What a rollercoaster year it has been

Images from Parallel print

It all started at the end of 2024 when I facilitated a Parallel Print group for the first time after taking over from Deb Wing who started the process during Covid lockdown. I was nervous but as I had met (via Zoom) all 4 participants during Parallel Prints with Deb it felt very comfortable, like meeting old friends. After Christmas I cleaned my studio and stored things away to make space and was delighted meet and be able to host in my studio Brigitte Potter Mael from Vancouver who taught a small group her wood intaglio process. It was a beautiful weekend workshop with a lovely group of students. March was taken up with another Parallel print group, each person working on their own print and meeting for eight zoom sessions over the four weeks to discuss progress, share ideas, encourage each other and as one person commented they liked having company to stop them dithering. One morning a week I volunteer at CARE rescue cattery and decided to make a varied selection of prints to sell for $30 which would be split, donating $25 to CARE and $5 to me. Printopia is held over the first weekend in May at Corbans Estate and Plateau Printmakers had a large set up there. With several of us managing the stall we were each able to go to the talks and workshops that interested us. My fundraiser cat prints were very popular. Kings Birthday Art Trail was a busy weekend at the beginning of June and I found people were really interested in the little booklet I had made to show the development of my most recent print which i was about to frame. Contours and Whispers opened at Artspost in Hamilton on June 7th, a joint exhibition with Sally-Ann Davies and it was lovely to see a large crowd at the joint opening of exhibitions. It was lovely to have the opportunity to speak to such a large crowd and explain how reduction prints are made. July was another Parallel Print month and it was very special to be joined by Deb Wing who developed the concept.