Hello all!
Over the next two months, I would like to share the ins and outs of Fine Art Printmaking Shop-Life. In this particular writing, I am going to address what New Grounds Printmaking Workshop is, my role here, and what has been done over the past two weeks. The future posts will keep you up to date on what I learn and the day to day life of printing.
Here are pictures of the beautiful Albuquerque aka ABQ
WHAT IS NEW GROUNDS ? "New Grounds was one of the first, if not the first, completely non-toxic professional print workshops in the world. In business for more than 20 years, it is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to providing artists with press access, classes, exhibition opportunities and other printmaking related services. " more can be found here
Main Studio sporting Takach machinery
AKUA INKS- Water Based Inks.
WHATS MY ROLE AT NEW GROUNDS ? I'm an Intern! Which includes doing everything. I clean, open up the business during business hours, participate in workshops, help teach workshops, research, and use the facilities for my own art. In two weeks, I've done all of these things. Its fast paced and there is a strong learning curve and I LOVE IT.
Surprise!
Another intern! Her name is Holland and she is a very talented printmaker! Here is a picture of her in her natural habitat: hiking.
WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS? Upon arriving I was oriented on the workings of the shop, got my keys, and mopped the floors all in the same day.
3 days later the Monotype workshop began.
What's a Monotype? It's a way to use painterly techniques to create a unique, one-time-only, print on paper.
Below are some shots of our workshop and subsequent prints.
Monotype by Edgar Degas
Holland and I worked for days after the workshop practicing and processing Monotypes. The consensus between us at first was that we would much rather be creating etchings.
iceland landscape
However after several days of creating the painterly prints, I became excited about the prospects of combining monotypes with etchings. It's a beautiful way to add color to the delicate line-work etching enables. I plan on creating an etching of the details of this landscape to complete it.
The next post will discuss Photo Gravure on polymer plates - a process entirely new to me as well.
- Hillary