Easy printmaking

Idea for a craft coffee morning.

Here’s a manageable idea for a coffee morning, with a craft theme, which you can do round the table with friends.

As a 1970s child, I have a memory of the doorbell ringing and 70s outfits on the TV programme House Party. And also of Tupperware parties where the guests left with newly purchased plastic cake stands and ice lolly moulds. So coffee mornings are engrained in my experience. According to a friend who attends many of lectures and seminars, there is a trend in art colleges for collective practices, of making in groups around the table. This is as opposed to the individual artist, solitary in their studio, which has been a dominant theme, in the West at least, for many years. A coffee morning may seem lightweight, but to me it can be important space to meet up, make things and it’s very rewarding.

The idea for this coffee morning is Rubber Stamping. I can’t imagine a better book on rubber stamping than Stephen Fowler’s. It is so beautifully designed too.

Materials

The coffee morning is not without cost as you need a few materials and tools (as well as coffee, tea, milk and biscuits!)

• A stamp pad

• Cutting tools eg lino cutting tools

• Paper - any scraps will do

• Rubber - This can be a large eraser rubber or rubber from an art shop.

• Pencils / biro to transfer the design.

• Tracing paper can be useful.

But after that, it’s quite straightforward. I doesn’t take to long. It’s not a messy process and there is no ink to clear up.

What is the process?

Sketch out the design. Transfer on the rubber, remembering that it will print in reverse. Keep the design simple for the best results. Cut away the areas that will be left white (or the colour of the paper). Press on the stamp pad a few times, to charge up the ink on the plate. Print.

You can take it away with you and use on your drawings, letters, postcards, envelopes. It’s very playful and experimental.

You could try two colours, one overlaying the other to create a third colour. Or use a darker colour to add detail and tone.

Another idea is to carve your own initials - like a branding mark (in reverse of course). Holding paper up to a window can act as a light box if you need to do some tracing.

Building ur repeats and patterns works really well with this technique. It’s fast, effective and inevitably has a hand made feeling.

Here is a herd of bison that I worked on over my coffee.

Enjoy!