Author: Seamus

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Linocut Printing Workshops in Milnrow

There are still places available on my Introductory Linocut Printing workshop on Friday 1st July from 18:00 to 20:30 at Tarn Replenished in Albert Mill, Dale Street, Milnrow.

For centuries prints were made by carving designs into wooden blocks with prints from will know artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige from 17th Century Japan being highly prized. Linocut printing is an accessible form of relief printing that was first used in the late 18th Century after the invention of Lino. Being easier to carve linocut became popular with artists including Matisse and Picasso and the technique was also used, especially in the USSR, to produce posters.

The session will introduce the techniques for producing linocut prints including; choosing suitable images to work with, drawing or transferring images to Lino, using the cutting tools safely, how to add ink to the prepared Lino and finally making your own prints by hand.

image of a linocut print of a barn owl

Linocut printing can be carried out using a wide range of equipment, inks and materials including paper, card and textiles. It is great for making greeting cards, decorative art. In these sessions we will use polymer or easy-cut blocks and print in monochrome using water-based inks onto paper and card.

You do not need to be confident at drawing and can use tracing techniques to prepare images for carving and produce attractive prints. Participants can work from their own images or from a selection of images that will be provided. Should you have a particular image you would like to try please advise when booking so that I can make it available.

The session costs £30 per person (payable by cash, card or PayPal) and all equipment and materials are provided. Participants will have both their own prints and carved blocks to take away.

To book please email seamus@onepoetsvision.co.uk or reply to my posts on Facebook or Instagram.

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Linocut printing classes

Image of linocutting tools

I am pleased to announce my new workshops to learn the techniques of linocut printing and to produce some of your own prints.

There are two sessions available:

Weds 29th June from 12:00 to 15:00

Fri 1st July from 18:00 to 20:30

The sessions will cover the kinds of image that can be produced, the reversal of the carved images and basic techniques including; transferring images onto the Lino, safe cutting techniques, line and pattern making, applying ink and finally printing onto paper.

Picture of mounted Linocut prints

All equipment and materials will be provided and participants will be able to take home their own completed prints and carved Lino blocks.

Workshops are limited to small groups (maximum 6 people) and the cost is £30 per person payable by cash or card.
Please email seamus@onepoetsvision.co.uk to reserve your place.

Future sessions will look at more advanced techniques including using more colours with rainbow rolls and jigsaw prints.

Advice about the range and quality of equipment and materials available will be provided and, although I may be able to advise on suppliers, I am not able to supply equipment and do not have any arrangements with suppliers.

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One World One Chance – Dyslexia Friendly

Dyslexia friendly cover

The book produced with Falinge Park Writing Group is now available online in a special dyslexia friendly version as well as a standard version.

The dyslexia friendly version uses a coloured background and a font specially designed to make reading easier for people with dyslexia.

You can download the book, Free of Charge, by clicking here HERE

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National Poetry Day – 6th October 2022

Having just delivered a project, Climate Worx, a series of creative writing workshops looking our planet, our environment and climate change I was delighted to see the announcement, this week, that the theme for National Poetry Day 2022 (NPD22) is the “Environment”.

Photo of trees in winter

For National Poetry Day in previous years I have run poetry workshops and delivered performances for libraries, schools and writing groups. This years theme promises to deliver lots of inspirational and thought provoking poetry.

With a lifelong interest in all things environmental and a degree in Ecology I always relish the opportunity to help spread appreciation and understanding of our natural world through creative writing, art and photography.

Image of planet earth as seen from lunar orbit

With that in mind I currently have a range of poetry creative writing workshops which focus on the environment and include sessions suitable for all ages from 5 upwards and with any level of experience in creative writing. Most importantly we can have fun whilst flexing our creative muscles and sharing the experience with others (hopefully in the room rather than only via Zoom).

Sessions for the day itself can be booked for two hours in the morning, the afternoon and the evening (depending on travel times) or half or full days. Poetry written in the workshops can be recorded on audio with a digital file provided to share with your group, family and friends.

For those that would like a more permanent and physical record of their work it is possible to run a series of workshops in the weeks before 6th October from which the work produced can be collected into an attractive book and the work can be performed at an event on or close to the NPD22.

NPD22 is still 7 months away but slots can book up quite quickly so if you’d like to discuss your requirements or plans please email seamus@onepoetsvision.co.uk

Prices start from £100 for a two hour session including travel within 20 miles of Littleborough.

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One World One Chance – Dyslexia Friendly

This morning I approved the proofs from the printers and I’ll be awaiting the box/boxes of books arriving at my door ahead of our launch at 12.00 on 17th March in Falinge Park (cafe), Rochdale.

Once I’d finished that process I worked on a second version which will be available to download. That version uses a special font and a coloured background to make it easier for those with dyslexia to read. The cover for this version is shown below – it will be made available online after the launch event.

At the launch the writers who have contributed to the book will read some of their work, there will be a chance to chat and meet members of the group and pack up a copy of the book. There will, of course, be light refreshments.

If you haven’t received an invitation but would like to attend please let me know and we’ll be happy to accommodate you.

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Today’s job: Book Editing and Layout

Over the last few days I’ve been compiling and editing the submissions from my Climate Worx project for a soft back book. The book features 10 writers, from the newly formed Falinge Park Writing Group, who took part in the “Climate Worx” project following the exhibition, in Rochdale, of Luke Jerram’s “Gaia” installation.

Today I’ve enjoyed creating the cover design using one of my own photos of the installation and working with a limited colour palette.

Image of the book cover design

The title of the book is “ONE WORLD: ONE CHANCE” and includes writing from 10 writers and will be launched on 17th March, at Falinge Park.

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Climate Worx – Final Workshop – 17th Feb

A photo of the Gaia installation in Rochdale

The last of six workshops for the Climate Worx project I been running since November is taking place tomorrow morning from 10:00am to noon. This is the last chance to be involved in writing for the project but there will be plenty of opportunity to see the work produced after the launch of our collected writing in March.

A total of 15 people have taken part in the creative writing sessions that were inspired by the Gaia Installation, in Rochdale in November and December, and thinking about our environment and climate. The project, with Falinge Park Writing Group, was funded by the Rochdale Borough Creative Network and hosted by the Vintage Worx Community Development Trust in Falinge Park.

Lots of new writing has been created and I am currently compiling it into a book which will be a lasting legacy for the project. There will be a wide range of styles of writing in the book including poetry, short stories and non-fiction. All participants in the workshops are able to have at least one piece included in the publication which we expect to launch on 17th March (an auspicious date for a book edited by someone with my background).

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New Greeting Cards and Giclée prints for sale

Last week I collected professionally printed greeting cards and Giclée prints from a small printshop in West Yorkshire.

Picture of giclee print go a heron in a frame for illustration

The images on both the cards and prints are reproduced from my own pen and ink drawings of birds including a Grey Heron, a Mute Swan, a Flamingo, a Stork and a Pelican.

Prints are a Limited Edition of 50 from each image and each is numbered and signed. They are high quality Giclée prints on 300gsm acid free paper with Epson archival inks.

Greeting cards are A5 in size and supplied with enveloped in cellophane sleeves. Both cards and prints are now available for sale in my folksy shop at https://folksy.com/shops/onepoetsvision

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OnePoetsVision artwork on sale at Touchstones in Rochdale

My artwork displayed in Touchstones

I was very pleased to be approached, in December, by Touchstones, Rochdale’s Art Gallery and Museum, asking if I’d agree to be a featured artist in the Gallery shop. After a successful Christmas Market I took a portfolio of images along and agreed the range that would be on sale, and the pricing.

As of today, 13th January, some my work is for sale in the gallery shop for the first time. The Touchstones gallery and museum is well worth a visit and is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10.00am to 5.00pm and on Sundays from 10.00am to 4.00pm and admission of free of change.

There are handmade linocut prints in two sizes, greeting cards, photographic prints, Rochdale postcards and copies of my poetry book, Thinking TooMuch.

Over the next few weeks I will be adding some recently completed greeting card designs and a number of giclee prints.

Wide shot of the Touchstones shop
Three linocut prints on display
10×8 Handmade Linocut Prints on Japanese Agwami paper with archival oil based ink and mounts
Photos and postcards of Rochdale
A selection of professionally printed 10×8 photographic prints and postcards of Rochdale landmarks
Mounted photos of Hollingworth lake and waterfowl
10×8 professionally printed photographs of Hollingworth Lake at sunrise, a duckling and a gull at sunrise
Three small linocut prints
Small 8×6 handmade linocut prints of a vintage Kodak Brownie camera, Whitby Pier and Whitby Abbey
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Onepoetsvision Folksy shop opens its virtual doors

A screenshot showing my new Folksy shop

Just in time for your Christmas lists my new shop opens today on Folksy with some greeting cards made from my original linocut prints.

https://folksy.com/shops/onepoetsvision

Over the next few days I’ll be adding more items including handmade prints, photographic prints and postcards.

Folksy is the online shopping home of British Craft where you can find thousands of pieces created by artists, designers and makers working in studios and at kitchen tables across the UK.

So if you’re looking for that perfect original gift or you want to shop small, shop independent and give handmade, we suggest sitting down with a cuppa and having a look through the amazing creations on Folksy – all made by clever hands crafting away across the British Isles.

Folksy has original art and prints for your wall, hand-knitted scarves and gloves to keep you snug, beautiful designer jewellery, studio pottery and handmade ceramics for your table and your shelves, as well as hand-printed cushions, crochet blankets and original textiles and decor for your home and so much more. What will you discover on Folksy today?

And of course, from today, Folksy has original works from OnePoetsVision too.

https://folksy.com/shops/onepoetsvision

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Gaia and Xmas Lights Rochdale

Gaia installation with lighted moon

This evening Rochdale was damp, varying between drizzle and rain, and it was anything but warm.

The crowds however were out in force for the opening of the Gaia Installation and the switching on of the Christmas lights. We were entertained by street theatre with some very impressive drummers and circus skills.

Performer suspended below a large balloon

The highlights included an aerial show by an artist suspended from a balloon floating over Riverside and a couple of spectacular peacock puppets.

The Gaia Installation

A bright puppet of a peacock
Brightly lit drummers in the street

The lights were lit, the crowds cheered and applauded and the Gaia exhibit spun slowly as hundreds of people looked on and took their photos and selfies of themselves and their children holding up Planet Earth.

Christmas Lights in Rochdale

The entertainment reached its conclusion and the coffee shops did a roaring trade as people headed home or to the shops. Once again Rochdale had done itself proud.

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Climate Worx first workshop

Image from NASA of the Earth rising as seen from Apollo 8 orbiting the Moon
NASA image of earthrise from Apollo 8
orbiting the moon

Today I delivered the first workshop of the Climate Worx project. With a total of six workshop sessions we will look at writing about the climate, climate change, our environment and the world we live in. We’ll draw on our reactions to the Gaia installation opening this Saturday, 20th November, at Number One Riverside in Rochdale and we’ll share our ideas, tips, techniques and stories.

Todays workshop was hosted by Eileen Earnshaw and Falinge Writers, the new group that itself launched just a week ago, with the meeting room provided by Vintage Worx. The Falinge Writers group will meet weekly on Thursday mornings from 10.00 to 12.00. Next week Eileen will deliver her workshop looking at prose poetry.

The group really has got off to a flying start with new faces and some familiar ones and the atmosphere and creativity has been great. The quality and variety of writing is always inspiring and it seems that if you put a dozen people in a room you’ll get at least a baker’s dozen of ideas and approaches. In several examples of writing today, whilst writing about climate change, a theme of cooperation shone through, and that is perhaps the most important value for any group of creatives, whether in writing, art, music or other genres.

The next workshop in the Climate Worx project will take place at Number One Riverside on 2nd December from 10.00 to 12.00 so that we can explore our reactions to seeing the massive impression of our planet close up. Anyone who would like to be part of the group and this project but who can’t make it on the day can message me and I’ll share the notes and prompts for the session which you can use for your own visit.

The end point of the project, but of course not the ideas, writing, discussion and sharing, will be the launch of our pamphlet scheduled for 17th March (St. Patrick’s Day) 2022. We’ll make sure everyone has submission guidelines for the pamphlet and all members of the group will receive free copies.