We are delighted to have Sue Brown joining us for her signature workshop next Autumn! We asked Sue to tell us about her work and processes:

I am Sue Brown and have been an artist/printmaker for nearly 20 years. I live and work in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and drive a 2CV.

What kind of printmaking do you do?

My specialism is Collagraph printmaking. Collagraph is an intaglio printmaking process which involves making a collage combining DIY filla, carborundum
and found textures. The technique produces prints with deeply textural surfaces.

How and where did you learn to print?

I learnt to do etching in the early 80’s when I studied for a fine art degree at Bristol Polytechnic. It was when I returned to teaching adults art in
a college of Further education after having 3 children that I discovered collagraph. I was checking out art departments after a career break of 10
years and discovered collagraphs being made at the local Stiener school, I introduced the technique to my adult learners and have been a technique
magpie ever since. I continually add new processes, materials and ideas to this flexible way of printmaking. In 2012 I graduated with a Multi Disciplinary
Printmaking MA from the University of the West Of England (Bristol Poly with another name).

Why printing?

I love the stages of plate making, inking and printing. I am a hands on sort of person and I enjoy the practical problem solving that only printmaking
offers me.

Where do you work?

I used to have a studio in the cellar of my house, then moved it into a posh garden shed. 2 years ago I took the step of renting a studio with a teaching
space just up the road from where I live. I can still get there in my pajamas but only in the dark so the neighbors don’t see.

Describe a typical day in your studio.

I would love to say there is a typical day, but in reality it varies unless I have a teaching day. If I am plate making or editioning I will start early,
lots of coffee will be involved and radio 4 will always be on.

How long have you been printmaking?

Professionally I have been printmaking for nearly 20 years, but I have been working on and off since art college in 1979.

What inspires you?

All things ornithological.

What products do you use? What product/tool could you not be without?

At the moment I love Hawthorn inks, their metallic inks are gorgeous. I cannot live without my Art Equipment press, I was able to buy it 20 years ago by
cashing in an insurance policy.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

A full sized collagraph of an Ostrich. Printed at the Cheltenham Ladies College who have a press the size of a double bed.

Where can we see your work? Where do you sell?

The last 2 years I have been fortunate enough to have been asked to demonstrate in the printmaking tent at Art in Action, Oxfordshire. My work can be seen
in several galleries around the country from Much Wenlock to Bristol, Lancaster to Godalming. This autumn I have had 2 collagraphs selected for the
RWA’s 164 Annual Open Exhibition in Bristol.

What will we be seeing from you next?

I am planning to explore birds perching on heads and create a series of textural pieces using polyfilla and carborundum. It is Cheltenham Open Studios
in 2017 and I want a new body of work that might surprise.

Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?

I like the advice novelist Neil Gaiman gives to creatives: There are 3 things that make a good artist, being on time, making good work and being nice…but
you do not have to be all 3 at the same time. If you are late, but are nice and make good work you will be forgiven. If you are on time and make good
work you will be forgiven for being a bit hard to deal with. If you are on time and nice to deal with they will still like your work even if it is
not so good.

I maintain however, above all do good work, keep doing good work, you get no where without the work!!

To see more of Sue’s work, visit her website or The Yard Art Space. You can also keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here for more information about Sue Brown’s
Mixed Media Sketch Book Techniques Workshop at Handprinted.

We’ve had such a brilliant year in the Handprinted Studio! We have enjoyed seeing our customers get stuck into a huge variety of techniques both in our
packed workshops programme and during our open access days.

As well as Shirley and Holly teaching workshops every week we’ve been lucky enough to have guest tutors such as Ian Phillips, Polly Finch, David Peduzzi,
Karin Moorhouse and Laura Boswell visiting to teach workshops and give talks on their specialties. We’ve covered screen printing, linocut, woodcut,
thermofax printing, collagraph, drypoint etching, natural dyeing, procion dyeing, devore, batik, stamping, block printing onto fabric, lampshade making,
monoprinting, transfer printing, Indian block printing, t-shirt printing, shibori, Japanese woodblock and more!

Have a look through our snapshot showing just a sample of the amazing work made this year in our Handprinted Workshops:

Our 2017 Workshops kick off on 13th January with our Cardcut Collagraph Fab Friday. We’ve already got Nick Morley,
Ian Phillips, Polly Finch and Sue Brown booked in to teach specialty workshops and we’re working on getting even more guest tutors. Check our Workshops page for the latest programme or contact us for more
information on workshops, custom group sessions, one to one lessons and open access studio facilities.

Thank you to all our lovely customers that have joined us in the studio this year. We have loved having you and look forward to welcoming you back along
with lots of newcomers in the new year!

We’ve had some amazing artists featured on our blog this year. They’ve opened up to us about their working practice, favourite materials and given their
best piece of advice. If you’ve missed any of this year’s Meet the Maker posts, scroll through this list for a catch-up of inspiration!

Gnarly Tree – screen printed ethical clothing

Sophia and Matt – Brighton based textile design

Jenny McCabe – nature inspired printmaking

Laura Boswell – traditional Japanese woodcut

Amy Laws – screen printed clothing

Sarah Waterhouse – fabric design and screen printing

Ian Phillips – linocut landscapes

Lizzie Mabley – nature inspired printmaking and textile
design

Paul Davis – linocut

Anna’s Drawing Room – printmaking and works on textiles

Holly Newnham – printmaking and batik

Kat Lendacka – relief printmaking and works on textiles

Will Dyke – relief printmaking

Karen Lewis – screen printing, textile design and quilting

Jonna Saarinen – screen printing and textile design

Drusilla Cole – relief printmaking

Hannah Madden – relief printing and textile design

Nick Morley – linocut

Karin Moorhouse – painting, drawing and monotype printmaking

Flora Arbuthnott – printmaking, natural dying and
foraging

Polly Finch – intricate papercutting

Lisa Hooper – nature inspired relief printing

Keep your eyes peeled for lots more Meet the Makers and blog projects coming in 2017!

Step-by-step instructions guide you through the techniques such as ‘how to make two-colour prints’ pictured below:

The book is packed with visual inspiration for your own stamping projects

…even printing onto food!

For the chance to win a copy of Rubber Stamping by Stephen Fowler. (This giveaway has now closed).

Can’t wait? You can buy a copy instead here and get stamping straight away.

I’m a full time artist/printmaker living in South West Scotland. I moved to Port William in 2006 following redundancy to pursue an ambition to make a living
from art. I was very interested in natural history and I particularly liked wildlife art, so I set out to make prints of the local landscape and wildlife.

Describe your process.

Because I use a wide variety of print media I start the design process by deciding what sort of print to make. Each medium has its strengths and weaknesses
which can help with this decision.

Two years ago I was fortunate enough to acquire a Columbian relief printing press which means that I can print in multiple passes and keep work in register.
Since then I have become fascinated by reduction linocut.

I start the design by assembling a number of my own photos which are like a sketchbook to me. I use these to create an imaginative design which is typically
very far removed from the photographic images.I simplify and rearrange elements repeatedly until I have a pleasing design. Typically this will be a
group of birds or a landscape.

When I am happy with the drawing I use carbon and tracing paper to reverse it onto the plate before beginning to plan the colour printing sequence.

How and where did you learn to print?

I retained an amateur interest in art during the years when I was working as a civil servant and in 1991 I started to attend evening classes in etching
in Cheltenham.I did two terms a year for more than ten years and in 1998 I bought an etching press.

Following redundancy, when I started to assemble my studio in Scotland, I ran into some technical difficulties in setting up an etching workshop, so I
began to explore other types of printmaking starting with wood and linocuts. I then taught myself how to make collagraphs and monotypes. And finally,
I solved the etching problem and resumed that too!

Why printing?

I am attracted to the surface qualities of prints which are quite unique and difficult to replicate with paint. In particular I like flat areas of colour
and increasingly enjoy using these (rather than lines) to define images in my linocuts. 

Where do you work?

I work in a room in the house which I converted into a studio when we moved in nearly eleven years ago. It is the largest room in the house (also the coldest!)
and now contains two presses as well as quite a wide variety of printmaking tools and materials.

Describe a typical day in your studio.

I don’t have to walk to work so I do try to clear my head and get some exercise by walking along the beach to the edge of the village before I settle down
to work. During the summer I find I have very little time to be creative as I do my own framing and am also quite preoccupied with supplying galleries
and exhibitions. But in the winter I light the stove and settle down to a day of drawing or cutting or printing.I must admit it feels like an immense
privilege! I listen to Radio 4 or music depending on my mood and I work right through the day, usually on one piece at a time.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by nature, especially birds, and by the landscape of Scotland. One of the reasons we chose to move to this very remote part of Scotland is
its natural beauty and bird-life.

I also think it’s important to look at work by other printmakers and I particularly enjoy printmakers of the early 20^th Century such as Edward
Bawden and Cyril Power. I also enjoy contemporary wildlife art.

What is your favourite printmaking product?

My favourite printmaking product (apart from my Columbian Press of course!) would have to be those Ternes Burton registration pins and tabs which after 10 years of frustration have completely changed my approach to printmaking.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of a print I made of Hooded Crows in 2015 which somehow achieved what I wanted it to.It has a pleasing simplicity and flatness but it also
tells you all about Hoodies.

Where can we see your work? Where do you sell and teach?

My work is available online and at galleries in various places (listed on my website) throughout the UK. I also exhibit at the British Birdwatching Fair annually and in other temporary exhibitions and
events. I have quite an active Facebook presence (Lisa Hooper- Hoopoe Prints).
I teach printmaking in small workshops from home during the winter months and I have just published my second book on printmaking (very much a “How
to” guide, called Printing Wildlife. That book is available in hardback and paperback (price £20 and £15 respectively) from my website and
from booksellers on and offline. My earlier book First Impressions, which is a little bit more discursive and autobiographical, is also still
available, (price £38).

What will we be seeing from you next?

I have been experimenting with the use of cardboard and children’s foam sheets for printing colour behind a linocut or woodcut. The Shovellers above were
printed using a cardboard plate with the ducks cut out for the water, a cardboard plate with foam pieces stuck onto it for the colours in the birds’
plumage and a single lino plate inked with a dabber and rollers for all the rest.

Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?

Try to keep being experimental and moving on. Sometimes it can be hard to be playful because of the fear of failure, but don’t let this cramp your style.

To see more of Lisa’s work visit her website or facebook page.

Printing your own wrapping paper is an easy way to add a personal touch to presents. We know you’re all really busy this time of year so we’ve got four
quick ways of creating lovely wrapping papers. Why not get children involved too?

Thermofax Printing

Start with a black pen drawing or image. Have a festive doodle yourself or hand the kids a black felt tip. This is a good opportunity to add a personal
message or your name as proof that yes, you did in fact make it yourself!

Scan in your drawing and make sure it fits into the thermofax templates on the website. It can help to print out the template first and draw your design in the middle. Send us your
design and we will send your Custom Thermofax back to you!

Use Acrylic Screen Printing Ink and a Thermofax Squeegee to print
your image in a scatter pattern all over your wrapping paper – we’re using plain kraft parcel paper. Be sure not to place your screen over a wet image
as it may smudge. It can help to print onto a slightly padded surface such as a thin blanket or piece of fabric stretched over your table.

This method also works really well for Christmas Cards!

To make this wrapping paper you will need:

• Custom Thermofax
• Thermofax Squeegee
• Acrylic Screen Printing Ink (or Acrylic Paint mixed with Acrylic Screen Printing Medium)
• Plain Kraft Parcel Paper

Read more about printing with a Thermofax Screen

and how to use a Thermofax Screen with foils!

Indian Block Printing

Indian Blocks make such beautiful, detailed prints
without the need to carve anything yourself! They come in lots of gorgeous designs including lots that are Christmas themed. For this paper we are
using one of our favourite woodblocks in a peacock design with Gold Acrylic Screen Printing Ink.

Use a piece of sponge to apply an
even layer of ink to the block.

Press your ink down firmly onto the paper to make a print. It helps to have a slightly padded surface under your paper such as a Foam Printing Pad.

Re-ink your block and print all over your paper.

You can also use Indian Blocks to print directly
onto boxes:

To make this wrapping paper you will need:

• Indian Woodblocks
• Acrylic Screen Printing Ink
• Paint Applicator Sponges
• Inking Tray
• Plain Kraft Parcel Paper

See our previous Indian Block projects to learn how to use them to Print onto Fabric!

Stamping with Mastercut and Versacraft Ink Pads

If you haven’t tried carving Mastercut yet then this is a great time to give it a go. It’s soft to carve and gives thin lines and lots of detail. It’s easy to cut with scissors or a craft
knife for shaped stamps. For this paper, we are using holly leaves cut from Mastercut with Versacraft Ink Pads and the end of a pencil for the berries!

Press your stamp into the Versacraft Ink Pad to pick up an even layer of ink.

Press the stamp firmly onto your paper. Again, it helps to use a slightly padded surface or a Foam Printing Pad.

Press the rubber end of a pencil into the red ink pad and into the paper to create berries.

Repeat all over the paper in a scatter pattern. This method would also work perfectly for cards and gift tags!

To make this wrapping paper you will need:

• Mastercut Easy Carve Stamping Blocks
• Carving Tool
• Craft Knife
• Versacraft Ink Pads
  
• Pencil with a rubber end
• Foam Printing Pad
• Plain Kraft Parcel Paper

Find out how we carved out holly leaves in our Christmas Card project.

Printing a Repeat Pattern

We used a repeat pattern block to print this wrapping paper. See our Repeat Pattern project to see how the block was made. This block is a half-drop repeat but you could use a straight repeat, rotating repeat
or just neat rows of any block you have. This block is made from Mastercut but a lino, softcut, vinyl or plywood block will work too!  

Acrylic Screen Printing Inks work really well for block printing too if you use a sponge roller to roll out the ink! We are using silver. You could also use a block printing ink and a hard roller. Roll your ink
of choice onto your block.

Place your block face down onto your paper and print. For this half-drop repeat pattern we have to position it carefully.

To make this wrapping paper you will need:

• Repeat Pattern Block
• Acrylic Screen Printing Ink
• Sponge Roller
• Inking Tray
• Plain Kraft Parcel Paper

See how to make blocks with different types of repeat patterns in our previous projects: try half-drop repeat, straight repeat,
or rotating repeat.

Give one of these methods a try to create your own wrapping paper! We’d love to see your results – tag us in a pic of your project on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or send us a good ol’fashioned email.

Polly Finch of Polly Papercuts is joining us for a very special workshop on Wednesday 23rd November. Participants will get to choose from a variety of designs to cut your own papercut!
Use your papercut to make a photographic silk screen and then print 30 cards! Go home with your original papercut and cards. We
asked Polly to tell us more about her work and process: 

Describe your process.

I work in 2D and 3D. Everything is cut by hand using a scalpel and lots and lots of 10A blades. Each piece is unique – no lasers!

I do a lot of sketching, but no design is set in stone, and I like my work evolve over time. For a 2D piece I will cut from the back, having drawn some
guidelines to work from (this is especially important with lettering, as everything is backwards, of course).

3D pieces are even slower to come to fruition as there are so many aspects to consider- the box, a base, different papers. I love this process.

How and where did you learn papercutting?

I am self-taught. I kind of stumbled across papercutting whilst trying to embellish a drawing, and it just went from there. I started with 2D work, but
for the past couple of years I have also been exploring making 3D pieces, which have been popular – so that’s nice! 

Where do you work?

I work from home in a tiny chaotic studio off my kitchen. Periodically I have to blitz everything as the mess builds up until I have no space to work at
all.

Describe a typical day in your studio.

I don’t really have a typical day. I might do some cutting, a bit of sketching, think about a 3D piece, and then do some making. I work on commissions,
so I’m always trying to keep on top of them, especially in the run up to Christmas.

How long have you been an artist?

I have been paper cutting for 5 or 6 years.

What inspires you?

I love the sea, and live on the South Coast, so my work often has nautical themes, but I am also inspired by the countryside and walk every day on the
Downs with my dog ( lab/ spaniel cross called Stig).

What is your favourite art product?

I know its cliched but I would say my favourite art product is paper – I love sketch books, hand made papers, things created from paper.

What have you made that you are most proud of?

I have made several very large 2D paper cuts, which I am very proud of. One of them, ‘Into the Woods,’ won the Fusion 2013 Best Fine Art Prize.

Where can we see your work? Where do you sell and teach?

In the run up to Christmas I have one more weekend at the cowshed Studio Christmas exhibition; I am exhibiting at The VK Gallery; The HOP Gallery; and
doing two Christmas Art Fairs on the 4th December in Steyning and 10th December in Brighton. Please see my website for details.

What will we be seeing from you next?

Next year I am very exciting to be collaborating on an original story book about King Arthur with illustrations, papercutting, and collage. It’s my biggest
project to date and I’m really excited about it!

Do you have any advice for other makers and creatives?

I would say to other makers, “keep doing what you love, not what you think other people want.”

Learn more about Polly’s work here. Book your place on Polly’s Workshop on our website, call 01243 696789 or email shop@handprinted.co.uk

Chine Collé is a technique that allows you to add colour to your prints without making another block. Using Chine Collé you are able to print on much finer,
more delicate papers which are bonded onto a more sturdy paper during the printing process. Japanese papers are often used but you can try tissue papers,
maps, sheet music, even fabric – anything delicate enough to be printed onto.

Start by carving a linocut or woodblock. This is how our linocut prints without Chine Collé:

To adapt this block into a print suitable for Chine Collé, we carved out the sun to leave space for our yellow sun.

Cut pieces of thin papers (we used tissue paper) into shapes to fit your block. If you plan to frame, sell or give these prints as gifts; make sure that
the papers you are using are light-fast – many tissue papers aren’t.

Ink up your linocut as usual. We are using Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks which are oil based (but water washable) and will stay wet on the block to give us time to prepare
our tissue papers.

To prepare your papers, mix a little Rice Paste with water to make a thick syrupy texture. You only need a very small amount. Paint the glue in a thin layer all over the back of your papers.

Place your papers glue side up (this is essential!) on your inked up block. This part can be very fiddly so it can help to use tweezers or cocktail sticks
to place the wet papers down.

Lay your printing paper on top and put through the press (or print by hand with a baren).
Your tissue papers should have bonded onto your printing paper with your print over the top!

This technique also works beautifully with etchings and drypoint etchings!

To create a print with Chine Collé you will need:

• A piece of cut lino or woodblock
• Thin papers such as tissue paper
• Scissors
• Tweezers or cocktail sticks
• Nori Rice Paste
• Brush
• Caligo Safewash Relief Inks
• Paper on which to print
• Glass slab or Inking Tray
• Roller

System 3 Block Printing Medium transforms acrylic paints into usable block printing inks. Simply mix the medium with your paints and roll onto your block! Here’s how:

Mix your Block Printing Medium with acrylic paint in a ratio of 3:2. If you want to print in a specific colour, mix your acrylic colour first and then add your medium when you’re happy with the shade.
I did not do this, because I’m reckless.

When you’ve mixed your ink, roll out a thin, velvety layer. Your
roller should make a zzz sound and not be squelchy. If it is, remove some ink and roll out again.

Roll your ink onto your block – we’re using a sheet of lino that we carved earlier…

Place your paper on top if your block – we’re using Kent printmaking paper.
Use a baren to transfer the ink
to your paper by rubbing it all over the back.

This block printing ink will layer up well for a multi-block or reduction print. It is translucent (unless you’ve added a lot of white – experiment with
your colours for layering first) so will show some of the base colour through.

To print with block printing medium you will need:

• System 3 Block Printing Medium
• System 3 Acrylic Paints
• Inking Tray
• Ink Spatula
• Roller
• Lino block
• Paper on which to print
• Baren
  

I am a printmaker, natural dyer and forager. My work is all about nature: from doing prints and illustrations of birds and leaves, to dyeing using
plants I’ve grown or foraged. I run workshops teaching printmaking on fabric and indigo dyeing. I also run wild food walks.

Describe your process.

My process is quite meditative. I clear my mind of all thought, put pen to paper and see what happens. I work spontaneously, doing lots of quick drawings
and paper cuts, repeating images again and again, like a human photocopier.

How and where did you learn to print?

I first learnt to print with my mother, Vanessa Arbuthnott. I still use the printing methods she taught me when I was four! Then, I loved doing prints
of fish. I haven’t changed much, just switched from fish to birds!

Why Printing?

I enjoy the quick and clean results you can get from screen printing when using such simple materials. I love craftsmanship, hand making beautiful things
that have a function and will be loved, endured and repaired over time. The simplicity of printmaking makes it accessible to people who are not creatively
confidant, this makes it fun to teach.

Where do you work?

I have a studio at In Bristol Studios, sharing with lots of interesting community artists and makers. We share a big print room. I also
do lots of drawing from home as it is quiet there.

Describe a typical day in you studio.

I have very varied days. No two days are the same. I am most productive in the early morning when I can clear my head, not think too much about
what I am doing and be spontaneous. Some days, I teach from my studio in Bristol or in Cirencester. Most days, I go out gathering wild food, go to
the natural dye garden to do some harvesting or weeding, or go for a swim in the river. I spend a lot of time outside.  

How long have you been printmaking?

Since I was four! So twenty two years on and off. However it is in the past four years I have really gotten into it.

What inspires you?

As a forager, I get a lot of inspiration from the wild food I gather throughout the year. I am currently developing a range of fabric designs inspired
by wild edible spring plants such as cleavers, nettles and herb Robert. I am always inspired by the freedom and movement of birds. Lately I have been
exploring the process of dyeing with organic indigo. The chemistry of the vat, the pureness and depth of the blue is mesmerising.

What product/tool could you not be without? 

I love a fresh, sharp scalpel and a stack of paper for cutting out paper stencils for screen printing.

Where can we see you work? Where do you sell?

I print and create designs to commission. I run regular printmaking and natural dyeing workshops which are bookable via my website floraarbuthnott.com I design for my mother too – you can find my ‘Bird Hop’ design on her website: vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk.

What will we be seeing from you next?

I am running printmaking workshops and organic indigo workshops an shibori workshops this autumn in Bristol and Cirencester.

Do you have any advice for other printmakers and creatives?

Print first, think later. Trust you instincts and have fun with it.

See more of Flora’s work on the following sites:

facebook.com/thenaturaldyegarden/

facebook.com/simpleprintmaking/

instagram.com/simpleprintmaking/

instagram.com/naturaldyegarden/