About Bloom
Bloom was the first edition I made for the Experimental Print Club. By the time it was editioned I had 6 members signed up, and so it was numbered as an edition of 6, with a few APs, and a PP, in line with one of the club’s rules, that the edition length would be set by the number of members on the day each work is printed.
The idea of course is to make time specific pieces that chart my process and progress in the studio, if only obliquely, and will hopefully become moderately collectible as a result of their highly limited availability.
The idea to etch the piece was central to this first edition, as I was keen to continue thinking about the ongoing dialogue surrounding the digital vs the analogue, and specifically what's lost and what's gained in the process. I asked Ros Ford to help with the print, as I’d previously enjoyed working with her on my ReVOX / masked etching.
Both projects have been hugely enjoyable affairs. As with ReVOX / masked, the idea for Bloom would be to take a digital drawing, in this case a b/w study from my Radial / THREE series, and produce it as an inked copper plate etching. After much decision making about scale, cropping, plate size and density testing, I hope we ended up with a good first edition to send out to club members.
Looking back from this distance, I also seem to have documented the production fairly comprehensively, so I’ve posted quite a few of those images here, so you can get some sense of the process involved.
Bloom, in the studio
Print Club blog, May 4th, 2016
"...Ros Ford and I completed the Bloom edition last week at BV Studios, and after 4 or 5 days drying time, the completed, editioned, etchings are packed and in the post today. So you should receive your first Patreon Experimental Print Club mailing very soon.
It's been a fascinating process working with Ros on the etching. For clarity, Ros made the copper plate, and has done all the inking and printing, my input has been the original drawing, the film work, all the digital stuff, and the print finishing. I've chosen to leave one naturally deckled edge, and 3 cut sides, partly to show orientation, but primarily to make a real feature of the beautiful softened edge of the handmade Somerset paper. All the prints also have a full watermark in the bottom r/h corner.
So this first edition is limited to six prints, a printer's proof, and a couple of artist's proofs. They've been mailed out to Wisconsin, and Stornaway, amongst other places. As per the idea for the club, the print won't ever be re editioned, so that's it for this piece, the work that's been mailed out today is the whole edition. A moment in time.
I'm already working on the next piece(s) so I'll look forward to posting some more information here as the summer comes in, about what I'm planning to make. The next piece will be in colour, probably laser cut, and will be a solo project. But I am also planning on collaborating further with local friends and artists on future editions..."
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Text from the Print Club blog, May 4th, 2016
About the Print Club
If you’d like to receive three or four exclusive new editions in the post each year, alongside personal news and views from the studio, and invitations to shows and fairs, please do consider becoming a member of my Experimental Print Club. You can join or leave the club at any time, with absolutely no obligation to stay any longer than you want to.
New works are sent out somewhat sporadically throughout the year, often in line with the changing seasons. Each piece is unique, exclusive, and only available on the day it’s editioned, the size of the edition being determined by the number of members on the day.
I hope the club presents a more personal and intriguing way to connect with the studio, by creating a platform for collecting engaging new works for your home. The club is hosted online here, and I send out fairly regular blog posts and emails about the work too. I’d like to think that it’s an interesting proposition!
Membership is currently priced at £36 per month inc. UK delivery, or £42 for an international address.
Associated works
