A great start to my week when I bought a second hand Rollaco "Classic" etching press, something I've been hunting for over a long period of time. It is in "as new" condition, even the blankets and is a good size at 18" x 36" - it is 14 years old after all.  About 46 x 92 cm in modern measuring. Nice colour too!
I'm looking forward to being able to print my Collagraphs at home and to get back to etching - on top of my lino prints! Where exactly I am going to find the time I haven't worked out yet...
 
Despite its difficulties I persevered with my large Collagraph.  I have done a good deal of  work with the Lascaux products, but all on a fairly small scale and they have been pretty successful. I like the idea of being able to just paint the products onto a support - metal plate, MDF or thick card/mountboard - then ink them up like an etching and print them with the aid of an etching press onto damp paper. This all sounds too easy really. The problems arise in that you never quite know how the plate will print until you try. Basically Gesso or Pastelground which appear white on the support will print as black and Stop out which appears blue will print white.  It takes a good deal of adjustment to get the tones you want by watering down either to produce a grey. Soft ground is very good for impressing textures onto the plate and gives good results if you leave it for 12 -15 minute to get tacky.  The other BIG variable is in the wiping before printing.  It is very easy to wipe too much, or indeed too little ink off the plate, leading to disaster.  Another of those things you only learn with plenty of experience.
I would certainly recommend trying these products, but don't give up if prints are disappointing to start with. The plate will be savable with more work. Persevere...
 
A busy time recently with FDPWs exhibition at the Scottish Art Club in Edinburgh and preparing for another exhibition in the Rothes Hall, Glenrothes at the start of April. I also did a Mangle Printing day for Kirkcaldy Art Club at the end of February. I do enjoy introducing people to the joys of Printmaking and we covered Collagraphs and Lino in the course of the day. Great enthusiasm and some lovely work produced.
 I've been doing more Collagraphs with the Lascaux products, including a large version of my "Hats". Just at the proofing stage at the moment, three tries so far, with the last providing a major problem as the surface came off in several places - something which has never happened before. So I'm at the restoring stage before I've even got a decent print! Not good. The illustration is of the first proof...
I have also been working  etching Lino with Caustic soda. Two semi-abstracted figures each printed from two blocks - one printed in yellow, the other in red. I still plan to add a third layer in blue. I particularly like the soft edges and marks the Caustic soda can provide.
Next on my agenda is doing another Beginners Printmaking course for FDPW. This year it takes place over two Saturdays, the 19th and 26th March., covering Monoprints and Relief printing. Looking forward to it!