The Hepworth Wakefield

I've been a little secretive recently, about a new commission that I've been working on. It is one I'm rather excited about, and pretty chuffed to have been asked to do. If anyone has noticed that I've rather resembled a mole of late, then this is why. It has been keeping me very busy!

The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield asked me to produce a linocut of the gallery, and I was very glad to oblige. It is a pretty amazing building, both outside and in (it houses a stellar collection of modern art), so I was more than a little nervous!

However, once I'd got started, it was a lot of fun. The print is a hand-pressed two-colour linocut, measures 21x30cm, and is on 42x58cm paper. It will be available to buy from the gallery and their online shop from December (price tbc).

www.hepworthwakefield.org

COMPETITION TIME!

Yes! Its my first ever competition, and I have two 'King Of The Donkeys' mugs to give away!

These are super-limited, only these two exist. To win one, I'd like you to tell me how the donkey in 'Red/blue donkey regrets the adventure' got down from the mountain. The best and most creative entries will win! You have until 20th November to come up with something, either by email (to jgprintworks@hotmail.com) or via my printworks facebook page...

November and December-age...

Most people can't believe it is November again. I'm one of them. Plenty of good things going on. I have a bundle of events that I'm taking part in, and a few new things to show you too.

Fairs/Markets

Saturday 3rd / Sunday 4th November 2012 - The Art Market, Holmfirth - It is the 10th Art Market, so for the occasion they are opening it up for the evening of the Saturday (8-10pm), as well as from 10am-4pm on the Sunday.

Saturday 24th November 2012 - Knife & Folk Art Fair and Exhibition, APG Works, Sheffield, 3-9pm; Art, craft, music and mulled wine!

Sunday 25th November 2012 - Whirlow Hall Farm Christmas Fair, 10am-3pm. Farmers Market, Craft Fair, music, and festive food and drinks.

Saturday 1st / Sunday 2nd December 2012 - Kelham Island Victorian Christmas Market, Sheffield - The legendary Christmas market, with added costumes! 10am-5pm

Saturday 8th December 2012 - Snowy's Polar Fayre, Weston Park Museum, Sheffield. A new venture for the museum, featuring a good range of contemporary craft from the region.

Saturday 15th December 2012 - Designer/Makers Fair, Spitalfield Markets, London. A very exciting market, with makers from all over the UK!

I might also have one or two extra events, but I'll put them on my facebook page is they happen.

New stuff!

I have a new version of my 'Deinonychus!' linocut, now available as a poster-print. It will soon be up on my folksy shop, and also available at fairs and markets:

Oh, and I have a couple of new card-designs too, being 'Otto' and '10 Donkeys'. The latter is about as seasonal as I get!

Handmade Revolution!

Just a quick post. One of my linocuts ('Pigeons') has been featured in the BBC Handmade Revolution booklet which accompanies the TV series. I wasn't actually in the TV series, but it is nice to featured in the printed document!

Time, time, time...

See what's become of me....(there's a song in there somewhere).

So, I've been meaning to update the blog for a while, but time is conspiring against me. I'd better get this post done before something else gets in the way!

New prints

I've done a couple of new prints in the last month or so. They are both available on Folksy and from the fairs/markets that I do, as well as a few galleries that i sell too, too.

Three donkeys (an uncomfortable silence no.2) - the first uncomfortable silence was featured on a plate that I produced last year. I didn't create many, and they all sold, so I felt the urge to create another linocut along the same theme! Three more slightly awkward beasts. It is available only as a hand-pressed linocut.

Sheffield City View No.2 - this is almost a reverse view of the first  city view that I created. It shows a view looking at the city from the Pitsmoor/Rutland Road side of town. It is available as a hand-pressed linocut and three poster variations.

Interview!

I'm taking part in the next Art Market in Holmfirth on 3rd/4th November. For they occasion they have interviewed me, and you can hear me waffling on about my work and things I like by clicking on the link.

http://theartsmarket.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/james-green-printworks-art-market.html

Plates

I've finally got around to producing my new plates! They are entitled Donkey No.1 and Donkey No.2, and I'll be selling them only at fairs/markets and through The Framery in Sheffield. See what you think..

September and October goings on..

Yes, I've already mentioned September in my last post, but more things have popped up, so i thought I'd mention them.

August was a fab month. Running a workshop for Copy/Print It at the Site Gallery, and taking part in Art In The Gardens and the Saltaire Makers Fair were really great fun. I met a lot of friendly people and talented makers. I even bought myself something from a fair (which doesn't happen often!), being a lovely pot from The Old Brewery Pottery, who were selling at the Saltaire event. Here it is:

Anyway, on to September and October...

EVENTS

I'm taking part in the following events:

Thursday 20th September to Sunday 30th September 2012, The Arrivals Zone, outside Sheffield Train Station, Sheffield, all day! This is an event in collaboration with the School of Architecture, as part of the 'Festival Of The Mind', to publicise Sheffield art and culture. A container will be placed outside the train station for 10 days, and turned into a shop/tourist office, selling my prints as well as works by Kid Acne, Phlegm and Theo Simpson. I'm in good company there!

Saturday 22nd September 2012, Mary's Marvellous Craft & Vintage Market, St Mary's, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, 10am-5pm. £1 entry. First anniversary of the market that has pretty much become the best in the city.

Sunday 23rd September 2012, Nether Edge Farmer's Market, Nether Edge Road, Sheffield, 12pm-4pm. Weird food, morris dancers and loads of stuff to buy!

Sunday 7th October 2012, Sharrow Vale Market, Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield, 12pm-4pm. Weird food, jazz and loads of stuff to buy!

Saturday 20th October 2012, Meersbrook Bank Autumn Fayre, Sheffield 11am-3pm. A fund-raising event at a local primary school.

Saturday 20th October 2012, Beady Eye Art Exhibition, location TBC, 6pm onwards. I took part in this last year, and it was a lot of fun. A pop-up art exhibition for one night only!

NEW WORK

My new plates are in the kiln, as we speak, so I'll have some pics of them up soon. I'm working hard on new landscapes, donkey-themed prints and lots more.

Speaking of donkeys, my 'Red Donkey Regrets' sold out of its original edition of 100 last month. I had no idea it'd be so popular. Since then, I've been asked a fair bit about if he will return. Now, I can't hand-print any more, but I have created a new poster-print version, in different colours. It is now in my folksy shop and available at fairs too. See what you think!

-'Blue Donkey Regrets the Adventure'

August / September 2012 goings on..

Howdy

August was supposed to be a quiet one, but grand plans and all that. Still, I've had a little time to think about new works before the Autumn/Winter season grabs hold.

EVENTS

I'm taking part in the following fairs/events in August and September:

Mary's Marvellous Vintage & Craft Market, Bramall Lane, Sheffield - Sat 25th August, 10am-4pm. Great established Sheffield fair, with really good quality and variety of wares.

Art In The Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Sheffield - Sat 1st/Sun 2nd September, 10am-4pm. One of the biggest art events in Sheffield. It was great last year, so looking forward to it!

Makers Fair, Victoria Hall, Saltaire - Sat 8th September, 10am-4pm. Part of the Saltaire Arts Trail, and a fair that makers travel a fair way to take part in. Again, if last year is anything to go by, it'll be dead good.

Mary's Marvellous Vintage & Craft Market, Bramall Lane, Sheffield - Sat 22nd September, 10am-4pm. As before!


NEW WORKS

I've just completed a new landscape, and fairly recently completed a new bird linocut.

The 'Monsal Trail' is a view I came across by accident on the way back from a craft fair in Cheshire. I stopped the car, needing a little fresh air, looked over a wall and this was pretty much the view I got. I don't normally go for rural landscapes, but I just loved the drama of the scene. It took quite a while to complete, so I'm pretty chuffed now its done! The trail (actually in Derbyshire) is an old abandoned railway line that is now a really beautiful cycle and foot path.

'Terns' is just a composition of three seabirds at work and play. Beautiful birds. I'm certainly no ornithologist, but I find them fascinating creatures.

I'm now working on some new plate designs, a regretful donkey poster-print and hopefully some ceramic donkeys too (fingers crossed!). I'll keep you posted...

July magazine features

So, I mentioned a few posts ago that i was going to featured in a couple more craft mags in July. Well, here they are, Craftseller and Handmade Living. The feature in the first is about being a male in craft-world, and my experiences of it, and the latter is just my 'Whitby No.1' print featured in a seaside-themed spread. I'm very chuffed they wanted me!

Quite a Sheffield July..

Well, its already going on, so I'd better get a move on! 


After a month of travelling around out of town for fairs, this month is more of a Sheffield one..


On Saturday 14th July I'll be at the Banner Cross Family Festival at Banner Cross Methodist Church. It's not one i've been to before but I have heard lots of good things! Its runs from 11am until 4pm.

Folksy Fair Poster

The Folk Forest 2012 - souvenir poster-print

And on the following weekend (21st/22nd July) I'll be at the Folksy Fair in Endcliffe Park. This is part of 'The Folk Forest' music event, and it is the first time that Folksy have held a craft fair. There are going to be 35 craft stalls, all Folksy sellers, and it runs from 12pm-8pm both days. All very exciting!


Its going to be a busy weekend for me, because as well as selling my usual prints, I'm also selling souvenir 'Folk Forest' prints (as I did the linocut images), and my band (The Big Eyes Family Players) are also playing the festival on the Saturday too!


Then, the following Saturday (28th July) I'm running one of my linocut printing workshops at Cowlishaw Works. I'm blown away every time by what people end up with, and they seem pretty happy too (which is good)! The July one is full-up, but I still have a few places left on my workshop on Sat 15th September. Email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com if you are interested.

'Leisure Painter' magazine feature

So, I was asked to create an article by Leisure Painter magazine to show how to do two-colour linocut printing. I did a one-colour feature for them last year. It was quite tricky actually writing down my process, as it is the kind of thing that I don't really think about when I'm printing my work! Anyway, I managed it, and showed how I created my 'Terraces' piece.


Here are some shots of the magazine. It is available at good newsagents and also online.

Self-portrait project

So, a friend of mine suggested that I have a go at doing a linocut self-portrait. They thought it might be interesting, and a challenge.

I ummed and arred and decided to have a go. I should say now that this wasn't in any way a vanity project. I don't particularly like looking at my face, and wouldn't expect others to too! However, I remember doing some during my A-levels, and then my degree, and how much of a challenge it was. To capture yourself in a way which satisfies yourself is tricky. Also, normally with linocut you can get away with a little mistake here and there, but if you cut your own ear off then it isn't going to work! i had to be ultra-careful on this one.

Below are work-in-progress images, and then the final print. I'm pretty happy with it, although it does look a bit like I've just got out of bed!

the finished self-portrait!

June/July happenings..

Hello people


Bit behind on my updates, but all been a wee bit hectic..so...


Fairs/Markets
In June and July I'm taking part in the following:


Mary's Marvellous Vintage & Craft Market, Sheffield - Sat June 16th, 10am - 4pm
The sixth one, and very much established in Sheffield as one of the best around, with great food too!


Nether Edge Farmers Market, Sheffield - Sunday 24th June, 12pm-4pm
I love this one. always really busy, with a great atmosphere. People filling up with strange foods, fine coffee and some art too!


Handmade/Vintage Fair/Dog Show - Sunday 1st July, Victory Hall, Woore, Cheshire, 10am-4pm
Vintage Escapades at in again, this time with a dog show as well! I did this fair back in March, and it was great fun. Weird and wonderful art, craft and er..dogs!


Banner Cross Family Festival, Sheffield - Saturday 14th July, 11am-4pm
A new one to me, this one, but apparently a great annual event, in a very nice part of town! Craft, food, music, games and hopefully a bit of sun too.


Possibly more going on too, so I'll add when I know...




Linocut Printing Workshops

My June/July workshops are now full-up, but I've just arranged another on Saturday 15th September, at Cowlishaw Works in Sheffield. 8 Places available, £35 per place, no experience necessary, and all materials provided, as well as tea/coffee/biscuits.


Email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com if you are interested.


Dinosaurs!
I've just completed a new two-colour linocut of a Deinonychus. My son (who is 5) is rather keen on dinosaurs, so I thought I'd create one for him. When I'd finished it I asked him if I put copies in my shop and he said he didn't mind. So there you go!

Magazines
I'm going to be featured in three magazines in July. I've written a feature on two-colour linocut printing for 'Leisure Painter' magazine, a couple of my prints are to be featured in the shopping section of Handmade Living magazine, and there will be an interview with me in 'Craftseller' about being a man working in the craft-world.


I think that all, for now!

press, Holmfirth and forests..

PRESS!


I was in the Yorkshire Post (magazine) on 12th May! Very nice of them to feature me...Here is the clipping:

Its a bit blurry, but you can get the idea.
























FAIRS/MARKETS

My next fair is the Art Market in Holmfirth. I have sold there before and its a great one. Lots of really good quality and original stuff, and run like clockwork too! I'm there on Sat 10th June, 10am-4pm, and my pal Butterscotch & Beesting will be there for the first time too.


FOLK FOREST
As I did last year, I've been commissioned to produce the artwork for The Folk Forest music festival in Sheffield. It is part of the Tramlines city-wide festival, and a great 2-day gathering of folk-esque acts in beautiful Endcliffe Park (21st/22nd July 2012). I'm doing the posters and banners, as well as some merchandise and an exclusive art-print. Here is a sneaky peek at some of the artwork:

April/May fairs/events, new work and writing....

Hello there


A busy old month or so up ahead....so, here goes..


Fairs/Markets/Events

On Saturday 21st April I'll be selling my work at the Designer-Makers Market at Spitalfield Markets in London. It runs 11am-5pm, and I'm rather excited about it, as its my first market in London!


On Saturday 28th April I'll be at the Knife and Folk: Art Fair and Exhibition Open Evening at Archipelago Works in Sheffield. A collection of top local art/craft talent, music and more, so I've been told. This one runs from 3pm-9pm.


I'm also taking part in Open Up Sheffield this year. Basically artists in the city open their studios and exhibition spaces to the public for two consecutive weekends in May. I'll be exhibiting a selection of works in a new space this year (alongside 5 other artists), at KIAC (Kelham Island Artist Collective), Lion Works in Sheffield, and will be there on 5th/6th and 12th/13th May. All work will be available to buy, and I'll have unframed versions too. You can pick up booklets containing maps and more info all over the city from now onwards, so plenty of time to organise an art trail!




Writing about linocut printing
I've been asked again to write a feature for Leisure Painter magazine. This time it is to demonstrate the 'fine' art of two-colour linocut printmaking. I've just completed the task, and realised how complex the process actually is! It will be published in their Summer issue in July.




New Work - The Cyclist
I've just complete a new linocut which I will be making available as a poster-print. A fairly tricky one, this, but I got there in the end! Ideal perhaps for those inclined to ride, or perhaps those who would rather just look than get a sweat-on! I'll be putting it in my Folksy/Etsy shops very soon and will also have it available at fairs/markets.

Workshops, a Folksy sale, fairs and reduction linocuts

Hello there..


Just a few things to whittle on about..


Linocut Workshop
My next linocut workshop is on Sat 17th March, at The Crucible, Sheffield. This one is called 'Advanced Lino Printing', but is really just a workshop to explore further methods with linocut (2-colour, reduction printing and more one-colour composition. There are 9 places available, at £40 each, and this includes all materials and lunch! A link to book is here:
http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/advanced-lino-printing-12

Sale in my Folksy shop
I'm having a sale on selected items in my Folksy shop (up to 33% off). Follow the link for a peek!
http://folksy.com/shops/jamesgreenprintworks?shop_section=sale_items

Fairs/Markets
On Sunday 25th March I'll be at the Nether Edge Farmers Market in Sheffield. Always a good bustling event this!
http://www.netheredge.org.uk


Then the next fair I will be attending will be the Buxton Artists & Designers Fair, held in the beautiful Buxton Pavilion. Should be fun!
http://www.paviliongardens.co.uk/fairsevents/artists.htm



Reduction Linocut Print
Its been a while, so I thought I'd have a go at a reduction linocut print. a scary method at the best of times (as once you've cut the first layer, printed it and started the next there is no going back!). Turned out ok, I reckon. Not sure what I'm going to do with the 'Grey Donkey' yet...

new poster-prints

Been a tad busy on the creating front (that's what January is for isn't it?). I have three new poster-prints. They are 'Gambolling', 'The Black Hare', and 'Pheasants' (2nd edition).


'Gambolling' is a brand new print, based on an idea i had a while ago, about a load of lambs going a bit crazy in spring-time. 'The Black Hare' is a design I created a while ago, and only used on a greeting card. I got asked by a lot of people if I was going to create a poster-version, so, at last, I have! 'Pheasants' is an existing poster-print, but in a new colour scheme. I used this colour scheme on the mugs I recently made, so was curious to see what it'd look like on a poster-print.


I will have them for sale at fairs/markets from Saturday 4th Feb, and in my Folksy shop shortly after that.

New Sheffield View!

Yep, I've gone and done another. This one is a view from Bole Hill Park, Crookes, looking towards Stannington. See what you think. It is a two-colour hand-printed linocut, and its now in my Folksy shop, and will be available at fairs/markets.


'Stannington View'

Valentines!

I've created a linocut print for valentines day entitled 'Czech Heart'. It is a 2-colour hand-printed linocut, and comes in three colour variations. The writing on the front is Czech for 'I love you'. I don't speak Czech or have any direct link with the country. I just find the place very interesting, and consider it and the language a tad romantic (hark at the soppy fellow!).


It is available for a limited period from my Folksy shop and also at the forthcoming Mary's Marvellous Craft & Vintage Market in Sheffield on 4th February.


link to red 'Czech Heart' in Folksy shop
link to blue 'Czech Heart' in Folksy shop
link to orange 'Check Heart' in Folksy shop

And here we go again...

Hope you had a good festive break...feels like a long time ago now...thanks to all those who bought and perused..it was certainly a very hectic time....


And so to 2012...January...a funny month, sometimes quiet, but a dead good month for trying out new ideas...


New Works
Aside from my print works, I have decided to go 3D with my donkeys. I'm making some in porcelain (with the help of artist Hanne Westergaard). Its all very exciting, as I've never worked in this medium, or for that matter in anything with three dimensions! Some of the models I'm basing my donkeys on are here:

These ones are just clay, and a bit rough round the edges. I'll post up more photos of the process as soon as I can.

Also planned are more Sheffield and Welsh landscapes, and a few more creatures too!!

Events

I'm going to be at the next 'Mary's Marvellous Vintage & Craft Fair' on Saturday 4th February. It runs 10am-4pm, and is swiftly making quite a name for itself (for the cakes as well as the quality wares on sale!).

Workshops

I'm running another linocut printing workshop at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Suitable for beginners and more experienced folk it is on Saturday 25th Feb, 10.30am-4.30pm. All materials supplied as well as tea and coffee. At the end you'll hopefully have a finished frameable one-colour print (or two-colour if you are feeling adventurous), some test-prints and your lovely piece of lino. It costs £35 for the day and there are 9 places available.

To book either email events@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or phone 0114 2013831. For more info go to http://cms.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/event/an-introduction-to-lino-printing.