I have been wanting to tell you about a brand new screenprint that I finally finished at the weekend. But to see it you’ll have to sign up to my mailing list as special subscribers get the latest stuff. :)
It took three days over March under the watch of the inimitable Giuseppe D’Innella, who has been making screenprints in his home attic studio for nearly a decade. In 2009 fresh off the plane from Sydney, I found a studio in Wimbledon where I met Giuseppe. We bonded over our love of Australia, painting and colour.
Giuseppe in his studio
The best thing about being in a studio, apart from the dedicated space to create and make mess is the established community of artists. The conversations with other studio artists have pulled me out of creative ruts, led to new work developments and sharing skills. Giuseppe has been one of my biggest champions in all these ways. Once he suggested he could help me make a screenprint and then, how about I make a video about how to make a screenprint. It wasn’t a question if? It was a question of when? The whole handmade process is a lot more laborious than the final prints look. This is the video I made starring Giuseppe on the first screenprint we made together.
How to make a Screenprint 4 min video
Road to Nowhere, 2017 1 colour screenprint with watercolour 39x56cm Unique edition of 25
Giuseppe has helped me make three screenprints editions over the years and the one that we just completed is the most ambitious yet. Before we got cracking Giuseppe said: ‘Come prepared with ideas but don’t make it too complicated’. I didn’t exactly follow the brief and we had to simplify my original idea significantly but we survived - just!
The new screen print Always a Welcome at Fortes combines seven colours and is my largest yet. It took three days to print. The inspiration is derived from a particular gem in my vintage postcard stash. The postcard was from my maternal grandfather Cameron (who I never met as he was born in the 1890s!) to my wonderful Auntie Jan whilst she was at school written in the historic summer of 1966. It is an odd and somewhat surreal image of the newly completed and empty M6 Motorway. “We are on our way to Scotland. Had a lovely run on the Motorway from Wolverhampton to Carnforth. Now we have found a Room at Bowness. Very nice Hotel & if fine shall go on to Scotland tomorrow. Have seen the steam on the Lake. We came down a Beautiful Valley - called the Little Valley to Bowness. Hope you are well & Love from us both, Dad & Mother”. They were going up to Edinburgh to see my mum at university. I love Cameron’s use of captial letters mid sentence. I also like how they find a room without booking and their casual weather dependent decision on whether they will travel the next day. So different to how we operate today always in a rush!
1966 postcard from my grandad to my auntie
And in other news, I have 2 exhibitions coming up. One in Sheffield opening at Fronteer Gallery on Sat 5th April 4-6pm and the other in Kent at Auto Amor. The opening party is on Sat 12th April 1-3pm. More details below.
And one of my Scuzzy Landscapes paintings has been shortlisted for the Royal Academy’s Summer exhibition so fingers crossed it will get the second selection statge.