Douglas Anderson: March 2024
Meet Douglas Anderson
How did you get into printmaking?
My earliest experiences of printmaking were at school –
*Screen printing with horrible, thick, toxic oil based inks and smelly chemicals to coat / strip screens (Health & Safety concerns were very different in the 1970s)
* I ran the school letterpress print room– long before photocopiers. I then trained as an Industrial textile designer. Screen printing for furnishings was an area of focus. Later I used these skills to design & print fabrics for Period film & stage productions I taught printmaking for 30 years in secondary schools.
Tell us a little bit about your printmaking practice - what's your work about? What processes do you use and why?
I am a mixed media printmaker. For many years I focused on etching and drypoint. Recently I have been exploring relief printing, including Mokuhanga & wood engraving. My current Coastal Erosion / Corrosion project includes collagraphs, drypoint and screen prints.
What do you like about Double Elephant?
The facilities we have at DEPW offer members and visitors so many creative opportunities to explore almost the whole spectrum of print practices. (I still need to go to Edinburgh Printmakers to play with lithography – definitely a ‘work in progress’) I am so pleased we now have the screen print room, offering dedicated space for print work on paper and textiles. It has been a pleasure to bring some of my Sketchbook Journey members and Teignmouth artists into The Phoenix to experiment with the process.
The recent introduction of Etching on Aluminium is exciting. I am looking forward to working on large plates for my own work and supporting our members to get involved.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get into printmaking?
* Have a go at several techniques – PLAY first.
* Don’t worry about your initial outcomes. Just get an understanding of each basic process. (Lynn’s Introduction to Printmaking programme is a great way to get involved).
* Monoprints and dry points are a good way of getting started.
* Read the back issues of Print Practice – a fantastic magazine full of inspiring articles.
Do you have any exhibitions or things you'd like to shout about that are coming up?
* The 6 th Sketchbook Journey fundraiser programme (Landscape on Landscape) is now up and running throughout 2024 with a definite print focus this year. All money raised in membership fees goes to DEPW, TAAG Arts Centre, teignmouth or Porthmeor Print Studio, St Ives. 54 members already signed up. Members receive a monthly Inspiration Post and opportunity to exhibit work in one of three exhibitions @ TAAG.
* The second Print Practice Production Open Exhibition will take place in Nov. 2024 At Teignmouth Arts Centre.
* I am exhibiting Landscape prints at Tremenheere Gallery, Penzance in June.
* More printworks on show in July at TAAG Arts Centre.
Anything else you'd like to mention?
I am a trustee at TAAG Arts Centre in Teignmouth with responsibility for Gallery and workshop programming. We have a really exciting programme of exhibitions already filling the whole calendar up to January 2026. A new Workshop programme will follow, including printmaking taster classes. There are lots of opportunities for printmakers to submit work into various shows.
Sign up to the weekly TAAG newsletter to be kept informed of exhibitions and submission dates for Open shows.
