Bath Artist Printmakers in Alkmaar, Netherlands

Over the summer some of my prints have travelled north to Holland in a BAP group exhibition. The Grafische Atelier Alkmaar is celebrating its 40th anniversary and invited print workshops throughout europe to participate in an extraordinary festival in the Grote Sint Laurens Kerk in Alkmaar. The event includes exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, discussions and lectures centred around printmaking. BAPʼs response to their invitation is to send an archival box containing some 30 prints produced by our members and for three of our members to participate in week long residencies. This is an exciting opportunity to see how similar studios operate in Holland, to exchange ideas and views on how we may both continue to survive and hopefully maintain a dialogue in the future.

http://www.grafischatelieralkmaar.nl/

Some wedding related Lino-cuts....

Lets start a conversation like we are old friends and not worry that some time as passed......

So back in Springtime I was asked to design and print a few wedding lino-cuts, not something I normally do but I thought why not - I do love text. This got me thinking to create a few simple but heart felt phrases all centred around loved ones. Here are just two of the prints in that range along with a lino block detail. Hope you like.

I am teaching more Beginners lino-cut classes as well as Colour Reduction lino-cut, swing your eyes to the right for details on this page or alternatively visit http://bathartistprintmakers.co.uk/courses/. (Sorry for the plug!)

Getting familiar with my alphabet

Well well what can I say - I just not very good at this blogging-thingy-ma-jig but do I get Browny points for trying?! If you ever wanted more of a day to day update of the adventures I get up to, do follow my facebook page: Angela Lai Yen - Printmaker & Textile Artist.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Lai-Yen-Printmaker-Textile-Artist/329188650491869 

I'm a lot more together on there as I rarely get time to sit and type - I'm more or unless on the sewing machine ( however the sewing machine has gone on his holiday so I'm only sewing little at the moment), in the print studio making friends with the press or teaching classes in Millie Moon and making friends with real people. I also have the occasional giveaway on my facebook page - so do come visit from time to time and say a hi.

So currently I am taking a little break (only a little one) from my sewing and I am concentrating more on my prints. I am drawing patterned letter designs, transferring them onto lino (reminding myself designs need to be backwards - I have already failed once.......or twice oops!) cutting the lino letters and finally printing them in various colours with oil based inks on a pinch press, all so I can get familiar with my alphabet. I've always been a fan of letters, text, and words (when I went into my Art Foundation Course I was sure I would come out deciding on a career in graphics - a bit of useless info about me, and as usual I am getting side tracked.)
I have had this idea of patterned letter prints before Christmas (or possibly longer) I've been aching to create them and for the last few months (amongst other work) I've been cracking on. Its become a bit of a mammoth challenge but I'm really enjoying it and although I haven't cut/printed the whole alphabet yet - it will come. I'm nearly there and I know once I have printed them all, I'm going to be a little sad.

At the moment its all just lower case.......mmmmm so maybe upper case next and some more decorative ones!! Anything to expand this range I am enjoying so much. I will keep you posted.

All prints are approx A4 in size, do get in touch if you would like one of them in your life.

Bye for now until next time - which will probably Christmas time knowing me.

Stitching away.......

Blogging is definitely not my strong point......computers just don't like me whereas sewing machines and printing presses do, and as of late felt and water colour pencils do too.

I have recently been producing felt rain for a window display at Millie Moon in Frome, if you are passing by please take a sneak peek. I hope you it makes you smile.
http://www.milliemoonshop.blogspot.co.uk/

I have also been working and experimenting with more stitch and textile pieces, they are nowhere near being fully resolved but the process is coming along. I don't think my stitch pieces will ever get resolved but that's the beauty of it. Hopefully I will have a good few pieces ready for display at the coming Widcombe Art Trail, Bath which I will be showing at. For now the work is 'untitled' -so must get my thinking cap on.
http://www.members.widcombeassociation.org.uk/item/270383

 I also like looking at the reverse of such pieces as they always inspire.