Print Liberation

For those wishing to learn the art of screen printing there are loads of decent instructional videos that I've checked online. These links I'll put up soon but if you prefer good old fashioned reading then the best book by an absolute mile and a half is this...

I've had my copy for over a year and it's the best instructional read you'll find.

My makeshift screen washout area

The pressure washer broke, hose split and I got soaked!

My screenprinting studio

My Top Print at Pick Me Up

Elton at Print Club London

There is only ONE Chairman Elton. The loo roll really sums up our season...

Pick Me Up...

The first of a few posts on the Pick Me Up Graphic Art Exhibition at Somerset House...

Print Club London, hard at it

 Rob Ryan's set-up, the dream kit for my garage

A Rob Ryan beauty

Creative Review - Pick Me Up opens

Creative Review - Pick Me Up opens

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Balloons of Providence

A colleague who works with Universal received an original silkscreen print from them by amazing illustrator Dan Stiles who produces incredible posters for Universal clients. I jumped out of my skin when he presented it to me.

Sell Yourself cont'd (again)...

Following the advice given to me at the marketing event with Patsy Dixon the below is the official press release that I sent to several local publications. The one thing Patsy stated was that it must include the 5 W's:
Who
What
Why
Where
When
Contemporary Art on the Menu at the Limetree
Maidstone artist Marc Lawrence has teamed up with the Limetree Restaurant and Hotel in Lenham, Kent to exhibit his latest body of paintings and original silk screen prints.
From March 26th, diners at the Limetree can enjoy a visual feast from abstract paintings inspired by local Kentish landscapes to edgy prints of drunks in doorways. Life, energy and light are a constant presence throughout Lawrence’s art.
‘The Limetree is a fabulous venue to hang my work’, says Lawrence. ‘Diners can now experience the juxtaposition of my contemporary art against the historic environment of the restaurant in what must be one of the most beautiful village squares in Kent’.
‘We’re offering something extra to our diners’, adds Anderson Ferreira, General Manager of the Limetree. ‘You can browse the art with a coffee or absorb each piece while dining. We’ve already received some fantastic feedback’.
Lawrence studied Fine Art at Manchester Metropolitan University and has exhibited in galleries in both London and Manchester. He now works from his studio under the gaze of the North Downs in Thurnham.

Sell yourself cont'd...

Below is the flyer I designed and printed as part of the promotion for the show of paintings and prints I have at the Limetree restaurant. We distributed them around various local shops, galleries and the restaurant itself.

Really looking forward to this...

I'm taking my team on Friday. Live silkscreen performances! Can't wait!
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual_arts/pick_me_up/default.asp

Network and support resource

An issue I'm experiencing working in isolation and with time constraints is how to find opportunities to network with other like-minded individuals. Online resources can only compensate so much for this but one site I've found that has a lot of value is http://www.a-n.co.uk/ which supports contemporary art practice. In addition to this I found cheap public liability insurance through AIR which I needed for my exhibition at the Limetree. If you need help, guidance or someone to comment on your project the forums also provide good support. Check them out!

Sell yourself!

One thing I've never been a natural at regarding my artistic practice is self promotion. Many people I work with are superb at this fine art and you do pick up traits of friends and colleagues from time to time. So I decided to attend an excellent evening session hosted by Patsy Dixon who runs Liberty Gallery in West Malling, Kent. The basis of her talk was how to promote your work professionally to the media with several case studies and contacts. Off the back of this I wrote my press release for the Limetree exhibition and sent it to 15 local publications. The result being a mention, all be it small, in the local paper to drum up some interest for my work... a small step but Rome wasn't built in a day!
http://www.liberty-gallery.com/

The Limetree Exhibition...

One of my main aims this year was to hang my first solo exhibition. By good fortune my wife had lunch at the Limetree, a local restaurant who's proprietor supports local and contemporary art. After a few meetings with Anderson we agreed on a commission rate, I booked the time off work and hung a selection of my paintings and prints...http://www.limetreerestaurant.co.uk/

Sweeping up.....

I finally managed to sweep up and clear some space thanks to Robin's yard broom and BBC 5 live. In the picture is my first batch of canvases produced in situ. I'm laying several layers of paint on each one with a view to print on the coloured surfaces using my home made garage based print workshop, more on that in a while!

Inside the studio...

could do with a bit of a clear out

My first post, my new studio!

This is the studio space I've been given access to thanks to my generous in-laws and their neighbours, what an amazing space and how lucky am I...
The mission:
Return to my printmaking and painting roots in-between the 9 to 5!