Steam Train Letterpress Print. Flee, all is discovered!

I have been printing a lovely steam train print block.

It was originally a book illustration, from 'South Eastern & Chatham Railway' by O. S. Nock.
I printed the image (which is an electro copper half tone block) on my old proofing press. And I like the rather grainy quality it gave me.

I added the text, using 12 point Times lead letters. I tried lots of different phrases, but this is the one that seemed best!

It felt really good to give this fine old block a new, if rather eccentric use.

The mounted print is in my Etsy shop, and I hope it flees to a new steam-loving home!
http://etsy.me/1XaryAa

Book treasure. The Complete Jujitsan.

I have really rather fallen for this handsome fellow I pulled out of a bag of tattered old books.

A fabulous book, entitled The Complete Jujitsan, by W.H.Garrud, written in 1914. The book has those wonderful instructions with LOTS of photographs typical of early exercise books,

 a magnificent picture of W.H. Garrud's Japanese mentor who has the best moustache ever,

and some great text, mentioning that even females can learn this useful sport!

 I love W.H. Garrud's expression - in fact, everything about him!
I photographed it quickly with my phone,  told a friend about it, and it turns out that her husband is writing a film script that includes as a character none other than W H Garrud! So I sent it to her immediately, before photographing it better, and before I got too fond of him to give away. A brief encounter, you might say.

Blue Moon. Be careful! Strange events!

There's a Blue Moon rising on Friday 31st July. The second full moon in the calendar month, a blue moon is a seemingly random event that is really to do with lunar months being 28 days, and our calendar months 30 or 31.

I wrote a collection of poems about the night of the blue moon, imagining the moon's light shining through the windows of an old map shop, and the maps becoming liquid, and merging in the silvery light. And what happens to them in the shop happens outside as well. Some very odd things happen.

They are published in seed packet form, with the poems on separate sheets, held together with a little full moon shape clip. The packet is individually letterpress printed. I've been trying different packet forms for a few years now, and have finally found the one I really like!

You can buy one from my Etsy shop http://etsy.me/1SmwClh or come and see me at the Bath Artisan Market on 9th August, or Outlaw Summer Market in Falmouth on 10th, 11th, 12th August.
In the meantime - take care tonight and enjoy - the next blue moons are in January and March 2018!

Letterpress, cakes & books at The Hours in Brecon

There's a great bookshop in Brecon called The Hours. It's an old building, crowded full with books, and at the back a cafe - a perfect combination. I have been letterpress printing for them.

I was asked to letterpress print some labels for the cakes! Unexpectedly precise printing for me, but rather fun, choosing a font, and some ornament. Dark brown was requested, very stylish!

I have used a lovely font called Bologna, which has one of the cutest ampersands ever.

And then cakes are labelled! I love the shining cake domes.

I was rather pleased with them, and the cakes are truly delicious.

Thanks to Nicky and Leigh of The Hours. If you're in Brecon, go and buy a book and then drink tea, eat cake, and start to read - what better way to spend a rainy Welsh summer's day! Here's a link to The Hours facebook page.
http://on.fb.me/1HIJAhQ

Letterpress printing. Fritz Eichenberg. Reflecting on the past.

A wonderful letterpress printing plate, all the way from Germany. Fantastic detail, and such a world of emotion expressed in that face.

The seller didn't have detailed information about it, but thought it might be from the work of a wonderful illustrator called Fritz Eichenberg. I will do research, but if it IS Eichenberg's work, I am even more inspired.Fritz Eichenberg was a German-American illustrator and arts educator who worked primarily in wood engraving. His best-known works were concerned with religion, social justice and nonviolence. I know this much from wikipedia - I will learn more! The block is a stereotype - created for making an illustration, perhaps for a book or magazine.

I have printed him a few times, but recently for an exhibition of ACEO art, where the artwork has to be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. This means that he is not fully visible, just looking into the picture from the mount, and with a letterpress printed phrase, as if he was thinking.

I hadn't realised he was a monk until I printed him, and now he reminds me of a Cadfael figure reflecting on a long and varied life from the peace of his monastic cell.

He doesn't look sad, so much as reflective.

Such a fine image, it is a privilege to print.

I thought I would celebrate my return to the blog with this uncharacteristically wistful and reflective series of images!

The exhibition is at The Workers Gallery in Ynyshir, and then on tour during the summer. Here's the link for gallery.  

  https://www.facebook.com/workersgallery?fref=ts