The BP Portrait Award 2012 - Private View

Red shoes.

Chatting with the well deserved winner, Aleah Chapin. We met so many other lovely artist's and their sitters. It was a truly amazing evening.

The BP Portrait Award - The catalogue.

In the NPG shop...........so many catalogues.

And a poster too!

Even more catalogues.

BP Portrait Award 2012 - The Banner.

I didn't know for certain that my portrait would be one of the entrance banners until we turned the corner...and there it was.  

On the right is Alan Coulson's wonderful portrait of Richie Culver.

Rosie and Peter.

BP Portrait Award 2012 coming soon.

A screen shot of the NPG website showing my portrait of Rosie and Pumpkin.
Seeing this was rather surreal.

Moo business cards.

My Moo round cornered business cards have arrived. I would recommend Moo.com.
They are a tiny bit darker than the originals but the overall quality is excellent
 and they were very prompt.

Betty and Pumpkin final layer.

The final layer goes on. This will be a print run of 50. 

Feathers in detail. 

Colour layers for Betty and Pumpkin

Flat colours before the key block.

Betty and Pumpkin key block print.

Lawrence's oil based ink with a tiny dash of reducing medium and one drop of cobalt drier.

The key block fully inked up ready for the first pull.

At this point the lino is wedged into a bespoke cardboard frame, which has my 'lethal pin' registration system running along the bottom. I pre punch holes in all the paper so each sheet is ready to be positioned and printed. I protect my knuckles from the upturned pins with bits of wine corks on the pins. The cork also helps to lock the paper down.
However, before I start printing onto paper I will now print the lino onto more lino using a non absorbent shiny paper to transfer the image. For this image there are 8 additional colours. 

Carving Betty and Pumpkin.

I always start with the eye(s). If an eye is not right then there is no point continuing.

Overlaying feathers. 

The straw was the most challenging aspect of this carving. The random interweaving strands needed to remain convincing whilst also creating a hint of  diagonal lines crossing each other to compliment the rest of the rhythms in the piece.

A linocut in progress.

First sketches.

Quick colour plan.

Sketch of Betty and Pumpkin on the nest in watercolour, gouache and ink.