About the artist Kevin Holdaway, has been the Senior Technical Instructor in Printmaking, at De Montfort University, since 1990. Although born in Hampshire, he has lived in Leicestershire since graduating with a Fine Art degree in 1989. He teaches a wide range of traditional printmaking techniques including: relief, screen printing and intaglio, and enjoys passing on his skills to others who share his passion for print. Kevin is an internationally exhibited Artist, and has been the Master Printer for various others including Fluxus Artist Alison Knowles and Concrete Poet Edwin Morgan. He also volunteers as a technical advisor at Milton Keynes Printmakers on a regular basis and has taught workshops demonstrating techniques across England. He is a member of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers.
About the workshop In this workshop we will be looking at the two intaglio processes of collagraphs and drypoint. One demonstrates a way in which you can incorporate textures into your printmaking and the other is very much a linear process.
Collagraphs: This process we will be making a textural print by applying basic surfaces to mountbard incorporating a cut and peel method. Peeling away the surface and scoring into the plate. Adding carborundum and wood glue for the darkest areas and cellotape and glue for highlights. Then the finished plate will be sealed using shellac, dried, inked up and then printed.
Drypoint: This process we will be hand scoring designs onto various surfaces including traditional zinc and the more modern hard plastic. Using traditional tools including scrapers and burnishers we will prepare the plate while we are waiting for the collagraph blocks to dry.
We will be using an etching press, as with all intaglio processes, where the paper is softened in water then pushed into the line that has been made in the plates. We will go through the preparation, image making, inking up and printing of both the processes covered.
What to bring along for the day Kevin will be supplying all of the equipment and materials, but if you have some of your own then feel free to bring them along. He also recommends that you wear an apron. We also need to ensure that the tables and floor are protected.
