Monoprints, Collage & Happy Accidents

My noticeboard above my printmaking station of works in progress.

After all the fun of experimenting with collographs I've taken a change of direction for a while as I work towards a group exhibition with CPCANZ (Central Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand). The theme of the exhibition is "light and dark" and so I wanted to explore ways of capturing the light from under the water as seen when swimming in rockpools (something I did a bit of over summer.) I haven't ever done much monoprinting and so I wanted to have a good old "play" using various techniques to see what effects I came up with. 

I have been using Charbonnel Aquawash, hand cut paper stencils and sheets of ohp acetate. 

The prints for the exhibition are 20cm x 20cm, printed to the edge of the paper and hung unframed on clips. I found that I worked on 6 or more prints at a time building up multiple layers of colours and stencils. With monoprinting like this I think you have to always be ready to accept "happy accidents" as and when they happen and use them to guide you in new directions. 

At this point I now have a series of 9 "submerged" prints which I would like to exhibit as a group at some point. (I can only put 2 in the print council exhibition so I need to select which two I will show this time.)

"Submerged" 1 of series of 9.
Monoprint by Toni Hartill

As I have worked on these prints new ideas have come up and so I am now exploring ways of incorporating other elements into the prints including wood block prints, collage, collograph, etc.

I have been dyeing sheets of plain tissue with coffee, tea and colour washes of acrylic paints, and over-printing with woodblock prints and collograph materials.

Cornflour paste, coffee and tea
with cotton thread being dyed for stitching.

Dyed and printed tissue to use for collage.

Next, I have been seeing where my ideas take me as I begin to assemble works using monoprints as a base then adding collage, stitching, paper cutouts, relief prints and found papers. I've also played with making a "matrix" from dyed tissue, sandwiching other papers amongst the layers to see if it is something I could then print on. I seem to have an aversion to being restrained within a rectangular frame so I have been layering the tissue and hand made papers on both the front and back of the prints so that they seem to be growing in all directions and becoming quite lovely "artifacts."

More monoprints being transformed with layering, collage and stitching.
by Toni Hartill

Collograph prints for "Lasting Impressions" exhibition.

"Lasting Impressions" is a group exhibition by members of my print group Waitakere Printers Ink. This exhibition at Studio 1, is in a room adjacent to the "print2print" exhibition by the CPCANZ Auckland members where I am exhibiting 2 monoprints with the theme "light and dark". Also showing in another adjacent room is a solo print show "Directions" by Ruby Oakley, the founder of the print group and an Auckland rep for the CPCANZ.

I will be exhibiting my recent collographs all based on a sea theme. For me, the sea always leaves a lasting impression, in fact I think it is printed in my DNA! And these collograph plates certainly leave a lasting impression on the paper as the paper becomes very embossed by the textures of the plates.

A collograph plate in the making by Toni Hartill.

Details of 2 collograph plates by Toni Hartill

Collograph plate ready for printing by Toni Hartill

"Sea shore" collograph by Toni Hartill

"Sea weed I" collograph by Toni Hartill

"Sea spray" collograph by Toni Hartill

These prints are another step in my exploration of collograph techniques, an ongoing learning experience through trial and error. I am also working on embracing the imperfect and welcoming spontaneity and the happy accident! Anyone who knows my "perfectionism" tendencies will know how challenging this can be. 

Paintings on sale to make room for more work!

I need to make room for new work so here's a few past works at reduced prices. Each painting holds strong and fond memories for me so I'm putting them on sale before I change my mind!

If you are interested in any of these paintings, leave a comment with your email address and I will contact you directly. You are welcome to visit to view any of the paintings "in the flesh." At this stage, "pick up" only please.

Duders Regional Park    $800  Sale price $600

2004,   1225mm x 825mm, acrylic on canvas

This large canvas was painted following a weekend adventure with my family where we discovered the fun sport of orienteering for the first time. The regional park has/had a permanent orienteering course with maps supplied at the information stand in the carpark. (I don't know if the course is still there - I hope so.)

The reserve gives wonderful views towards the Coromandel Peninsula and the far end of Waiheke Island and there is access down to lovely beaches on all sides. 

This painting holds wonderful memories of a fun summer's day.

Harbourview Reserve, Point Chevalier $650  SOLD
2012, 820mm x 595mm, acrylic on panel.

This is a local beach reserve where I make the most of high tides in summer, enjoy a blustery walk on a stormy day and where I may, or may not, have been seen, on many occasions, photographing the environs and obsessively collecting pohutukawa leaves, shells, twigs, seaweed, etc for use in my creative pursuits. 

Takapuna Beach Reserve Shadows  $500   Sale Price: $300
2004, 820mm x 595mm, acrylic on panel.

This painting is of the carpet-like shadows that cover the beach side reserve in Takapuna on a hot summer's day. (The colour of the photograph varies from the original which isn't as lime green as seen here). 

(I remember when this area of land was covered with houses before it was transformed into a lovely public space.)

Sunset over Pakiri Hills  $300  SOLD
2007, 630 x 430mm,  acrylic on canvas

This painting was completed following a weekend away, camping at Pakiri Beach, with my young family. As we drove over the hills, I was captivated with the evening light washing the rolling hills with velvety colour.

Pakiri after the storm  $180 Sale price: $90
2008, 751mmx166mm, acrylic on panel

This is Pakiri beach as evening closes in, following a wild and stormy afternoon. Once the winds and rain had moved on everything felt refreshed and so tranquil and still.
I can still smell the sea air! Bliss!

My studio circa 2008

Collagraphs - a learning journey, 2014.

I have a fascination with collagraphs:

I love that found and inexpensive materials can be recycled and used to make something beautiful. 

I love that textures can be captured and reproduced.

I also love the almost sculptural process of creating the plates.

I am also continually challenged by collagraphs. 

Just when I think I've "sussed" the process... technical issues arise. This can be very frustrating (to say the least) but it can also be the opportunity to push new ideas and try different approaches.

"Inky Goodness" group show

This series of images were created for a group show, "Inky Goodness", with my print group Waitakere Printers Ink. I chose to create a series of small images to "test-drive" some techniques.

Materials I used include cardboard (matte board scraps, cereal boxes), hessian and permafill (a plaster-like builder's filler).

"Wanderlust" $35
Collagraph with silver leaf by Toni Hartill
Paper size 20cm x 20cm
Edition of 3

"Castaway" $35
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Paper size 20cm x 20cmEdition of 4

"Ambrosia" $35
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Paper size 20cm x 20cm
Varied edition of 6

"Ambrosia" $35
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Paper size 20cm x 20cm
Varied edition of 6

Inky Goodness Quilt
by members of Waitakere Printers Ink
including circular collagraphs by Toni Hartill.

"Antipodes" group show

This collagraph was created for the CPCANZ (Central Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand) group show with the theme "Antipodes". I used the theme as my starting point for this image "Memories Fade but Ties Remain". I explored the idea of how we collect and accumulate artifacts from our past (be it from our ancestors from the other side of the world, or from our own journeys and adventures) and these bits and bobs sit gathering dust, too "precious" to discard.  As time passes, their true meaning or origins fade and are forgotten and yet their ties, and our ties, to our past (and to our future) will remain forever. This was also inspired by the concept of the Rope of Mankind, "Te Here Tangata", a term used to describe genealogy by Maori.

The collagraph plate for "Memories Fade But Ties Remain"
by Toni Hartill

The back of the collagraph plate
showing the use of cereal boxes.
by Toni Hartill

The completed collagraph plate
by Toni Hartill

"Memories Fade But Ties remain"
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Edition of 4

This was a challenging plate to print as it is very complex, with lots of nooks and crannies and differing textures and thicknesses. I wanted the image to be washed out, as if it is fading as the title suggests. I also added a length of string to be blind embossed running off the page, to further illustrate the concept of the rope of mankind/ genealogy. 

Still life collagraphs

"The Beachcomber"  $65ea
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Edition of 4

This image was created along similar lines as the previous one using the idea of artifacts, this time collected from my wanderings along a beach (just as my windowsills attest to).

"Weighed Down by Sentiment" $110
Collagraph by Toni Hartill
Edition of 3

This image was again influenced by the idea of the things that weigh us down and hold us back in our lives – things we inherit, are gifted, acquire, accumulate… things we hang on to because we feel we should.

Do we really need all this “stuff”?!

These still life collagraph plates are, by nature, detailed and fiddly, mainly using cardboard scraps and the odd bit of string and fabric. (Considering I used to make miniature dollshouse furniture, my attraction to detail is not surprising... to me).

New works

Collagraph plate using pollyfilla, sandpaper, hammerite paint, & matte and gloss varnishes.

by Toni Hartill

For my next collagraph plates I wanted to experiment more with textures and the use of more painterly textures so I have spent time pouring over the works and processes of Brenda Hartill (no relation) - the queen of collagraphs, in my mind! Armed with a workbench of goodies including pollyfilla, sandpaper, hammerite paint, glues and varnishes, amongst other textural treasures, I am working on a new body of work in preparation for a group exhibition early next year. I am continuing to explore my theme of rockpools and oceans but this work is much more unpredictable and experimental as I "play" with techniques to see where it will take me.

Watch this space....

Some more collagraph artists who inspire me:

Lynn Bailey

Sue Brown

Hester Cox

Brenda Hartill

Julia Manning

Julian Meredith

Waitakere Printers Ink group shows, 2014

It's been a busy year for our wee print group "Waitakere Printers Ink".

We've had two shows at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna, one in May and one in September.

 Our annual show at the Barrel store at Corban Estate Arts Centre was held 3-5th October.

A number of us have work in the current show A Peek at Print at the Victoria Park Market for Auckland's Art week. This was organized and curated by Ruby Oakley.

 and we are about to hang our latest show at the West Coast Gallery at Piha.
Opens on Saturday October 25th at 2pm. 

The Common Denominator - Group Exhibition

This is the series of paintings I exhibited in The Common Denominator exhibition
at North Art, August 2014.

I look for beauty in unexpected, and often overlooked, places. 

These works are studies of the little “treasure chests” that are rock pools. 

It’s like I’m letting people in on a secret.  

Pink Barnacle Pool (SOLD)
Acrylic on Panel
220mm x 220mm

Detail of Pink Barnacle Pool

Ochre Pool, Takapuna Beach $250
Acrylic on Panel
220mm x 220mm

Detail of Ochre Pool.

Pebble Pool, Mahurangi $250
Acrylic on Panel
220mm x 220mm

Neptune's Necklace, Mahurangi $250

Acrylic on Panel

220mm x 220mm

Pohutukawa leaf in Pool, Pt Chevalier Beach. (SOLD)
Acrylic on Panel
220mm x 220mm

Detritus in Pool, Pt Chevalier Beach. (SOLD)
Acrylic on Panel
220mm x 220mm

Detail of Detritus in Pool.

The Common Denominator Group Show

I was invited to be a part of this group show by a good friend of mine, Fiona Graham. 

She wanted to put together a group show and so she selected friends, who are all practicing artists, to take part - Fiona is therefore "the common denominator."

Prior to the exhibition we only met once as a group and it was so lovely to meet these diverse and interesting women. We all paint, a few of us are also printmakers and I'm sure there are many other hidden talents and skills yet to be revealed. At this point only Fiona has seen a taste of everyone's work so it will be very exciting to see how the show will come together.

I am exhibiting a series of small paintings based on the theme of rockpools. This exhibition signals a return to painting for me after a couple of years focusing on printmaking. As I seem to have many opportunities to exhibit my printmaking I decided it would be a good opportunity, and a challenge for me, to create a series of paintings for this show. 

I am in a very different "place" from when I was painting previously so it has been interesting to see what would emerge this time round. I decided to work small so I wouldn't be intimidated and become bogged down. Each painting was completed over 2 - 3 days and once I had a sense for what was inspiring me about an image, they flowed very comfortably and it was a very enjoyable experience. It felt good to paint again!

The show opened on Sunday 4th August and runs until the 20th.

The show is listed on Arts Diary where you can view some images from the opening.

I was totally surprised and delighted to sell 3 paintings at the opening. And it was a pleasure to meet the new owner of my works. He will be taking them to hang in his beach house at Mathesons Bay, Leigh, north of Auckland. Perfect! This is where I met my hubby, some time last century, when we were working at the marine lab.

Matariki Exhibition : 2nd - 27th July, 2014

My wood cut series of rock pool prints, including my 3D print "Sea Nest" , were

included in this exhibition of various artists at the Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna, Auckland.