work in real life.

My stall

The other fair I attended as the DAC Beachcroft Christmas fair. This was for the staff at a solicitors in Leeds. I was really pleased to have been approached to attend this based on one of the staff seeing my work on Folksy, so people do actually look at my Folksy shop! This fair was much quieter as I think the majority of the office were getting ready for their Christmas party, but I still sold a few items and so it was worth it. I met a lovely chocolatier, Pat from Sugar Violets who saw me salivating over her reindeer lollies and kindly gave me three broken chocolate lollies! They were delicious, she is a very talented lady who makes all her chocolate by hand.

Tasty choc lollies from Sugar Violets 

(bad photo taken on my tablet, I was too eager to eat them!)

Overall, I has a great time meeting customers and seeing their reactions to my products in the real. I've learnt a lot and am now planning to create a series of mountainous etchings to complement my etching of Scafell Pike. Looking forward to getting my boots on and climbing a few more hills.

Scafell Pike, original etching on Somerset satin paper.

21.5 x 26.5cm © Laura Long 2013