I am thrilled to know that my mezzotint ‘Sleep’ has been shortlisted down to the last six from thousands of entries and awarded a certificate for ‘Technical excellence, Originality and Emotional impact’ for the King Lear Art Prize
King Lear Prize
Author: Stan Peach
Snettisham Sunrise
What an amazing sunrise we had a while ago over the lakes at Snettisham. Like all photographs, this cannot do justice on the beauty of the light and colours.
There are no filters used on this image
Open Studio
I will soon be opening up and welcoming visitors to my small home studio for a chance to learn about my working methods, techniques or maybe just to have a good arty chat. Examples of my work will be on display and I will help if I can for those wishing to make a start in printmaking or painting.
The opening dates are the 25th-27th September and the 1st-3rd October, 10am-5pm. Visiting outside these times will be by appointment only.
For information on locality, please get in touch or visit the Norfolk Open Studios 2021 at https://norfolkstudios.org.uk/ for more details.
Where has the time Gone
Just came across this article from the press of an exhibition I was holding at the Red Barn Gallery some 40 plus years ago. Cannot believe where the time has gone, but at least the moustache has!
Norfolk Open Studio
I am taking part in Norfolk Open Studios this year and am welcoming visitors to my small studio for an arty chat and an overview of working practices. My studio will be open from the 25-27th Sept and the 1st-3rd Oct 10am-5pm
Light refreshments will be available and I look forward to meeting you
Sometimes it is a struggle!
This is one of my latest Egg Tempera paintings, which I have to say has been a struggle. The painting is just about there and as I envisaged, but getting there!! Many times it has nearly ended being permanently shelved or in the bin. Not all goes well all the time.
New Artwork
I have been working a series of new Egg Tempera paintings, which is a technique I am getting more drawn too. I love the way the colours are built up through the countless layers applied, which suits my way of working. It dries almost instantly so many layer can be quickly applied.
There are many different types of binding mediums that can be used for Egg Tempera, these were painted in a fairly straight forward medium of: egg yolk, distilled water, a few drops of Damar varnish and distilled vinegar as a preservative.
Two of the painting framed are completed, the others are in progress
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, 22nd to 25th November
Am excited to be exhibiting at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, 22nd to 25th November, and also giving a talk and demonstration on Mezzotinting, which will be both a pleasure and an honour to do. With over 350 artists and exhibitors involved, the event is the only fair in London to concentrate solely on contemporary printmaking, and the largest of its kind in the UK – taking place in the impressive former carriage factory at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. The event celebrates every aspect of printmaking from etching and lithography, to screen-printing and woodblock, celebrating the work of newcomers and long established artists alike. There will be prints for sale as well as interactive demonstrations, workshops, tours and talks – offering visitors of all ages an insight into printmaking.
Mezzotinting demonstration – Wednesday 22nd November at 10:30am
http://www.woolwichprintfair.com/
SPONTANEITY AND COMPOSITION
A lot of my work is very spontaneous and I really enjoy the freedom this gives me. I very often start the creative process with a title in mind, rather than an idea of a design or image and I have many titles yet to develop. The process invariably begins with cleaning my palette, sharpening my tools and pencils and rearranging my paper and having a good think – and this is how the process begins.
I make a mark on a piece of canvas or a sheet of paper and let it develop. I become obsessed with the detail – and this is true of all my work. Even pieces that look quite ‘free’ will have a calculated method of mark making, but composition is something I do not consciously think about when working on a piece of artwork, it is all about the feel of the image and the ‘composition’ comes from sub conscious actions and mark making.
My Printmaking Inspiration
My printmaking inspiration has to be Norman Ackroyd, who I believe to be one of our greatest printmakers. Norman Ackroyd CBE, RA was born in Leeds, although now lives and works in Bermondsey, London and is known primarily for his aquatint work. He was awarded a CBE in 2007 for his services to engraving and printing and has exhibited widely all over the world. He has also been commissioned to produce a number of murals, his most recent completed in 2010 was called ‘Galapagos’, an external mural for the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge for the Study of Plant Development.
Aquatint is a medium I particularly love – it is an intaglio printmaking technique (a variant of etching) where marks are made on the plate (in this case a copper or zinc plate) that then hold the ink and produce an image not dissimilar in appearance to a watercolour.
