Let's Talk Art Blog

Where do all the words go when I'm painting? I think a lot. And more often than not those thoughts wander around in my brain as words. When I'm in the studio, thinking about what comes next in my process, or the merits of one colour over another, or my next texture for the gel plate, these ideas are always formulated in my mind with words.

My latest work on paper began with a cool colour palette, which I eventually added to with a few warmer colours. This was an interesting sketch as I found several learnings to take away from it.

This Vlog is all about gelli printing onto larger sheets of paper and building up layers to create papers for collage. When I'm looking for papers for collage I love to discover structure within the layers of paint and print, and the stripes created by removing excess paint from the roller onto a 'dump' sheet make a great starting point. I returned to my weeds for this video and took impressions from them in a couple of different ways.

I always feel totally clueless........ in the beginning. But it's really the best way to feel at the start of a painting. And for me, the only way to feel when I'm staring at a blank canvas.

This is a process I've been wanting to try for a while, but I never seemed to find the right moment - until now! Many years ago (I won't tell you how many) I made some prints using the drypoint etching technique where a sharp tool is used to incise marks into a surface which then hold the ink for printing. I loved the results but back then I was using a metal plate and looking back the process felt a little laborious, permanent and costly.

I've spent a few days exploring the printing possibilities offered by a variety of different types of waste packaging. I felt I was about due for a gelli printing session and I've been saving interesting pieces of cardboard and other materials from going straight into the recycling bin; and my pile was growing and growing so I thought it time to have a go!