Printmaking is an artform that is centuries old. While many of the processes and techniques in use today are true to their traditional forebears, in the most skilful and imaginative hands, their creative potential is seemingly limitless.
If that sounds intriguing, then let us introduce you to the Citizens of Print Land, a collective of nine artists from the South West, whose work demonstrates all the ingenuity, diversity and sheer magic of contemporary printmaking.
Take a journey with us
Look Up! A Journey Through Print Land is our final exhibition of 2022 ending the year on a true high, following on from the success of the multi-disciplinary Flight: An exhibition of Birds to this experience with the focus on the genre of print.
We will be showcasing the works of the Citizens of Print Land, whose passion for traditional printmaking techniques including wood engraving, linocut and screenprint, has led to the creation of varied and striking works, capturing the beauty of the landscape – coastal, urban and countryside – in our part of the world.
With an emphasis on exploration, curiosity and experimentation within their respective practices, these artists push the boundaries of printmaking, including with a number of ‘sculptural interventions’, where printmaking has outgrown its usual two-dimensional format to literally leap from the page.
Prepare to have your eyes bathed in colours, textures, and pattern, but above all else be ready to pause and Look Up to see the world you know in a new way. As the title suggests, this exhibition invites you to escape your smartphones and Zoom calls and inhabit a space where the only thing on the to do list is to slow down and notice.
Get hands on
The long-practiced printmaking processes are, by their nature, hands-on, engrossing, and, as any one of the Citizens of Print Land will tell you- completely addictive!
Creating a matrix on a humble piece of linoleum, wood, metal or glass, inking it and transferring it to the desired surface, with all the uncertainty and serendipity that entails, then seeing that instant image leap into life is mesmerising to watch – and even better to do!
So, we’re delighted to be welcoming the artists to lead a series of workshops throughout the exhibition so gallery visitors can try some of the printmaking processes, and experience for themselves the joys of printmaking.
Keep an eye on the gallery website https://www.gallerybythelakes.co.uk/exhibitions/14-look-up-a-journey-through-print-land-its-time-to-get-outdoors-and-take-a/overview/) for all the details of the workshops, and in the meantime make sure you get the Meet the Artists event on November 12 in the diary. We will be hosting this informal session from 2pm, where there will be opportunities to ask exhibiting artists about their creative processes.
A little about the artists
This collective comprises some well-known and talented individuals:
Those who follow television’s Watercolour Challenge will be familiar with Lisa Takahashi, a judge and mentor on the show, who will be showing several pieces, including Breeze, which was selected for this year’s Royal Academy of Arts’ summer exhibition.
Jane Chapman is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and author with a passion for printmaking, favouring the one-off techniques of reduction lino print and monoprint.
Colin Moore uses a multi-block linocut technique to create vibrant landscapes, especially coastal scenes.
Formerly a commercial illustrator, Jason Pizzey creates strong geometric designs from his Dorset studio.
Noah Warnes has developed the technique of reverse engineering his plein air paintings into prints, staying faithful to the colours and shapes that he carefully observes from life.
Paul Cleden, creates linocut prints full of flowing lines and dramatic overlays of colour, to depict figurative movement of all forms.
Rebecca Drury creates colourful landscapes inspired by the Dorset coast and countryside using the reduction print method, alongside her illustrative monochrome lino prints.
Rebecca Guyett has developed her own screenprinting techniques, overlaying multiple colours to create painterly effects.
Robin Mackenzie’s unique wood engraving and linocuts depict changing weather and light on landscapes with a perfectionists eye for detail.
All are showing at Look Up! A Journey Through Print Land at Gallery by the Lakes from November 5.
Entry to the gallery is, as always, completely free.