Tag: printer

Designer Desire: Sybil Andrews

Montage of Sybil Andrews linocuts
Sybil Andrews was a talented and successful 20th century British artist best known for her colourful abstract linocut works.

Andrews (1898-1992) was a member of the Grosvenor School along with artists we’ve featured before – her long-time mentor and collaborator, Cyril Power and their tutor, Claude Flight.

During her career, she created at least 76 linocuts. Like many artists during the 1930s period, she was captivated by movement, sport, speed and the machine age and this shone through in her work. Like many of her Grosvenor School contemporaries, she was heavily influenced by the earlier UK Vorticism movement.

MoMa, New York, the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Glenbow Museum, Calgary and Moyse’s Hall Museum (in her home town of Bury St Edmunds) hold examples of her work in their permanent collections.

Although originals and vintage limited edition prints of her work are expensive, you can buy new prints and cards from The Blank Card Company.

Published in 2015, the book, Sybil Andrews Linocuts: A Complete Catalogue by Hana Leaper is available from Abe Books.

Portrait of Sybil Andrewscredit

Additional image credits:
Artnet | The Blank Card Company

Bookmarks: Our Isles

Cover of Our Isles by Angus D. Birditt & Lilly Hedley

One of life’s simple pleasures is taking a bit of quiet time with a cup of coffee, a few biscuits and a good book… and we’ve been enjoying this wonderful little tome over the last few days.

A few weeks ago, we featured printmaker, Lilly Hedley in our Designer Desire series. While researching her and her work, we discovered that she and her partner, Angus D. Birditt, recently collaborated on, amongst many other things, a book. Our Isles is a lovely project which interweaves Angus’ poetry with Lilly’s illustrations.

'At Home' poem & illustration

The heart of home is where they flee
Amongst their thoughts to unwind and see,
At one with self, content to be
In space to find and wander free.

'The Butcher' poem & illustration 'The Baker' poem & illustration

Having both spent their entire lives in the countryside, the pair direct their attentions towards many of Britain’s rural occupations, pastimes and craftspeople.

'The Brewer' poem & illustration 'The Blacksmith' poem & illustration

There’s the butcher, the baker… alas, no candlestick-maker! I think ‘The Printmaker’ may be an autobiographical addition!

'The Printmaker' poem & illustration

Our Isles is divided into sections according to types of occupations; for instance, ‘With Tool in Hand’ encompasses tradespeople such as the potter, the thatcher and the farrier.

'With Tool to Hand' section in 'Our Isles' book

‘Amid Tides & Water’ includes professions such sailor, fisherman and salt harvester.

'Amid Tides & Water' section in 'Our Isles' book

All of Angus’ poems take the form of double couplet AABB rhyming quatrains. They’re absolutely charming – and very accessible to those not overly accustomed to reading poetry. They perfectly capture the traditions, inspirations, routines and skills of the people intrinsic to countryside life.

Hen-keeping linocut and poem

Lilly’s monochrome linocut prints are absolutely beautiful. Some have a very contemporary look, others, an almost medieval feel.

Linocut of a falcon

At the rear of the book is a short glossary; it explains terms particular to the different trades. For instance, a ‘yealm’ is a bundle of organised straw in the thatching industry. And, ‘Goddes Good’ or ‘God is Good’, is an archaic term for yeast that is added during the brewing process.

Glossasry from Our Isles

[ Many thanks to Pavilion Books for the review copy of Our Isles ]

Designer Desire: Sadao Watanabe

Montage of Sadao Watanabe prints

Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) was a Japanese printmaker. He specialised in biblical scenes produced in the mingei (民芸) aesthetic.

Watanabe was baptised into the Christian faith (on Christmas Day) at the age of seventeen. He presents Christian narratives in a Japanese setting. For example, his Last Supper artwork shows Jesus and his disciples wearing kimono and dining on sushi and sake.

I would most like to see them [his prints] hanging where people ordinarily gather, because Jesus brought the gospel for the people

He often used the traditional stencilling method known as Katazome to produce his prints which he learned during his time as an apprentice in a dyers’ workshop.

At first I used mainly black and white pigments, but I was deeply moved by the encouragement of my teachers and colleagues. However, try as I might, I was not able to use other colors successfully until suddenly one day yellow and red pigments took the Japanese paper. I felt as though a new door had opened.

His works have been exhibited all over the world; from the British Museum to MOMA in New York and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo to the Vatican Museum. There’s a travelling exhibition of his work (in the USA) that is due to be shown in Austin, Texas and Hilton Head, South Carolina in 2021.

Prints can be found on eBay and Etsy.

There are a few books and exhibition catalogues available given over to the works of Watanabe including Beauty Given by Grace: The Biblical Prints of Sadao Watanabe, Heeding the Voice of Heaven: Sadao Watanabe Biblical Stencil Prints and PRINTING THE WORD The Art of Watanabe Sadao, an Exhibition of Prints from the Collection of Anne H. H. Pyle. Search for them on Abe Books and Amazon.

Portrait of Sadao Watanabecredit

Additional image credits:
Bowden Collections | Lambs Quay Gallery

Designer Desire: Charles Beck

Montage of Charles Beck artworks | H is for Home

Charles Beck (1923-2017) was a prolific woodcut artist who was based for most of his life in his home-town of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

I first came across his work when I was researching Axel Salto; an image of one of his prints popped up and I was immediately smitten. Even though the Minnesota landscape and wildlife are unknown to me, it somehow resonated with me. Perhaps the rolling South Downs or the flatness of Norfolk – I’m not sure.

I found a wonderful short film of an interview with Beck (and his wife, Joyce) where he speaks about his methods and inspiration… and gives a little demonstration.

Portrait of Charles Beckcredit

Additional image credits:
MN Artists | The Grand Hand Gallery