Techniques & methods of working

Methods

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Roz rarely plans a painting or print and instead uses sketches and photographs to inform her work. These sketches will either be created at the location 'in plein air' or developed back in the studio from a photograph taken at the spot. Roz then uses these sketches to work from for her final piece of artwork, be it a print or painting. 

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When printing, Roz will usually draw the image straight onto the lino block. She plans each stage after printing the preceding colour. Roz likes to be spontaneous and rarely plans an exact image for reduction lino prints, using the sketch as a basis for the colours and composition of the print. However, the opposite can be said for multiblock prints, where precision is key and colour layers need to line up. In this incidence, Roz will use a sketch and trace the image on to the blocks to ensure they line up correctly - registration is key for both reduction and multiblock printmaking. 

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Roz has a similar method when painting. She will use the sketch to plan the colours and composition and will usually start by blocking out the key areas of light and dark on the canvas, adding colours and details to build up the composition as she goes. Roz tends to work quickly and this can be seen in the energy of her brush marks. 

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The few times that Roz might trace a sketch and transfer it to a surface to work from is when completing pet portraits. This isn't always the case but for some pieces, where a photographic representation is requested, this is usual. 

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See a selection of Roz's sketches in the sketchbook section of the gallery. These give an insight into how she develops her work. 

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Techniques

 

Roz is always experimenting but the key techniques she uses are described below: 

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Printmaking 

Roz has a particular love of relief printing and tends to work with lino blocks, cutting away details with specific tools, inking the subsequent block to create the image. 

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Reduction lino prints - reduction lino prints involve using one block and printing multiple colour layers, starting with the lightest. With each layer, more detail is cut away from the block to build up the details in the image (see the image in the header to see how the different layers are built up to create the image). In some instances, Roz might use two - three colours on a layer to reduce the number of passes through a press.

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Monoprint - a monoprint is a painting on a surface which is then transferred to paper by passing it through a press or screen. The key is that the painting is applied to a surface and transferred to paper. 

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Solarplate etching - this process enables the artist to take any black and white photograph or artwork and use UV light to etch the image onto a specifically manufactured solar plate. Areas of black or tone in the image are transferred on to the plate, which is inked up in the intaglio technique and printed using a press. 

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Painting 

Roz tends to use a range of oil paints and mediums to help dry, thicken or add texture to her work. However, when planning a sketch Roz likes to use a mixed media approach. 

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Mixed media - Mixed media involves mixing more than one material (e.g. pastels, pencils) to create an image. Roz often uses a combination of a water based medium, pen, pencil and pastel. 

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Roz often uses a combination of these techniques. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. 

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Resources 

Roz is a member of the Curwen Print Study Centre, which runs a number of beginner, short, long and advanced courses in a range of print techniques. She regularly uses the studios there and completed the Certificate in Professional Printmaking. To find out more, click here. 

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Roz also reads a number of books to extend her knowledge and practise. A list of these can be sent upon request. 

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