A very BIG book of patterns

Following on from my workshop with Sarah Burns I started using rubber stamps to make new pattern experiments. After building up a pile of paper, I realised that it would be more useful to have one place to work on patterns so that I can see them side-by-side. So I treated myself to a giant scrapbook (decorated with my Alpha-set) and started stamping. It’s good to be able compare patterns, seeing them side-by-side so I can decide which ones have potential and which ones are duffers. It’s quite an addictive process!

Patternmakers

Last month I spent a really brilliant day on a one-to-one online workshop run by Sarah Burns (@patternmakers on Instagram). We started with potato printing - shouldn’t every day should start with this? - and moved onto lino . So many useful tips for exploring the potential of a simple printing block and printing onto fabric. My brain was bursting with pattern possibilities by the end of the day. Many thanks to Sarah for a very inspiring day…
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Alpha-set patterns

More pattern printing with the wonderful Alpha-set…

How did it get to be March already?!

one simple stamp, two very different patterns

Oh dear, oh dear. This blog has been very neglected so far in 2020… it’s been a very busy start to the year and this has been one of the casualties of a lack of time. I’ll add some posts over the next week with an update of various things I’ve been working on. As a starter here’s some pages from a lovely coptic bound sketchbook with different size pages and papers that was a birthday gift from Eva Hejdstrom last year. I’ve decided to use it to have a play and create various rubber stamp patterns (mostly from hand carved stamps I’ve accumulated from other projects over the past few years). There’s no end result in mind, just the fun of stamping, but I’ll also hopefully be left with a useful pattern resource once the book is full up.

Pattern play

Another workshop – this time for the local cub pack… stamping patterned papers to make into book covers for single sheet books. A lot of fun, but most definitely the noisiest workshop I’ve ever run. Who knew bookbinding could be so loud?

Workshop coming up!

Printing patterned papers and making folded books as examples to show at a one day workshop I’m running at ACEarts in Somerton in Somerset on Saturday 27 April (10 -4). We’ll be stamping our own patterned papers, then using them to make a collection of small folded books. Should be fun! Just a few places left, so get in touch with ACEarts if you’re interested in joining me... . . .

Serious tiling

Working on a new range of wrapping paper using rubber stamped patterns. Bit of a learning curve working out the repeat tiling, but it's amazing to see what patterns can be made with some really simple carved stamps (and the help of Photoshop!)

PaperLove – week four: book

Multi-section book with embroidered cover

A slightly sinister shot of my book mobile

A bit more in my comfort zone this week with the e-course PaperLove's theme of 'book'. Starting with making single sheet 'trouser books' from envelope patterned papers (combined with last week's folded cover to make them more robust). Quite addictive once you get folding. Then moving onto a mobile of tiny map books (photographed on a particularly gloomy day)… not totally happy with the end result of this one so I may re-visit it at a later date. I like the idea, just not my execution. The larger project this week was making a multi-section book. I'd done this before so I wanted to use it as an opportunity to try a few new techniques: using deckle edged paper (cut with a clip point knife), embroidering bookcloth, leaving longer knot ties on the outside of the book, and also bringing the stitching over the top and bottom of the spine. Really pleased with how this one turned out, and I'm using it as a sketchbook already - hurray!

A more neutral palette

A very enjoyable afternoon spent monoprinting with my gelli plate and collection of found objects (most picked up from pavements on my dog walks). Decided to keep my colour palette a little more neutral this time in an attempt to wean myself fluorescent paint colours. Printing onto old book pages (from a library discard) added to the pleasing build up of pattern and texture. Many of the prints need more layers, but some of the early trimmings escaped the bin and made it into my sketchbook as collages. 

Sketchbook update

1950's vases and vessels

Sketching from a book called 'Indian Birds'

Sketching from a 1950's wildflower book

Small gouache painting of flowers on my kitchen table

Since joining Instagram (@corinne_welch_) I have been neglecting this blog a little, lured by the instant gratification of regular, quick posts. However, I have been busy - getting ready for the BS9 Arts Trail in Bristol on 10/11 June. And also making the most of some time in the evenings to start developing new ideas in my sketchbook. Some recent pages featured here...

Beetlemania

Recent collage experiments of collaging monoprints made with a gelli plate. I enjoyed picking the  colours and patterns to fill my outline beetles, and then drawing on details with a fine black pen. Although some of the vibrancy of the neon inks is lost when scanned or photographed, they've made a smart set of postcards. Available this weekend at the Bristol Artists' Book Event (BABE) at the Arnolfini. Come and say hello if you're in Bristol! 

Sketchbook glimpses

Since June last year I've been keeping a regular sketchbook - I've enjoyed working on a small scale (A6) and without the intention of anything being preparatory. Quite liberating, and the first time I've done this since before I started my MA in 2011. When left to my own devices, I revert to pattern and collage, and it's been fun to start painting again. Some pages above from the past few weeks...

sketchbook collages

Using up every last offcut of roller printing

Gelli on the (printing) plate

After buying a Gelli plate a couple of years ago, I finally got around to finding some time to have a play with it. The warm weather meant that acrylic paints were drying too quickly, so I used my Caligo relief inks with extender instead. Results were mixed - knowing when to stop seems to be the key… one layer too many and the whole print is ruined. As with everything in life, the prints were improved with a dash of fluorescent pink ink on the final layer. Trimming down the prints, I was left with a pile of colourful strips. Turns out these are excellent collage material (and I prefer them to the actual prints). So I now have a stash of colourful papers - some will definitely benefit from some rubber stamped additions. As long as I know when to stop...

Pinnable patterns

Had a lot of fun at the last meeting of the Artists’ Book Club at UWE last week - they’d hired a couple of badge makers from Bristol Scrapstore. Great to see some of my rubber stamp patterns transformed into a pinnable format.

New for BS9 Arts Trail

On sale for the first time this weekend will be a new range of hand stamped A6 notebooks - covers were created using a combination of handmade photopolymer stamps and hand carved rubber stamps. Way out in patternsville...

Stamping sampling

Interesting to see the different results from using the same tiled stamps as a base, and then ‘accessorising’ with other hand-cut rubber stamps.

Pattern pimping

Using rubber and photo polymer stamps to add pattern to Paperchase blank notebooks.

Stencils + folding

Playing around with patterned papers made on the stencil monoprint course - the random nature of the stencilling is an interesting combination with the geometric folds.

Stencilicious

Just started a new evening class at the wonderful Folk House in Bristol - ‘Monoprinting with Stencils’ run by Sophie Rae. It was a really enjoyable first week, getting stuck in straight away. Just basic shapes with water-based ink, but I was amazed at the variety of tone and texture you can get with just using a roller. Lots of possibilities, but my first thought is that this would be an ideal method for printing patterned endpapers.