I have wanted to do a workshop with Dianne Fogwell since I saw her exhibition, Prescience, at the Geelong Gallery in 2022. I could not believe my luck when I discovered that Susan Baran had invited Dianne to teach a workshop in Skopelos a week after David Frazer’s workshop, which I was already booked to attend. I enrolled straight away. That led to a wonderful month on Skopelos.
The workshop was called Colour in Relief. Dianne showed us how she works through colour as she approaches and understands it. There are many ways to achieve colour in printmaking, and in the masterclass section of the workshop, Dianne took us through a journey of methods. We looked at the matrix, single and multiple blocks, reduction, stencil, applied colour and various techniques of application. Dianne also worked through ways of printing from the press to the table, covering ideas from both Western and Eastern approaches to colour and various methods of registration.
Dianne showed us the inks she uses in colour printing, along with other materials, and also how paper changes the relationship to the process and the image. I learnt a great deal over the 10-day workshop. Dianne was very knowledgeable, very open and creative. I created some test prints at the end of the workshop, but I really need to experiment a lot more to truly understand Dianne’s process. It has opened up a lot of possibilities for me.
I am excited to have the opportunity to exhibit in Derby, Derbyshire, in the UK, in the International Print Exchange. The International Print Exchange is an unjuried print exchange with no assigned theme, open to all, that celebrates fine art printmaking. This year there were a total of 1910 prints by 191 printmakers from 21 countries.
The International Print Exchange exhibition is a unique opportunity to see work from printmakers all around the world, to explore various printmaking methodologies and practices, and to purchase original quality prints at an affordable price.
I was in the exhibition last year and my print sold. This allowed me to enter this year. There is an online exhibition as well as a hardcopy one.
I completed a 9 day wood engraving workshop run by David Frazer on Skopelos in September (see below for more about David). I had a fabulous time. David Frazer is a very knowledgeable teacher. He is gentle and easy-going going and yet manages to get students to grow and develop. I completed the three wood engravings below. Shown in chronological order. The first one, unfortunately, is back to front. I forgot to draw it back to front on the block. A rookie mistake. I learnt a lot as I worked.
Skopelos Island is a great place to stay with lots of beautiful beaches and warm, clear water. The food is great, as is the company (like-minded people in the workshop), and the weather is warm. There was 7 days of studio tuition, we knocked off at 2 pm. That left lots of time to explore the island after the workshop. There was a substantial morning tea/or light lunch. On the 2 days off or mid workshop break days; one of which is a sailing day with lunch, I got a chance to draw, engrave and literally keep up with the class. There was a welcome and farewell dinner to get to know the workshop people’s ‘extra people’ that they brought along. Skopelos Town is very quirky, beautiful, and the people are very friendly. I stayed for a month and absolutely loved it (I did another printmaking workshop after David’s I will tell you about in the next post).
David Frazer has held over 50 solo exhibitions in Australia, London and China. David Frazer has exhibited nationally and internationally, with over 50 solo exhibitions since 1996. Working in printmaking, David has conducted many workshops in Universities, TAFES, and Community printmaking studios around Australia (including Queenscliff Gallery). He now also runs an exclusive workshop from the island of Skopelos each year. He has been in several group and prize exhibitions throughout Australia, China, the UK, and Poland.
In 2007, the ABC produced a half-hour documentary on David as part of the Artist at Work series.
His work is represented throughout Australia and overseas, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Library of Australia, the National Museum of China, the Royal Academy of Art in London, and most regional galleries in Australia. (Queenscliff Gallery)
David Frazer has held over 50 solo exhibitions in Australia, London and China.
David Frazer has exhibited nationally and internationally, with over 50 solo exhibitions since 1996. Working in printmaking, David has conducted many workshops in Universities, TAFES, and Community printmaking studios around Australia (including Queenscliff Gallery). He now also runs an exclusive workshop from the island of Skopelos each year. He has been in several group and prize exhibitions throughout Australia, China, the UK, and Poland.
In 2007, the ABC produced a half-hour documentary on David as part of the Artist at Work series.
His work is represented throughout Australia and overseas, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Library of Australia, the National Museum of China, the Royal Academy of Art in London, and most regional galleries in Australia. (Queenscliff Gallery)
