Material Thinking: The Poetics of Process

This is an edited version of the original post due to broken links and technical issues with the photographs. Where possible I have tried to reload photographs. Some text and  photographs have been removed

Although a couple of weeks ago now I had the pleasure of another Fibre Arts workshop, this time  with Dr Glen Skien. You can read more about him here.  This workshop was on printmaking using traditional printmaking methods, monoprint techniques combined with collage and photographic transfer. 

Simple monoprints using watercolour, I think I must have been inspired by my morning walk around the lake.

We made these two simple book constructions as an easy way to ease into the class. A bound book with a slip cover and a simple concertina.

Then into an exploration of printmaking techniques

Dry point etching 

Photographic transfer

Simple concertina fold with raven prints

Another version of a concertina fold, this to make a spine and cover for a collection of individual prints 

 monoprint watercolour

The plate after the print

Photocopy of the original collage used as inspiration for the watercolour print and also for photographic transfer (below)

Using silhouettes for monoprinting using positive and negative space with collage elements

The monoprints

It is not just about the serious business of the class. Sometimes you have to give in to an indulgence or two, early breakfast after a morning walk. I wouldn’t normally have a donut for breakfast but just made and still warm, I couldn’t resist!

And of course you must enter into the fun and games, luckily I have a collection of fascinations and headpieces for the party night

‘I Want My Dinner’ a baby raven print  postcard that I made and donated to the auction of class work.

And a little random weave basket that I made with some willow that I found on one of my morning walks around the lake.

Are You Book Enough Challenge 2020, October Theme - Child

Two responses for this theme. The first, Go Outside and PLAY. 

Coming from a large family and growing up in the sixties this was a common refrain in our house.

Made from a repurposed children’s board book, covered with vintage Enid Gilchrist sewing patterns and Paton knitting patterns for children.

These patterns were widely used in the 50’s and 60’s. The additional collage elements of children at play were photocopied from reproduction fabric. I have been collecting/ storing these for many years and decided it was time to use them.

A few of the pages

The second, Nappy Bag. Every parent would be familiar with this essential item. This little book is a small scale representation of book that unfolds to make a change mat, complete with a nappy pocket containing wipes, cream,  and a stack of nappies.

The elastic fastening slips off  and the book opens out.

The pocket folds down and the strap holding the nappies in can be folded back and nappies removed.

A stack of nappies of folded nappies. 

Papers used in the project were repurposed wrappers from toilet rolls made by Who Gives a Crap.

Are You Book Enough Challenge 2020 - September Theme, Weathered

My grandson Oscar and I have patiently waited for our finds to decay. A possum and a bird that we found on one of our walks, gathered up and carried to the railway line at the end of the street. It became part of our daily ritual to walk down to the railway line and look to see what was happening. Eventually, we had bones and a skeleton. I thought this a fitting interpretation for the challenge of Weathered.

A Book of Old Bones.

A simple signature style book with the signatures ‘fat’ enough to contain the bones without squashing them. The cardboard pages are easy for little fingers to turn.

Old bones stitched to black card and mounted onto old cardboard.

Possum skull

The tail

Some of the spine

Hands and claws

Bird leg