In an increasingly digitised world, what is it about the centuries-old art form of printmaking that continues to attract creative people from all walks of life? Surprisingly, it is rarely a carefully planned career path…
York Printmakers, a local group of passionate printmakers formed in 2015, consists of around 50 members. While some of these discovered printmaking through formal training, others stumbled across the medium during exhibition visits, or when looking for a new hobby during retirement. One first encountered lino printing while watching a demonstration at York Open Studios, and later turned it into a full-time career; a second worked alongside renowned artists and master printers before developing her own practice, while another took up relief printing after retirement and, at 79, still describes it as a passion that continues to inspire him.
York Printmakers members work in diverse methods and disciplines, including etching, linocut, collagraph, monotype, screen print, solar plate, Japanese woodblock, lithography and stencilling, but they all have one thing in common: an enduring fascination with a rewarding, tactile medium that combines craftsmanship, creativity and community.
Running next month, the group’s annual fair will offer Yorkies the chance to meet artists, see hundreds of original prints across two exhibitions, get up close and personal with techniques including linocut, collagraphs, woodcut, screen printing, stencilling & etching, and celebrate passionate printmakers!
The York Printmakers Annual Print Fair will take place from 10.00am-5.00pm on 19-20 September at The Chapel and Harriet Room, York Cemetery, YO10 5AJ. Entry is free! Visit www.yorkprintmakers.org.uk to find out more or sign up as a member.
Add a comment