Printing - Bringing the Outside In

Loving the speeded up drying time in my studio curtesy of a few days of beautiful summer temperatures - these Woodland Ash prints, freshly made are full of sunshine! Each print has been made with love and care directly using ash leaves gathered from woodland walks in Yorkshire.

Working directly with plants I create unique monotypes - each piece is a one off! Each colour mix is made directly on the printing plate and again is unique in its mix. Working in this way connects me to nature and grounds me

These prints have been made using early in the year ash leaves - tiny and fresh. I collect leaves over time whilst walking and do not take more than a couple of leaves from any one tree. The leaves are then pressed in flower presses until I am ready to print with them. The process is long and slow but very rewarding. 

They are all printed on a full size sheet of A2+ Fabriano 220gsm Rosapina Printing Paper.

All of the above prints are available from my online shop 

Research and Gathering

Throughout this year and next I will be documenting the grounds and gardens of Scampston Hall using nature mono print.The finished pieces will be exhibited there later next year. With beautiful Capability Brown designed grounds and stunning gardens by Piet Oudolf this place really is a treasure of contrasts, calm and colour. Earlier this week having been given permissions to pick and collect what I wanted I had the most blissful time! Alongside gathering plants to print from I take many photos to record colour and some of the plants that are just too tricky to print from! 

Artists Books

walking, picking, printing, drawing, folding 
nature mono print artists books with drawing

Summer Workshops

At long last I have got around to posting about my forthcoming workshops ' An Introduction to Nature Monoprinting' All  sessions are for 2 hours and take place in my studio at Staithes. Start time can be 10am or 1pm

Using plants you learn how to make a variety of monprints and will leave knowing how to carry on this activity at home with basic equipment. Some time will be spent on the press resulting in a couple of prints that you could take away & frame. 

Workshop Dates for Summer 2017 

Available dates are : May 10th, 20th, June 7th, July 8th, Aug 2nd & 12th

COST For the 2 hr session is -  Group of 3 £30 per person, Group of 2 £45 per person, Individual tuition £90

Booking secured with a non returnable deposit of £10 per person rest of payment can be made in advance or on the day

To find out more or to book a place email stef@stefmitchell.com

Printfest - Ulveston

I am getting ridiculously excited about taking my work along to Printfest at Ulverston next weekend. It is the first time for me and I can't wait to be exhibiting amongst such a fantastic mix of printmakers. Held in the  Coronation Hall over the bank holiday weekend 29th/30th April. Here is a little selection from some of the pieces I will be taking.

Printing

I am quite nomadic in my way of working , not only by printing whilst on walks but also in the way I work between two studios. 

Home is at Sledmere on the Yorkshire Wolds and here I can produce intaglio, screen and mono prints. When not in Sledmere I can be found at Staithes where I work in a beautiful coastal studio and curate Staithes Studios Gallery, it is here that I make the majority of my nature mono prints and run workshops. After a break since November I am back in my studio at Staithes and it feels good! Especially as I found a forgotten about stash of meadow pickings from the summer - led me into a whole different direction than I had planned for today & yesterdays studio time! It has been lovely working with sunshine fed plants at this time of year.

worldwide little bits of nature

I love the idea of little bits of Yorkshire via my nature prints travelling around the world - to date I have sold nature prints and artists books to people in Italy, US, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Taiwan and Spain. Today these two pieces found a new home in the US. All made possible via ETSY.