Pearl Platen. Boston, USA. 1906

This lovely treadle platen press is in very regular use in the Homeprint Studio. It is big enough to print up to A4 paper. Hans has got his hands on it and it is now spectacularly clean. The three rubber rollers are driven by a foot treadle, when you have been trained and it can produce 2000 copies in an hour. However for most people a quiet turn of the big fly wheel is enough power to print an excellent  copy with safety. I am always on the look out for an ink duct (fits on the top) but  a teaspoon of ink spread out on the plate will produce at least 100 fine prints.

Balloon Festival in Carterton.

 The enormous balloon that is the patriot preparing to lift off and take part in the early morning competition.

 The 21 other hot air balloons have left the park and are floating gently above the town while the Patriot rushes to fill with air and join in the fun.

At last the big bopper has lift off and will drift over to the other craft.

Hans Muhlethaler, printmaker from Switzerland.

 Hans lays the Incisione paper into the water bath. We use a shower timer and give the 350 gsm paper 1 minute and 30 seconds soak time.

 Hold the sheet by the corner and let the excess water drip off. A little shake then lay the paper on the drying stack.

Once all the sheets have been wet and each one separated by blotting paper a clean sheet of Perspex is laid on top to provide a flat surface and weight to keep the sheets from curling.

Hans Muhlethaler, retired printer from Switzerland.

 Hans is a tireless worker and loves his printing. I asked Hans to experiment with a new product I have sourced from the building and sign industry. Its a polystyrene derivative that is light weight, easy to carve and print. Hans has had a lifetime career in the printing industry in both New Zealand and Switzerland. Now its time to have fun in his retirement and learn and practice more techniques in

printmaking. Hans is famous in his home town where he shares his joy of art in general and printmaking in particular with his community. He has been responsible for the exhibition of some very fine art exhibitions in his town.  

 The examples here are 2 dry point examples and a carving. The dry points have been inked up using a dolly and the carving inked up with a roller.

These prints show a range of experiments with colour, backgrounds and dry point prints over the top.

Jude Macklin working the proof press

Jude made a great job of setting her type and running prints off the galley proof press.

Jude Macklin (printmaking tutor at Aberystwyth University, Wales) working the Imperial.

Jude Macklin, a printmaking tutor from Aberystwyth, Wales working on the Imperial to print pages for her artist book. Jude and her husband Mark are on a 10 week stay in Wanganui. Jude has been creating an artist book, learning solarplate, letterpress and bookbinding with John at the Homeprint Studio. Meanwhile Mark is engaged with his  .2 position at Massey University.