Fare Thee Well...

Friends, countrymen, I'm abandoning ship for the fair shores of www.hannahhunterkelm.co.uk. Thanks for reading - see you at the new site! 

Collaboration Station

Haven't posted for a while as I'm working on a shiny new website and blog combo which should hopefully be up and running by February. In the meantime, the collaborative sketchbook project I'm working on with Katie and Ella is still going strong - here are my latest pages...

I've also been busy producing several new prints on the aforementioned Columbian print press! They're available for sale in my Etsy shop, with a new screen print to follow later this week.

Adventures with a Columbian

In August this year I started a year's Foundation Diploma with Leeds College of Art, which happens to have an AWESOME print studio. Last week I got to try out the Columbian, a beautiful print press which is around 100 years old. Using an oil-based ink as opposed to water-based, the results were smoother and cleaner than I've ever been able to achieve with my humble rolling pin. Here's to a year of as many lino prints as I can muster!

In other news, I have been working on another interesting project with the wonderful and talented ladies Katie Nairne and Ella Dickinson (who happens to be my sister). We are currently posting an old book to each other, filling in a few pages with sketches as it moves around the country. Should be fun! Below is my first attempt, inspired by Mark Hearld. 

Ette Photo

Just in case you like knowing the origin/ideas behind a piece of work, here's the original photo which inspired the Ette print mentioned last time...

'Ettes Cross the Starting Line'

Last week I rolled out the first few sailing club prints, of which there will be 30 in total. Thought you might like to have a gander...

The finished product - quite tricky to get the two layers of colour to line up but we got there in the end!

Each print is slightly unique due to being hand-placed and then hand-rolled (with my rolling pin - and sometimes the help of a husband!). 

An example of what the first layer of the print looks like before I add the darker top layer. 

Finalement!

Behold! The Map of Matrimony! Originally created by Thomas Spurrs (Sheffield) in 1840, and now updated for your pleasure and perusal, methinks this would befit any lavatory, hallway or billiard room in the land (not to mention the fact that it is the perfect wedding present). A limited edition Giclee print run of 120, this little beauty is yours for £30. You can't say I'm not good to you. 

Sailing Club print...

Honour bound as I am to provide you with an update, here is the linocut of which I spoke...

Great News!

It has been a few months, but I can now reveal that the copyright for the Map of Matrimony has been approved, and I have set to work on getting a test copy of this new print made. Excitement! 

Not only that, but this post finds me so fresh from carving my latest print that the lino shavings are still clinging to my clothing - more updates to come as it progresses. 

Matrimonial Mappiness

Another soon-to-be-availiable print - keep your eyes peeled on my Etsy shop! As you can see I'm still not done yet!

Ette Print Sneaky Peak

Started sketching out this new print which should hopefully be ready by the start of sailing season this summer! It is based on a photograph taken of an Ette race, held by South Cork Sailing Club in the 1950's. (The boat in the foreground is called Suzette, and my great uncle is sailing her.)

Personalised Paintings Available!

I've just launched a new product on my Etsy Shop, and at £5 a pop, these personalised watercolour paintings are a fun present for all with a somewhat quirky sense of humour! 
See my shop for more details (the link to it is on the right hand side of this page). 

Late Christmas Presents?

Just spent a morning rolling out some new 'Everything For the King' prints, which will be available for sale in the coming weeks. This is a small run of 40 prints, so once they're gone, they're gone!

Evolution of a Print

Thought I'd give you a step-by-step account of my latest print design, 'Everything for the King'. 

Step 1. I was inspired by C.S Lewis' essay, 'Learning in War-Time'. An excerpt from the text is shown below. As I read it, a picture of a little mole popped into my head, and I've been thinking about it ever since!

Step 2. I did some preliminary sketches, just trying to get what was in my head down on paper. I also played around with a beautiful Indian Batic woodblock, which I ended up incorporating into the final design.

Step 3. I finalised the design, and then used tracing paper to transfer it to the lino, before I marked it out again in marker pen, so that it wouldn't smudge when I was cutting it.

Step 4. Laborious and often painstakingly slow, the design needs to then be cut BACKWARDS into the lino. This is my favourite bit.

Step 5. PRINT! This can also take longer than expected, especially if your paint is not quite the right consistency. Sticky ink is best, I find!

Step 6. Once I was happy with the prints, I got them framed locally, et voila! This is a run of 40 limited edition prints which I'm selling. You can get in touch with me via the facebook page link on this blog if you're interested!

Sometimes a small beginning can be the best kind...

The blog hath commenced! Watch this space for any or all of the following:

• Limited edition linoprints
• Illustrations
• Sketches
• Nonsense poetry
• Rambling writings

Who knows? People might even read it one day...