Richard Kaye: April 2024
Meet Richard Kaye
How did you get into printmaking?
I got into printmaking thanks to Emma Moloney who had always told me that she thought the way that I draw would translate really well to printing and that I should try drypoint at DE. So after lots of badgering I eventually gave in and went along. When I got there I was incredibly lucky and Lynn Bailey was a hugely generous teacher. What Lynn taught me in a few days has stayed with me and given me a great foundational understanding of the basics and the importance of accurate processes.
Tell us a little bit about your printmaking practice - what's your work about? What processes do you use and why?
I started out focusing on Drypoint Intaglio as I found it really simple and loved the fact I could work on my plates at home. I fell in love with copper as a material and started producing lots of series of unusual silhouettes like telegraph poles, scaffolding, and communications masts etc.
More recently it's the screen print studio where I like to play. I work on a larger scale from photos I take and introduce colour elements to emphasise the harsh angular forms of architecture that I love.
What do you like about Double Elephant?
It's an amazing facility where I can realise so many creative outputs. It's a place where I have the opportunity to use equipment that I can only dream of owning in my own home studio. The people there are like minded and creative too, which is really cool.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get into printmaking?
Just do it now! What can you possibly lose? It's such a broad discipline that I genuinely feel any artist should be able to find a comfortable home there and work out which bits turn them on or not fast. Do it now..... there is no excuse. Life is short, but ink is cheap!
Do you have any exhibitions or things you'd like to shout about that are coming up?
I have an Exhibition in Lyme Regis Malthouse Gallery this summer from mid to late August. Follow me on Insta to stay updated on that. I am also strting to search for an exhibition opportunity in Exeter and so watch this space in 2025 as I am working on a series of paintings of Exeter! My instagram is www.instagram.com/richkayeprints
