EDAM Term 2: Monoprint and Artists Books

 I missed  the first of the 3 sessions  with Claire Hynds  on 'Experiments with hand printing'  as I was up in the Lake District on annual  NWCQ  retreat but as it was monoprinting ( which I've done a lot of)  I was able to take some samples  I'd done previously to the next class which was on artists books. I took along some of the 65 (!) prints  on fabric   at Studio 11 in Eastbourne ( above)  and some on paper from City Lit monoprint course  (below)

Claire started the session  with looking at the history of Artists books  from the early  20th century onwards  including Dada and Surrealism , Kurt Schwitters and Max Ernst ,  Italian Futurism early 'Zines'  and the '26 Gaseline stations' of Ed Ruscha   ( which I'd seen in BM  'American Dream' exhibition)

 She then showed   photos of various  book structures by contemporary  artists  : Alisa Golden  Fishbone fold and Fibonacci ( above)

Jenny Smith laser cut folded books ( above and below)

 Stef Mitchell  ' Field and Hedgerow'  fold out books  ( above and below) 

 Claire  had a number of print outs of instructions for different  structures,   and made photocopies of  our  monoprints /drawings to work with , time to have a go! 

I was pleased  with  nested accordion/ 'slinky book'   folds  and my first attempt  at covering  boards with paper, definately one to explore further. 

Mostly though I experimented with the simple folded one sheet - this one   was made from  failed painting from earlier EDAM  class  based on  photo from Puglia  with  photocopy of the same painting glued to the back. I cut through   in various places inspired by Jenny Smiths books

 The same approach used on another failed painting didn't work so well - the round holes a bit  clunky in comparison  with the slots and lines of the  drawing of the bamboo structure. 

The second  session of making artists  books was a workshop  where we explored ideas further.

I wanted  to have a go at making a ' star tunnel book' following  instructions in my copy of ' cover to cover'  by Shereen Laplantz only to find  it didn't  meet up ! Patti explained that  it would  if  I  added on more paper , it takes a lot more strips than you think ( her  wonderful  version ( below)   showed how it should look like!)   

  I then  tried different variations of   meander accordion sketchbooks ,  folding and cutting 1 sheet of paper.  I particular  like the one I did  using a photocopy of a print from collage class.

 I'd  brought in examples of previous book making including the  sewn ones from Dorothy Caldwell  masterclass  ( above)  and the  ' Australian reverse accordion piano hinge' booklets from Alice Fox workshop  ( and my  subsequent home -steamed drawings ) 

This   cunning   method  of combining simple  1 page book structures  proved popular and I  showed several people how to do it

 It worked particularly well  with  photocopies of my  prints ( 'zine' approach) , exploring  1  structure and letting  the prints speak for themselves. 

CQ Rydal Hall Retreat 2016

Last week on retreat at Rydal Hall  was spent in excellent company with  gentle strolls, sketching and  stitching  fuelled by coffee, 'tray bakes', wine and laughter.  Woke up on the first morning with  snow falling overnight (although it didn't last long). After tearing myself away from the view out my  bedroom window,  went for a walk in the very green woods with lots of piles of wood. Tried a bit of retail therapy in Grasmere but many shops were shut and  the  tins from the gingerbread shop washed away in the floods. There was  a lot of flood damage evident from huge craters in roads, footbridges out of use as too dangerous ( entailing longer detours) and piles of stones where there shouldn't be , washed up by the flood waters. The main road between Grasmere and Keswick is still  out of use.
Another day I walked to Rydal  Water and  drew until my fingers were too cold to hold a pencil - it was a bit more sheltered in the 'Grot' drawing Rydal Falls. I did some watercolours  but have got more into drawing as a result of all the courses I've been doing.
Most of the time though I was stitching and  making small collaged compositions inspired by my strolls and sketches, returning home refreshed in body and spirit.   

Rydal Retreat

 

Last week I was on my 4th annual  retreat with NWCQ in the Lake District, the 3rd at Rydal Hall. Perfect timing a week after leaving Kew for some reflective time painting and stitching with friends in a tranquil, uplifting environment. As in previous years, I'm basing Journal Quilts on my sketches (beginnings of first above) and I was lucky enough to have a room this year looking out to the front  with a glimpse of Windermere in the distance  and remains of snow on the surrounding hills, so I didn't have to venture too far for inspiration!

 

 It took a little time to arrange the tables in the 'Old Kitchen' (conveniently next to the bar) but once established  in our niches, it didn't take long for everyone to pick up  from where we left off last year. It's great to see how varied peoples working methods are and everyone is so generous in sharing.
Several of us had brought 'Gelli' plates with us and I  had a go comparing it with my usual acetate sheet (and got a bit carried away as usual with monoprinting - I even used up all the colour catchers I'd brought with me)

Apart from crossing the courtyard each lunchtime for delicious homemade soups at the  tea shop, I  made only a couple of walking/sketching expeditions.  



 

On my first on Tuesday I was fortunate enough  to be doing my annual sketch of   Rydal Falls from inside the 'Grot' when there was a sudden hail/sleet storm. 5 minutes later the sun was shining again.!



 

 On Wednesday night there was torrential rain  so on Thursday there was about 4 times as much water in the beck ( see difference above ). Further downstream, the river had expanded into the nearby field -it had cleared again by Friday. I wish I'd taken a picture of the bright pink ice-cream van parked on the bridge  next to it, catering for the damp visitors!

Too cold to hang around sketching at Rydal Water this time  but I enjoyed absorbing the view before heading back for hot chocolate.

On Friday afternoon after a visit to the Quaker tapestry in Kendal and collecting sourdough bread from 'Lovingly Artisan' , I was early for my train which was  just as well  because all trains to  and from London  were cancelled because of an earlier broken down freight train at Lockerbie ! After a few minutes panic, advised to  take the train to Manchester airport, and change at Preston where I caught up with the train I was booked on  so all was well. Arriving back at a packed Euston station ( usual Friday night plus extra mayhem with train cancellations) was a bit of a shock after the tranquillity of Rydal.

We've already made a booking for next year  It's such a  supportive, fun group ( and lovely location), we feel so comfortable with each other, it just goes from strength to strength.

 

Retreat : quilts, walks ,sketches, sun and CAKE

I made quite a lot of progress playing with the arrangements of my 2 green door quilts while on retreat last week  as well as some stitching on 3 Journal Quilts  but that stranger the sun was too much of a distraction despite the ice and frost and I spent  more time walking and sketching in the beautiful surroundings.

 Glenthorne last year  was a welcome  break but the house and setting of Rydal Hall were amazing- lovely grounds with sculptures dotted everywhere, many of them textile (more in another post)

 Rydal Falls was literally on the doorstep   and Rydal Water just on the other side of the road.

 

The light in our work room was very good ( and handily situated next to the bar which sold beers from microbreweries) . The food supplied was excellent  as were the cakes which we'd each brought for morning  and afternoon breaks (photo above taken on the first day through the window with 12+ stacked up). Despite a valiant effort, there was still a large spread left at the end of the week which we divided up to take home (below). 



The company too was excellent - a lot of laughs and exchange of ideas while still giving space for personal time, as expressed in this carved plaque  in a quiet spot :
" You must come away to some lonely space all by yourselves and rest for a while"