Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Gary Whiting inkjet print


'Ataatuo Ruahine'
Gary Whiting has printed a series of 10, A4, limited edition prints on his Epsom inkjet printer onto archival, Epsom, matt paper. This local image is called 'Ataatuo Ruahine'

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Traditional Chinese Painting.


After returning from Nanning in China attending Russell and Debra's wedding, I negotiated to have this beautiful painting glued onto a backing sheet of mulbery paper.
This is a traditional way of making the painting stronger. Debra's cousin is a famous traditional painter in her province and lives away from home during the year painting for his agent in Bejing. We are so lucky to have this painting for exhibition in our Homeprint Gallery as he told me he is the only painter from his province with work held in the Chinese National Art gallery!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Fitzherbert - free concert in the Park.


Big cloud, big crowd, big band.

Fitzherbert - free concert in the Park.


'Katchafire' play to a great crowd in the Fitzherbert Park on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Sharon Wright - 'Artist in Residence'


Sharon is carefully laying the second colour, pencil carved, plate onto the first print, with very careful registration.

Sharon Wright - 'Artist in Residence'


The set of test prints from Sharon's positive grained glass transparency. Time is needed to ink up and print with the Akua ink to gain the density and detail required. The ink is softer and needs gentle handling, takes practice! Sharon's results at the end of the Residency were stunning.

Sharon Wright - 'Artist in Residence'


The Homeprint Studio light box in action for Sharon's solarplate exposure.

Sharon Wright - 'Artist in Residence'


A fine set of relief prints using solarplate, Akua Ink, and the yellowXpress 5000, layed out for display.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Youth group from YMCA


Jenn Chapman with her Leader, Oma, brought over 10 students from the Teenage Group 'New Immigrants and Refugees' We created some very cool posters using 100 year old wood type. John emphasised that printmaking is a 500 year old technique and is how printing was done through out the world up until about 1970. 1970 is when the Homeprint collection was started. In this photo the table top Albion press (1872) was used.

Alex and Elie WWOOFers from France


A fine first fish for Elie. I took Alex and Elie out to our favourite fishing spot and much to the excitement of Elie and Alex, Elie hooked up and reeled in a large Kahawai.
We took it home and after the photograph I showed them how to remove the fillets and smoke the backbone. The fish was so nice. We enjoyed 2 full meals for the 4 of us from just that one fish!

Alex and Elie WWOOFers from France


Alex and Elie help students place their galleys holding their poster creations on the press bed.

Alex and Elie WWOOFers from France


Alex and Elie have had their first experience of helping a group of students to set wood type, ink up and print a poster on the flat bed, 180 year old, Imperial Press.
We are now out on the front deck as students sign the visitors book.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Relief Print Press from Homeprint


The A4 lever press is sold with 2 felt blankets and an instruction booklet. The order of operation is to open up the press, place the inked up lino carving in the middle of the bed. Lay a piece of paper on top of the carving. Lay the best number of blankets on top of the paper. Swing the platen over with the lever at about 30 to 35 degrees, and push down on the black cap of the lever. Swing the platen open, peel off the blankets, peel off the lino print!

Relief Print Press from Homeprint


The A4 lever press has been a most popular product for the 11th year now. I made a simple prototype that I used with Primary School children and discovered they liked using it to print their little carvings, ALOT! This was followed by 10 x A4 relief presses with a welded aluminium frame. This was also successful. There was a demand so I created my final design with a cast aluminium frame , plywood bed and platen and steel lever and heavy duty hinges. I have sold over 500 of this press through out New Zealand.