“ That moment, when painting and printmaking fused. . .”
Almost exactly one year ago I sat down to write a grant application to the Arts Council of Wales. This week I framed the last piece of work, ready for exhibition.
On October 8th 2020, after nearly 12 months of planning, my show will open at the Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy. There will be no private view for the event, but as they say, “The show must go on.”
My Arts Council award gave me an opportunity to learn a specific type of printmaking; carborundum multi-block printing, with tuition from printmaker John Hedley RCA.
Carborundum is silicon carbide grit, which, when mixed into a fine paste and applied to a printing plate, is extremely durable. Several of these plates combined, inked and then pressed produce one print.
The title “Re-Working the Landscape” stems from my primary investigations with this printing process. I was able to apply my painting style to the work, but in addition, I found that the technique was influencing my approach to painting; I was therefore inspired to “re-paint” the landscape afresh. I was enthused by how the two disciplines fused together. This RCA show is a demonstration of how one main idea can translate across various media.
For me, the real shame is that Covid-19 put an end to the print side of my project just as it had begun to lead me down an enchanted path. Days before lock down, I had an ‘eureka moment’ and finally figured out how to create the desired atmosphere through my mark-making in print. The eureka moment piece is titled ‘Memory in Prussian Blue’ and I produced just five prints. My hope is to return to that inspired moment as soon as I am able to; that moment when painting and printmaking fused to physically demonstrate internal ideas and emotions.
The show runs from October 8th, through to November 7th at the Royal Cambrian Academy and combines prints, works on paper and paintings. All work can be viewed on the Royal Cambrian Academy website www.rcaconwy.org.
The gallery staff have done a superb job to make a socially distant, safe space for those who wish to visit. The gallery is currently open each Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11-4pm.
