Spike Print Studio (SPS) and University of the West of England (UWE) are establishing an exciting new venture that embraces the multifaceted nature of the professional print studio. The project will grow community engagement by creating sustainable opportunities for learning, exhibiting, editioning and professional development for young people who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities.

What is the theme/aim? of the Exhibition?

This exhibition brings together artists who have worked in both organisations through the opportunities created for them. It gives them space to tell their story about openingscreated and where it has led them.

What is happening?

The exhibition reflects the extraordinary talent and output of those involved, supportedby artist statements on their experience of working collaboratively with SPS and UWE.The artists will be present at the Private View to talk about their work in more detail.

When and where is it?

UWE Bower Ashton Studios, F-Block Gallery
Tuesday 16 – Friday 19 October 2018 (gallery opening times 10am – 5pm).
Private View Thursday 18 October 6 – 8pm.

What happens next?

The exhibition is the starting point for gathering support and patronage for developingUWE and SPS’s collaborative educational editioning project which will create opportunities for young people to work in a professional artistic environment with a wide range of artists and editioners. Working in print will allow them to develop their artistic practice whilstbeing supported by a wide range of practitioners able to guide, advice and promote them.

Artists
Nick Greenglass and John Lynch (Peter Reddick Bursary)
Andrew Wilson (SPS/UWE Scholarship)
Jemma Gunning, Lisa Davies and Prerna Chandiramani (SPS/UWE Member Technician)
Carolyn Bunt, Sarah Duncan, Frea Buckler and Gilly Thompson, Emma Stibbon RA (UWE/SPS Alumni)

A method of etching a plate using a photographic light sensitive coating, which is then etched and printed in the intaglio method.

This technique stems from the traditional technique of copper plate photogravure. Photogravure is a method developed in the 19th Century to create continuous tone images on copper plate. More recently artists have been using presensitised steel backed polymer nylon plates to create both autographic and photographic images on the plate. The technique is similar to the above but differs in that the plate is developed in water. The water acts like an acid and develops indentations in the plate which later on hold ink. The plate is then printed in the traditional intaglio fashion.

The computer is an important creative tool for many printmakers. A digital file can be used to create stencils for litho/screenprint/photo etching and also to drive laser and engraving tools. The work that is sold may be the digital file itself or a printed image of that file, commonly an inkjet print. The creative process still has to be generated by the artist whether using the computer as a tool or a burin or lithographic crayon. Many art galleries and institutions have digital prints in their collections.

Images are created using drawing and painting techniques. The image is drawn with greasy crayons on a grease sensitive surface with the non-printing areas treated with water based materials to keep them clean. The printing ink sticks only to the sensitised greasy areas.

An image printed from a reprintable block, plate or screen but printed in such a way that only one of its kind exists. It may incorporate other processes such as hand colouring or collagraph.

Collagraphy is a process in which materials are applied to a rigid substrate such as mount board or wood. Ink or pigment is applied to the resulting collage and the board is used to print onto paper or other substrates using either a printing press or hand burnishing. The resulting print is termed a collagraph.

Substances such as carborundum, acrylic mediums, sandpapers, bubble wrap, string, card and natural objects can all be used in creating the collagraph plate.

Collagraphy is a very open and experimental printmaking method.

A process of printing a carborundum mix through a photographically created stencil on a silkscreen. The carborundum mix is printed through the mesh onto a matrix and printed in the intaglio method.

A wood engraving print is produced from a block of endgrain wood using engraving tools. It is a much finer and more delicate process than woodcut, enabling a wide variety of marks and textures.

A woodcut is a print produced from a block of sidegrain wood or manufactured board. The natural pattern of the grain is integrated with the patterns and textures made by the cutting process. Cuts are made by using gouges and sharp knives.