Exploring Printmaking
A practical guide to printmaking techniques
Gill Thompson
Herbert Press
About the artist
Gill Thompson works on very much a grounded to the location in which she lives. This is the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. I see this evidenced within her visual creations, she lives by the sea so this has affected both her colour palette and materials - i.e. beach sticks for a drawing tool. When not working in her studio, she teaches both adults and children at select locations. Exploring Printmaking is her first publication.
What this book contains
We are all busy, we need any creative pursuit to be one which is easy accessed. You may not have the time or even the pull to find a print making studio where you can play with the various ‘big’ tools. But could it come into your life in another way?
Thompson narrates ways we can print at home….
Techniques
Monoprinting, block-printing, linoprinting, collagraph, drypoint etching and eco printing are all explored.
Visuals
If we find ourselves living somewhere we feel isolated (or imagine the lockdown period where we were all at home) this book is a life saver. Because suddenly we are taught without the need for a classroom outside. The illustrations and connective steps which do flow really well and help us to dabble.
Are the materials hard to find or expensive?
Imagine bottle tops, the contents of your cutlery drawer - basically imagine being home bound and being ‘imaginative’. Does it not sound more exciting to be making art with the unknown, the odd rather than the ‘thing we are meant to use for the job’? Its risky, but fun - both qualities we need in our lives.
Realism
This is not a ‘this is how i did it so you just repeat it for an outcome which looks like mine’ book. Thank goodness! Gill even reveals the fails and how we can ‘get over’ them.
A practically imperfect perfect version of printmaking. What is not to like?