Royal Scottish Academy 2014 - online entry this YEAR !!

For their annual open, the RSA have set up an online facility for artists to submit their artworks.  I have already checked it out and have even paid the entry fee to submit 2 works. (£18.00 for non members).

Online applications must be completed before SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2014 @ 5PM

Two Stages

Stage 1 :

You have to register and fill in your details - part of which involves entering the url for your portfolio website.  Now that I have done that - all I need to do is upload the images of the artworks.  You can return at a later date to upload your images, if you want.  As per previously - artworks need to be a maximum of 80 cm on the longest side.  They recommend that digital uploads should be about 800 pixels wide and approximately 1MB in size.

Once you have done that and by 19th October at the latest - you have to wait until Monday 27th October to find out whether you have been "Pre-Selected".  They email to let you know.

Stage 2 :

The "Hand in Days" are then 14th and 15th November, for the actual physical artworks that have been  preselected

:  Once they have  gathered all these preselected artworks together

the  final selection will be made, by the RSA.

Artists who have made it through to FINAL SELECTION are then notified on the 19th November.

Click HERE to register for entry to the online facility

Courses at FDPW Spring 2014

The New year has come and gone and what are we all up to now ?  

Well we've been fairly busy here at Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop - what with a course in etching, having already taken place here, on 18th January.

Taught by Jai llewellyn who seems to have been a big hit with the participants.!!


artwork by Jai Llewellyn ( no details given re media size etc)
but check his website (above)  for more info     

Many of the members have been in over January and have been  steadily working away...... using loads of different techniques such as monotype, lino cut, etching on copper and zinc, woodcut and dry point amongst others. 

I was doing some water colour based monotypes which is a lovely easy technique which you can incorporate into prints in so many ways.  The other good thing is that you can paint your 'plate' at home and then bring them into the workshop to transfer onto your paper through the etching press. Great to use as backgrounds and to 'colour-in' various intaglio prints.
I haven't tried it yet with relief prints but don't see a reason why it wouldn't work just as well. 

Photo shows a water based monotype from way back - which I put some cut out kangaroo shapes on,  these were colored with water based crayons.  Look's a lot better in the 'real' - as opposed to this photo.

We also had a monoprint making 'share day' amongst the members this past Saturday which was a good opportunity for members to share their knowledge and learn from each other - which is one of the really neat things about printmaking  - the constant exposure to other peoples creative working methods.  It helps with keeping the creative momentum going!.

S C R E E N P R I N T   C O U R S E

The next course coming up,  is a screen printing course which will be taught by Sheila Carnduff, who's a very experienced and knowledgeable printmaker/ artist.  
It runs over 2 days and during this time you'll  be introduced to the steps involved in screen printing  -  such as  'de-greasing' screens, taping the edges of the screens and adjusting the screen printing bed.   

There will be discussion concerning different types of screens and squeegee as well as which papers are suited to screen print making.  So it will enable you to learn the sequential steps involved as well as to begin to explore the finer points.

image above is a 'one-pull' print by Chris Keegan - quite effective  - made using photo positive

exposed onto the light box to get the image on the silk screen  http://www.chriskeegan.co.uk/cat

This course will suit those who are completely new to screen printing as well as those with some prior experience who want to refresh and resume their practice.

We hope to  provide you with new and stimulating ways to print and introduce you to a variety of techniques, some old and some new.

The course takes place over two Saturdays :  10.00 am  through to  4.00 pm.

Saturday 22nd February 

and 

Saturday 1st March 2014

The cost is  £80.00 for non members and  £70.00  for FDPW members.

The surest way to secure a place on the course is 
by posting a cheque / made payable to FDPW

Mail it to :

Fife+ Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop

The Basement,

Dell Farquharson Community Centre,

Netherton Broad St.

Dunfermline, Fife,

KY12 7DS 

The cost includes materials, use of presses/ equipment,  tools,  inks, cleaning fluids and some paper.

Places will be limited to 8 so reserve your place now!

If you have any questions or need further information contact

Aine Scannell  FDPW Secretary  by email at   aine@ainescannell.com  or phone   01383 727873


Here's just one more single pull screenprint I found,  that I think is quite effective:

Link to the artists website   https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/boldandnoble

acknowledged thanks to the following for use of their images:

Visit for more info on the screenprint process.

http://www.ideastap.com/ideasmag/the-knowledge/how-to-screenprint

http://36limestreet.wordpress.com/tag/silk-screen/