Charles Shearer at the Curlew Press

It has been a long held ambition of mine to attend a Charles Shearer Collograph workshop - not because I think his style is that close to mine, although I feel we use similar references - but to learn about his unique mark making process and sublime technique. I was not disappointed. The workshop was held over 2 days in November in the legendary Curlew press - as if this wasn't pilgrimage enough! Charles is a very generous tutor - helpful and patient - along with being a fantastic colourist (I wish I had taken a photo of the inking station for you to see). Look up his work to see what a sublime hand he has.

We made a number of plates from display board, using simple mark making tools and scalples, that were sealed in shellac before being printed onto Fabriano paper with oil based inks - some mixed with extenders. What I learnt was that this technique is a combination of intaglio and relief printmaking - blissful. Some additional textures were added by using embossed wall paper motifs. Charles demonstrated more ‘hacks’ using paper stencils and the happy accident of a ghost image on the roller, along with cutting a bevel edge to the plates (V hard!).

I met a fantastic group of like minded students who all adapted their imagery to the technique. I went home very happy and tired - but full of ideas about how to develop this technique.

Top tip - let the plates ‘touch’ each other to create a kinetic energy to your piece.