WOOD CUTS
with Chris Daunt
Saturday/Sunday | 2/3 October 2010 | 10.00 - 16.00
Fee £120 or £100 (after discount) including materials
With their distinctive style and long
heritage, wood-cuts offer great creative possibilities. Chris will guide
you through the design and cutting process using two kinds of wood - one
smooth, one rough. Colour and black and white prints can be taken from the
blocks and images layered together.
Wood Cuts are a form of relief printmaking not dissimilar to linocuts. It
involves cutting away areas along with the natural grain of the wood on
the flat side of the piece of wood not required as part of the design. The
cut away areas ensure that when the completed template is inked and
brought into contact with the printing surface, there is less of a chance
of smearing. Careful and precise creation of the design will result in
what is essentially a solid image that can be transferred onto paper,
canvas or any surface that the artist wishes to use.
The practice of the woodcut goes back to antiquity where it was used
to print repeat designs on cloth. The earliest known prints on paper
date from the early fifteenth century and were used to make playing
cards and religious mementos, followed by use in books as
illustration. Soon the woodcut was being used extensively alongside
moveable type, which had just been invented in Germany, and the
practice quickly spread across Europe.
The woodcut is distinguished
from wood engraving by its use of the plank or side grain and the
employment of knives and gouges to make the cuts. This results in an
image of strong contours and the potential for great expressiveness of
line. In addition, different woods may be used to produce grain
patterns on the paper, as well as multi block printing to produce
coloured images. Alternatively, and far less demanding, is the
practice of applying colour within the contours by hand with, say,
watercolour paint.
The woodcut has been practiced by major figures in the history of
art including Durer, Gauguin and Expressionists such as Munch and
Nolde. Besides the European history there is the exquisite tradition
of the Japanese colour woodcut which shows a formal beauty unmatched
anywhere else.
CHRIS DAUNT
studied both Fine Art and English Literature and has worked as an
illustrator for over 20 years, using wood engraving as his principle
medium. Commissioned work includes illustrations for The Folio Society,
The Times, BBC publications and numerous other books. Recently he has been
making engraving blocks for other artists such as Angie Lewin, Sue
Scullard and Harry Brockway. He teaches regularly. He is an elected member
of The Society of Wood Engravers. Take a look at his website gallery page
to see other examples of wood engraving.
http://chrisdaunt.com/gallery
Take advangtage of our discounted price by booking two places
(for you and a friend on the same course or on two different Horsley
Printmakers courses). Explore Learning subscribers get an additional
discount - please let us know when reserving a place.
Deposits of £50 accepted.
Balance due 3
weeks before course starts
To reserve a place email:
info@horsleyprintmakers.co.uk
Or phone: 07989 955108 or 07717 256169 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00
p.m. weekdays
And then print off the
booking form and post with your cheque to:
Horsley Printmakers, The Hearth, Main Road, Horsley, Northumberland,
NE15 0NT
BOOKINGS FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION:
See location for B&Bs and places to eat in
the evening. Why not extend your stay and explore Hadrian‘s Wall country
or take advantage of the proximity to Newcastle and Gateshead's vibrant
city culture?
