Diary...progress & comments

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Weather still hot, humid and sauna-like. However the fields outside the window are now cleared and ready for planting again, the children have gone back to school here (teacher’s day in China is 10th September and the celebrations involve everyone), and the storms seem less frequent.

I have my pencil ready to sign my print editions, they all have titles and I also have, courtesy of Nate, who oversees the silkscreen printing unit of this base, a carved seal that I can stamp my name in Chinese on my prints after my signature. I will be practising before I start stamping!
My seal reads, "Kelly, artist at Guanlan Print Base"

The litho technicians printed my storm plate and I am going to add the last woodblock cut on top. As it turned out, I was unhappy with the immensely detailed reduction cut prints when they had the litho added, and have decided to review that print edition in the UK, rather than try and complete it here.

I also have the first proof of the sleeping girl etching, but no time to complete an edition. I hope to complete this in the UK also. It looked more appropriate printed in a sepia colour and the frame detail has given space to the image, completing the opportunity for narrative by introducing a ‘setting’ and I am more pleased than I could have imagined with the outcome. In fact, when I saw it printed, it became my new favourite piece!

My mind is full of ideas and progressions for the starting points I have originated here in China. The effect of the month will extend the experience into 2013 I am sure. All the prints that I complete with the influence of Guanlan will have the Chinese seal on them.

Next part of the project is framing for exhibition, scheduling talks and lectures and meeting back up with Phil White at the BBC to talk on the radio, about how it has been.