Celebrating over 30 YEARS OF LINO BLOCK PRINTING
The last 30 years of artwork has evolved from exploring ways to create lino block prints from everyday materials and without a printing press.
Lino block printing was a natural transition from sculpture and batik as it satisfied a love of carving, an ability to think in reverse, and the need for experimental play.
But the need to create 3D forms and a desire to use old blocks, and cherished timbers has resulted in a variety of sculptures, throughout the years, that incorporate lino blocks.
Building sites, renovations at hospitals or schools and the storerooms at flooring shops have all provided cheap or free supplies of surfaces to create what I refer to as lino blocks.
My largest of prints are foot printed using different soled shoes to get different effects; others are printed using pressure applied by fingers or the sides of the hand and palms.
The subjects explored are directly related to my world, they reflect social, personal and visual experiences and observations.
Picasso’s abandonment of the multi block technique in favour of the one block elimination process was introduced during my studies in the early 70’s and has formed the basis of my practice. I have also explored the use of multiple blocks to create both prints and assemblages but the technique used is inspired by the works of Arp more than the traditional Japanese multiple blocks.
Inspired by Andy Warhol and my need to produce work with an obvious human element, I abandoned the concept of identical images in an edition, so only the black and white prints that have been press printed are clones.
I love the fact that when printing without a press every work, in an edition, can be as different as the imagination and the play with technique allows.
Lino block printing was a natural transition from sculpture and batik as it satisfied a love of carving, an ability to think in reverse, and the need for experimental play.
But the need to create 3D forms and a desire to use old blocks, and cherished timbers has resulted in a variety of sculptures, throughout the years, that incorporate lino blocks.
Building sites, renovations at hospitals or schools and the storerooms at flooring shops have all provided cheap or free supplies of surfaces to create what I refer to as lino blocks.
My largest of prints are foot printed using different soled shoes to get different effects; others are printed using pressure applied by fingers or the sides of the hand and palms.
The subjects explored are directly related to my world, they reflect social, personal and visual experiences and observations.
Picasso’s abandonment of the multi block technique in favour of the one block elimination process was introduced during my studies in the early 70’s and has formed the basis of my practice. I have also explored the use of multiple blocks to create both prints and assemblages but the technique used is inspired by the works of Arp more than the traditional Japanese multiple blocks.
Inspired by Andy Warhol and my need to produce work with an obvious human element, I abandoned the concept of identical images in an edition, so only the black and white prints that have been press printed are clones.
I love the fact that when printing without a press every work, in an edition, can be as different as the imagination and the play with technique allows.
