And yet again: Printmaking Class at SLC

This one is a compacted version of the course I teach the second year art students, going from eraser stamps all the way to dry point etching, with linocuts, wood cuts, wood engraving, monoprinting in between.

Printmaking – Beginner/Intermediate    This printmaking course offers a variety of graphic and painterly printmaking methods. Students learn techniques and methods to produce linocut, wood cut, wood engraving, intaglio, and monotype prints. These transfer methods build on the students’ knowledge using complex methods, and a wide variety of different materials and tools used in printmaking. Students explore and experiment with methods of printmaking while strengthening the core values of composition and design, colour theory and drawing to further their creativity.

Additional Information…

Instructor: Larry Thompson Course Code: CEAR1046 Section: 540 Campus: BROCKVILLE Date: 7/3/2018 – 7/6/2018 Time: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Day(s) of Week: Tu W Th F Fee: $223.50

More Teaching at SLC: The Illustrated Book

Why illustrate a book? From purely visual books to marginalia, we have been illustrating books for almost as long as there have been books. It’s not rocket science, since illustration doesn’t mean an ability to draw necessarily. Students will study page decoration, illumination, and the balance between illustrations and text to enhance the narrative, and in the end produce a small illustrated book of their own.

For more information, click HERE

The Illustrated Book    An introduction to basic presentation of relief cut blocks in book form. Students will learn a little history of the illustrated page, and then using a variety of printing and transfer techniques, they will create an illustrated book, or a collaborative book with other students and create a narrative. Potential applications for portfolio and promotional applications for emerging and established authors.

Additional Information…

Instructor: Larry Thompson Course Code: CEAR1044 Section: 540 Campus: BROCKVILLE Date: 7/23/2018 – 7/27/2018 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Day(s) of Week: D  Fee: $223.50

Teaching @ SLC in Brockville: From Sketch to Printed Block

A stippled sketch based on the original image.

Final version of Winona’s rabbit.

One of the sticklers barring the way for aspiring printmakers is how to compose drawings that translate well to block printing. It’s easier than you might think, and doesn’t require you to be a seasoned illustrator. There are many techniques associated with the graphic arts that can help students interpret a photo, graphic or image to a block, while leaving plenty of room for artistic and creative licence.

Go HERE to find all the details

From Sketch to Printing Block  Learn in-depth techniques for adapting drawings for block printing, to include transfer techniques, some digital tools, understanding tone, depth and balance in one-colour applications. Additional Information… Instructor: Larry Thompson Course Code: CEAR1045 Section: 540 Campus: Date: 7/16/2018 – 7/19/2018 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Day(s) of Week: M Tu W Th Fee: $203.80

 

R I P – Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Baron, CaT

It is with some sadness that we must report the passing of our press cat, Tennyson, after a brief illness, age approximately 16 years. The morning of his last day, as the heat wave broke,  he made a final sojourn into the garden to survey his domain. Tennyson came to us in 2003 from the local animal rescue (Lanark Animal Welfare Society) and quickly lived up to his peerage by establishing dominance over all others in the household, in particular choosing the press room as his lordly seat. Mostly content, he occasionally had issues with the servants. In his later days, we indulged him with milk and cream cheese, much to his delight. He is survived by the Printer, who challenged him in philosophical discourse with too infrequent cigars and brandy; the Artist, with whom he frequently slept; and the Apprentice, whom he saw as an opportunity for more cream cheese.

Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
the sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.

from Ulysses, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892)

Ex Libris in Prince Edward County, Ontario

 

We are very pleased to have four pieces included in the Ex Libris exhibition at the BLIZZMAX Gallery. Check out the list of participants below; there is some pretty impressive talent in this region. Definitely an exhibit not to miss.

Hope to see you at the Vernissage!

EX LIBRIS @ BLIZZMAX

This exhibition is being organized in partnership with SPARKBOX STUDIO.

August 13 – Sept.2, 2016

EX LIBRIS features as least 15 artists who are creating original hand printed bookplates

VERNISSAGE Saturday August 13@ 7pm.

3071 County Road 13, Picton, Ontario K0K 2T0 (Prince Edward County 613.476.7748 Open June to October, Thursdays to Sundays from 10 to 5 or by appointment

Participants so far, include Kyle Topping and Chrissy Poitras from Spark Box, and Peter Mennacher from BLIZZMAX. Also showing are Wendy Cain, Michael Ciesieslski, Phoebe Cohoe, Rebecca Cowan, Josh Dannin, Genna Kutsch, Pam Loebb, Jeff Macklin, Otis Tamasauskas, Larry Thompson, Jessica Veevers, Terry Veevers and Jan Winton, although that may not be the complete list !

 

Announcing The Sorcerer and the Seventh Daughter

Coming to a Zombie Apocalypse near you,
or the Grimsby Wayzgoose, April 30, 2016.

In which Septima locks wit and wile with the
Necromancer who has designs on…. well, everything.

Written and illustrated with wood engravings by Larry Thompson

Printed as the snows of winter faded, after three years of silence from the Press. Now the rumbling voice of the Vandercook can be heard again in the Studio at Greyweathers in Merrickville, in the production of this, another Gothic Trifle, as a sequel to The Vampire and the Seventh Daughter.

Letterpressed with hand-set lead type in the Italian Oldstyle face, with Goudy Text for the titles, on Arches Text wove paper, in a limited edition of 60.

$80.

 

 

On humility….

Yes, that’s a litter box under my press. As Tennyson fades into extreme old age, he chose the space where I kept my rags under my press as his salle de bain, so it seemed to make sense to move his litter there. Also, using an antique section of banister, we are able to keep the dogs from devouring the contents of the litter, which is simply gross and where I draw the line at humility. It means as I work on getting the type printing just right or fighting with make-ready on wood engravings, I catch the occasional whiff of…. Is it me? Surely not! Ahhh, the cat.

The press, being both the source of beauty, elegance and style – and Tennyson’s depository – does bring me down to earth when things are going well, as they have been for the past year or so. In 2015, I received word that the University of Toronto’s Fisher Library wanted to acquire all books and broadsides printed to date, with a keen interest in anything else I come up with.

The year also saw me blaze through 20 shows: indoor with table or booth, and outdoor under tent. These shows were on the whole very successful, and just a few changes I will be repeating the same number in 2016. Shows are a wonderful way to meet new people, and to keep up with friends and collectors.

As for what shows I’ll be doing, I’ll be adding a page to this blog, but a listing will also appear in my newly reinvigorated website, complete with an on-line store for prints, all to be found at www.greyweatherspress.com

The biggest news this year will be the release of the most ambitious project yet from the press: Ecclesiastes. Yes, Greyweathers Press is getting biblical, with a heft that will weigh in at an estimated 80 pages of beautiful Arches Text Wove, illustrated with 60 odd wood engravings. Stay tuned, a detailed announcement is forthcoming.

An early draft of the title page design.

So with all of this activity, Tennyson’s periodic visits to my press keep me from getting too full of myself, and rightly so. It is all about the work, after all, and not the accolades.

 

 

You can’t beat City Hall…. for art!

So it’s back to Toronto this week to set up at the Toronto Outdoor Art Expo, held at Nathan Philips Square in the shadow of City Hall on September 18, 19, and 20. Don’t miss this art extravaganza!

 

Book Arts & Small Press Show in Toronto

Two years ago I had the privilege to show my books in the womb of the Fisher Rare Book Library at University of Toronto. It’s happening again on September 12, 2015 from 10 to 5 pm at 120 St. George Street in Toronto, Canada. For more info, click here.

A view of what participants and attendees of the Fisher Small and Fine Press Fair see all day.

New Website! [under construction]

Yup, I’ve got lots to smile about! Click above to check out the newly designed website.

Well, they say up this end of the continent, there are two seasons: winter and construction. I’m not sure if websites have seasons, but mine is still evolving, thanks to the efforts of the beautiful and talented Holly Dean. The old one is gone, and sometime soon the new one will be a hub for this blog, social media, sign-up page for infrequent e-newsletters and a place to buy books and prints. What marvelous modern times we do live in!