After getting a soaking with The Plebeian Scribblers last Saturday at the Troublemakers Festival I went back for more on Sunday with The Plebeian Printmakers. We worked the High Street, inking up manhole covers and other bits of pavement and road metal and took prints from them. Luckily, the rain had stopped by the time we were ready to get stuck in.
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- A manhole cover
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- Inked and a fragment of hand-made khadi paper placed on top
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- A pad of newspaper on top of the Khadi paper and the application of a boot
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- A pavement print
I wanted to print up some fragments of beautiful Khadi papers, maybe to use in collage like the ones below, but we also made prints in all sizes and on different types of paper and fabrics. We used child-friendly, non-toxic water based printing inks from Seawhites of Brighton that were easy to wash off.
The Plebeian Printmakers are Patricia McKenna-Jones, Chris Harrendence, Lynne Bebb, Hannah Lawson, Nathan P-J and me. Filmmaker Melvyn Williams filmed us so I’ll post that as soon as he’s edited it.
For a limited period I am putting a new drawing from my recent sketch books on my Artfinder gallery every day. If you’d like to check them out, please click on the image below or the Artfinder link at the top right of this page.
What a great project. I feel energized just looking at these prints.
Thanks 😀 I can’t stop looking at manhole covers now
I have stacks of photos of Japanese manhole covers. I wouldn’t consider trying it there. 😂
Bit busy lol 😁
Yes, and most people are rather more concerned about acting in ways contrary to what is expected.
The street was closed to traffic because of the festival so people were aware of the mayhem all around them 😀
What a great idea! I have a friend who photographs manhole covers wherever she goes (Japanese ones are fabulous) but this is taking it one step beyond. Love the colours.
Thanks. It was easier than we were anticipating 😀
Did you have to clean them off after? Or use water based paint and rely on rain …
We used water based printing ink, non-toxic for use in schools and had a bucket of water and big sponges to clean the ink off. It was surprisingly easy….
I love this. I saw some German? printmakers doing likewise. I’d love to give it a go. I thought I might find something in my neighborhood to start with. I think I have dire middle-class phobias about being ‘caught’ doing something like this. 😂
Hahahaha 😁 Yes, the Raubdruckerin Collective in Berlin, but they didn’t respond when I asked them what inks they used and for any tips so we made it up as we went along and managed fine. Next time we’ll try with fabric inks.