Exhibition preparation

Firstly, spare my spelling - it is 4.45am of an Easter Sunday and I suppose the low-lying stress levels will do this to a tired mind & body from time-to-time. In other words, I can't sleep, so thought I'd make the most of the time, by updating the blog, and watching the cat eat a very large black spider... saved me having to get a pot, cardboard over the top to chuck it out the window (the spider, not the cat).

Pic above is the invite that we emaield around for the exhibition. Really pleased with it. Didn't have a huge amount of time to spend on it, but it just came together quite quickly. It was a happy day of things coming together, including receiving notice that my press release hadn't just been lost in the ether, but had in fact landed in at least one press inbox. Hopefully I'll have a few media snippets to share with over the coming weeks.

Ah, the frames, the frames! My wonderful framer delivered my frames to me on Thursday. They are so beautifully made (he's a carpenter/joiner by trade) - very very pleased. Can (sort of) relax now... ha! Anyway, all the printing is done (may decide to do one further print - will certainly carve up the lino and see how we get on) but all in all, I have more prints then I had set out to do in the short space I had (was only asked to do the exhibition at beginning of March), and whilst the Gallery is a large space (nervous nervous), I think I should be ok.. watch this space!

The makings of a new stall and other stuff!

Slightly better day at Designer Mart yesterday, simply because I was able to move stall. Wind still an issue for first 2 stalls by Exchange Dublin. There were lots of crashing sounds coming from Laura Cassidy's stand, but thankfully none of her beautiful range was damaged. As for The Printing Rooms, the newest and smallest range are trickling in. Available framed and un-framed, they measure just 9cm x 4.5cm... almost needed a tweezer to get these printing. Have a look at my favourite, 'Floating'. This was done trialing a new printing method, using a metallic pigment. The plate was first printed with the base colour, then then the pigment was placed over the ink, re-rolled, then rolled through the press. An extender was mixed with the ink to give it a more translucent look. Delighted with the result, as wanted to have an ethereal/underwater feel, and think/hope that's been achieved.

Now, onto the Designer Mart stall. Trying to keep it creative and that over-used word, organic, by adding and trialling new areas/pieces over the coming weeks, and hopefully we'll have it sussed by the Summer months. Yesterday, I added a line extending inwards towards the stand, and, aptly hung the 'Flutterbyebye' range of prints. Next week will do the same on the other side of the stand. Trying to create a sort of symmetry, but it's trial&error, what with the perils of outdoor markets...bunting is on the horizon, but is currently a little dot. Hoping that once the madness of the exhibition has died down (5th May opening, pop it in the diary), that can be something fun to try.. or frustrating, depending. 

Finally, introducing the newest addition to the 'Mini' range of prints: 'Twit Twooh, an edition of 30, first 10 done in a fawn/gold colour, and further colours to be introduced over the following few weeks. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, as will certainly be posting the newest colours up once complete. and once all 30 are printed, they will be ready for the website. One is already 'winging' (sorry, that was terrible) it's way back to Australia with a happy holiday purchase from Designer Mart!

General Update.. and a bit of a moan!

Started updating the blog last night, after a rotten day at Designer Mart (well?! it's true, it was) ; was trying to notch it down as a bad day at the office. Waking up on a day like today, all the negativity is gone. All we can push for is fairer placements for next week, and that we can all relax a bit. Moan over!

Exhibition preparation is well under way. Prints are with our fantastic framer, and we may decide to include a few more small prints, but the focus over the next few weeks will be making new work for Designer Mart and our website. We'll be printing up some new minis, and will include a range of framed mini-minis (might have to re-think that title!), so hoping for lots of interests and lots of sales!

Watch this space... or rather, keep watching this space. Will be posting a brief update tomorrow on our bounty of treasures!

EXHIBITION PREPARATION

We're moving ever closer to the opening of the exhibition  on 5th May, 'Lino I Know', so we thought we'd give you a brief update on the work that's been keeping us so busy.

Drawn plates

When Fán was asked to give a solo exhibition by Temple Bar Cultural Trust she agreed to it despite the tight timescales (asked at end of February, which isn't a huge amount of time to prepare, given that framing normally take upwards of 3-4 weeks).

Printing-lots of it

She began working on several new pieces immediately, and without wanting to give too much away, here are the drawn plates for the first piece completed.


The planning stage took over a week for this piece, the cutting another 10 days, and the printing seemed to go on forever. In total this took just over a month. We've included a picture to show you just some of the prints made in any give day - tired just looking!

Preparing the image

The next prints to made (yet to be printed) are the A3's, The Printing Rooms biggest prints so far. They have taken time, patience, some tears/tantrums, quite a bit of feet-stamping, and just a little bit of avoidance and a find-other-things-to-do-that-are-really-important... like washing-up, always loved washing up. In all, just to prepare to draw, these have taken 3 weeks - there are 3 in total. Here's part of the planning stage, just mapping out where each piece and part of the finished print should go.

cutting of plates, stage 1

Once the research and drawing stage was complete, was time transfer onto the lino plates, ready for cutting. A few days tweaking later, the drawings were on the plate, in reverse and ready for cutting. Cutting stage 1, about 3 days; re-drawing areas and cutting again, another 2. Several neurofen later, the plates are (almost) ready to print. And, ah, the printing part if another difficulty, as new inks had to be ordered, as well as some beautiful Velin d'Arches (a gorgeous rough 200gsm paper) for the actual printing, which has taken time to source and order and delivery.


So, wish her luck, printing starts tomorrow and we'll keep you all updated with progress and with exhibition imformation.