20:20 Print Exchange

by with No Comment Behind the Scenes

Each year I take part in the 20:20 Print Exchange, organised by Hot Bed Press. I started in 2011 – and became hooked. This year I created a linocut with added blind embossing. Here’s a little bit of behind the scenes on my 2025 edition and my box.

Firstly, the 20:20 print exchange concept is simple: each printmaker creates an edition of 25 original prints, on paper that’s 20cm by 20cm. Printmakers submit work through their print workshop, and in exchange receive a randomly selected box of 20 prints from other participating printmakers. I love the sense of community, as around 50 UK and international print workshops take part. In fact, this year 744 artists took part from studios as far afield as Canada and the USA.

I tend to see my 20:20 print as an opportunity to experiment as well as extra practice at editioning.

The lino plate

This year, for the first time, I designed a linocut plate and an emboss plate to work together. It was experimental and I learnt a lot. Some things went well, others were more challenging, but that’s often the way when you try something new!

My idea was to create an abstracted ‘landscape’ and play with the sense of space and depth.
I kept the linocut simple and had sleek lines, and the plate and paper slightly bigger, so I could cut it down to 20 cm square. I chose Fabriano Unica paper, which I tested first, as I wanted a paper that would work fine dry with the lino layer and wet for the emboss.

Things that went well

I was happy with lots of elements:

  • the consistency of the lino layer
  • the gradation worked well too
  • I liked the ambiguity of the spaces
  • and the austerity of the design.

What did I learn?

Paper expands and contracts when wet – and does so differently depending on the direction of the grain. This caused a few issues with trimming down, but luckily didn’t spoil too many. I hadn’t spotted when cutting my paper that I did not have all the paper grain going the same way. I learnt that paper expands differently with and against the grain… I’ll know next time to check.

The outcome

I sent off an edition of 25 prints, which I called ‘Echoes’ in October. And I just received a fantastic box – including works from Germany and Russia. Take a look!

My 2025 box of fabulous prints!

September-Evening-

‘September Evening’ new linocut for the 20:20

by with No Comment New Work

Carolyn Murphy’s new ‘September Evening’ linocut is all set for this year’s 20:20 Print Exchange. The work shows the view looking west from the artist’s home at twilight. It suggests peace and calm – a haven in the city. All 25 prints in the edition are dry and were delivered yesterday.

“This is a view I never tire of – the backyard, nearby trees and bats” said Carolyn. “It’s been a really important small space during pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation. I wanted to capture it for the 2021 print exchange.”

‘September Evening’ linocut by Carolyn Murphy

Each year around 500 printmakers in the UK and from international printmaking workshops take part in the print exchange. All the work features in a touring exhibition, which travels around the UK and abroad.

Carolyn is submitting work again this year with Prospect Studios in Rossendale. This limited edition linocut will appear in other printmakers’ boxes later this year. Each artists receives a random selection of original artwork, all 20 cm by 20 cm in size. The annual event is organised by Hot Bed Press in Salford, UK.

To find out more about how this linocut was made, you can check out Carolyn’s blog.

IMG_2570

Towneley Hall ‘Impressions’ exhibition 2020

by with No Comment Exhibition

Prospect Printmakers’ exhibition ‘Impressions’ opened at Towneley Hall in Burnley this year, delayed by Covid-19. Printmakers produced work inspired by Towneley Hall Historic House, Art Gallery and Museum, and the surrounding parklands. Artist Carolyn Murphy’s linocut ‘That Window’ responds to the statue in the window of one of the main galleries.

Towneley Hall ‘Impressions’ exhibition 2020
‘That Window’ original linocut by Carolyn Murphy

The exhibition, organised by Alan Birch with the curator, includes a wide range of printmaking techniques. Artists visited Towneley Hall over a period of months to develop unique and often quirky work.

The exhibition runs from 19th September 2020 until 19th January 2021, however for much of this period, the exhibition has been only open to booked visitors, or indeed closed, given government restrictions. It is currently online as a virtual tour here. Please enter via the door ahead on the left!

Other work in the show included Carolyn’s ‘Serenity’ and ‘Halo’ linocuts.

Carolyn Murphy, with her ‘Serenity’ linocut, visiting the exhibition in September
‘Halo’ original linocut by Carolyn Murphy

20:20 time of year

by with No Comment New Work

This is that time of year when around 500 printmakers, up and down the the country, and some overseas have submitted their 20:20 edition of prints. Carolyn Murphy has taken part in this print exchange since 2011, as part of Prospect Studios Printmakers or Hot Bed Press, or both.

The 20 x 20 cm prints are now being sorted in Salford at Hot Bed Press before being redistributed back to all the print workshops who are participating this year.

Previews below of Carolyn’s 20:20 linocut, called Regenerating: