Letterpress Evening Course at NCAD

I’ll have a ten week course in letterpress beginning in Distillers Press in NCAD in the new year. It’s listed as Intermediate but I’m happy to take beginners too!

This ten week course is suited to students who have completed an introductory course or have experience with setting metal and wooden type. Individuals with a background in graphic design, typography, print, literature may find this course particularly interesting. This ten week course provides an opportunity to access Distillers Press and the collection of over 500 cases of wood and metal type. Participants will build on basic techniques of hand setting and, with guidance, undertake research and work toward a large project or set of small projects. This limited edition will take the form of prints, posters, booklets or cards and could involve typography, or illustration or a combination of both. As well as typography based projects, participants can make use of other relief methods such as printing from lino cut and digitally designed plates as well as printing with multiple colours and hand inking.

The course provides an overview of the processes and materials involved in letterpress printing, and offers participants a chance to develop a larger project over time.

Wednesdays, 6.30 to 9pm

Begins Wednesday 15 January, 2020 for 10 weeks

Course Fee €320

Apply here:

https://www.ncad.ie/continuing-education/cead-apply/cead-non-credit-course-description/

(scroll down to find course VC509)

Suffrage Replica Poster for National Print Museum

In addition to the response poster I designed and printed to accompany the exhibition, ‘Print Protest & the Polls’ at the National Print Museum, I was also asked to print this replica print of an original suffrage poster from 1918.

The original poster hails from the NLI’s collection and will be on loan to the Museum throughout the exhibition period 17 May to 30 September. The replica was printed from a flexographic plate and printed letterpress on the Museum’s Vandercook press. The commemorative replica is made up of a limited edition of 500 posters that are now available in store at the Print Museum and online at €25 each. You can view and buy online here: www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

The paper was kindly sponsored by Antalis and the plate by Flexographic Plate Plan.

Print, Protest & the Polls

I’m delighted to have been invited by the National Print Museum to produce a print in response to their exhibition, ‘Print, Protest and The Polls: The Irish women’s suffrage campaign and the power of print media’.

Dave Darcy of One Strong Arm and Jamie Murphy of The Salvage Press have also been invited to respond to the upcoming exhibition theme exploring its contemporary relevance.

Each artist has produced their own letterpress print that will be on display during the exhibition. The prints will also be on sale in store and online from 16 May. Each print is of a limited edition of just 100 – commemorating 100 years of women’s right to vote and will be sale for €100 each or a special price of €280 for the set.

You can view and buy the print here: www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

And you’ll find more about the exhibition here: Print, protest & the polls

 

Letterpress Courses 2018

Here is a short list of the letterpress courses I will be teaching over the next few months. Bookings are taken by the relevant organisations but do get in contact with me if you’ve any questions about the course. Each course description includes a link to more information and all the details on how to book.

25 March, Introduction to Letterpress on the Adana table top press, National Print Museum, 10.30am to 4.30pm. €65. Max 6 people. Click here for more information

19-20 May, Introductory Letterpress Weekend, Graphic Studio Dublin, 10am to 4pm each day. €170. (10% off if booked up to a month in advance) Max 6 people. Click here for more information

27 May, Introduction to Letterpress Books on the Vandercook proofing press, National Print Museum, 10.30am to 4.30pm. €65. Max 6 people. Click here for more information

17 June, Experimental Letterpress, National Print Museum, 10.30am to 4.30pm. €65. Max 6 people. Click here for more information

25-27 June, Letterpress Introductory three day course, Distillers Press, National College of Art & Design, 10am to 4pm each day. €185. Max 8 people. Click here for more information

Letterpress Courses 2017

I’ll be teaching a selection of short and long courses over the next few months.  I’ll update this page with further details of dates and times as they become available. Please use the links below to read more about each course; all can be booked online through the relevant website.

September 2017

Introduction to Letterpress on the Adana table top press, one day course – National Print Museum (SOLD OUT) www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

Beginners: Eleven Week Evening Course in Distillers Press, NCAD is held on a Wednesday evening, from 6.30pm to 9pm. V/C 508. Beginning 20 September. National College of Art & Design, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.
This course will cover the basic techniques of letterpress printing: type setting with metal and wood type, locking up for print, registration, lino cut, multiple colour relief printing and producing short editions using a proofing press. The eleven week programme, offers a fantastic opportunity to gain access to Distillers Press, the best working letterpress facility in third level education in Ireland. Those with experience in graphic design / typography / print may find the course particularly interesting but prior knowledge of design is not required. The course will begin with an induction to the workshop, an overview of letterpress printing with examples of artists’ & designers’ work, an explanation of hand setting and an introduction to the use of the press. A number of short projects will follow, to explain the processes and then participants will be encouraged to create their own work under supervision. This can take the form of small editions of prints, posters, simple books, cards or stationery.
The course will provide an excellent overview of the processes and materials involved in letterpress printing. A certain amount of quality paper will be provided to begin the course and then additional sheets may be purchased as it progresses.  www.ncad.ie/continuing-education/cead-apply

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BOOK THE NCAD COURSE AND FAILING, THERE WAS AN ERROR ON THEIR WEBSITE. IT HAS NOW BEEN FIXED SO PLEASE TRY AGAIN. 28.08.2017

 

October 2017

Experimental Letterpress, one day course – National Print Museum
www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

 

November 2017

Letterpress Christmas Cards, one day course – National Print Museum
(SOLD OUT) www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

 

December 2017

Lino cut & Letterpress Christmas Cards, Weekend Workshop – Graphic Studio Dublin
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, 10am to 4pm each day.
Graphic Studio Dublin, Distillery Court, 537 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.
Students will learn how to make a celebratory or invitation card using both letterpress and linocut. The first day will be spent typesetting and printing the cards, and during the second day the image will be cut in lino and added to make a finished piece. Each participant should complete approximately 10 cards.
www.graphicstudiodublin.com

 

January 2018

Intermediate: Ten Week Evening Course in Distillers Press, NCAD is held on a Wednesday evening, from 6.30pm to 9pm.  V/C 509
This ten week course is aimed at those who have completed the introductory course or have experience with setting metal and wooden type. Those individuals with a background in graphic design / typography / print / literature may find this course particularly interesting.
This course offers an opportunity to access the Distillers Press and its fantastic collection of over 500 cases of wood and metal type. Participants will build on the basic techniques of hand setting and with tutor guidance, work on one large project or set of small projects. This limited edition could take the form of prints, posters, booklets or cards and can involve typography or illustration or a combination of both.
Projects will be suggested but participants will also be encouraged to research and develop individual work under supervision. As well as typography-based projects, participants can make use of other relief methods such as printing
from lino cut and digitally designed plates, as well as printing with multiple colours and hand inking.
The course will provide an excellent overview of the; processes and materials involved in letterpress printing, and offers the participant a chance to develop a larger project over time. Participants can research their own paper stocks or suitable sheets may be purchased from Distillers Press as the course progresses.
 www.ncad.ie/continuing-education/cead-apply

Exhibitions Summer 2016

This Summer I am delighted to be taking part in three exhibitions in Dublin and Galway.

Graphic Studio Dublin
The Summer Exhibition of new prints by Members and Visiting Artists opens in Graphic Studio Dublin on Saturday 9th July at 2pm and continues until 31st August.

Gallery Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 5.30pm
Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
Link: Graphic Studio Dublin

Daybreak
Calm

Olivier Cornet Gallery
‘Republic’ opens on Sunday 10th July at 3pm and continues until 28th August.
Gallerist Olivier Cornet has invited one of his artists, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, to co-curate a show to commemorate those who died in the struggle for Irish freedom. The group exhibition titled ‘Republic’ will also be a meditation on the goals of the “Proclamation of the Irish Republic” and how or whether the artists think that these goals have been fulfilled.
The exhibition includes work from Gallery artists Claire Halpin, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Yanny Petters, Kelly Ratchford and invited artists David Fox, Beatrice O’Connell, John O’Grady, Eve Parnell, Mary Plunkett and Lorcan Walshe.

Gallery Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 11am to 6pm (until 8pm on Thursdays).
and all weekend: 12 noon to 5pm on Saturday & Sunday.
Closed on Mondays (or viewing by appointment only)
Link: Olivier Cornet Gallery

Selected Poetry of Joseph Mary Plunkett and George Noble Count Plunkett

Selected Poetry of Joseph Mary Plunkett and George Noble Count Plunkett

Galway Print Studio and Graphic Studio Dublin
Galway Print Studio have Graphic Studio Dublin to join them in a joint exhibition to be held at the Connacht Tribune Gallery in August. The exhibition opens 15th August and concludes on the 28th.
Link: Galway Print Studio

 

Selected Poetry of Joseph Mary Plunkett & George Noble Count Plunkett

To commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising I have produced a limited edition book of selected poetry of my grand uncle Joseph Mary Plunkett and that of his father, George Noble Count Plunkett.

Cover

Photo Courtesy of Duffy Bookbinders

This latest book was launched on 5 May as part of a three person show with Siobhan Hyde and Caroline Bond at Graphic Studio Gallery. The launch coincided with the centenary of the execution of Joseph Plunkett on 4 May 1916 for his role in the organising of the Rising and as one of the signatories of the Proclamation. His father was Director of the National Museum at the time and held in high esteem for his knowledge of Renaissance art.

The book includes 9 original linocuts with the text of 22 poems set by hand and printed letterpress. It is a double-sided book with a 12 page section of 8 poems by Count Plunkett opening from one side and a 16 page section with 14 poems by Joseph Plunkett opening from the other. It is quarter bound with linocuts depicting the two poets and presented in a cloth covered slip case with a blind deboss of each of the poet’s signatures. The binding has been completed by Tom Duffy of Duffy Bookbinders.

Noel
Daybreak
To Grace
Occulta
The Circle & The Sword
Untold
Calm

The linocuts depict the poets themselves, some of their family and objects. Joe is pictured with his brother George whose son Seóirse is depicted in another image reading his uncles poetry; Joe’s desk; a painting that the Count bought for his 21st birthday; a suggestion of the Counts book collection; his chair.

The page size is 26.5cm x 38cm and the book is approx 30cm x 40cm x 1.5cm in the slip case.

The book has been printed in an edition of 50, the first 10 of which, deluxe, are presented in a larger slip case with an additional portfolio of three prints from the book.

Joseph & George Plunkett
George Noble Count Plunkett
Detail of ‘Silence’ by Count Plunkett

The text has been set by hand in 18pt Caslon with titles in 22pt small caps. The 7 linocuts within the book are reductive two colour prints and the 2 linos used for the covers are a single colour print. Printing was completed at my workshop, The Belgrave Private Press, on a Recaro proofing press.

The 9 linocuts are also available as prints in an edition of 20. There are also two broadsides of a linocut presented with poetry. I See His Blood Upon the Rose, is presented with the poem, To Grace, by Joseph Plunkett and the linocut of Joe’s desk; the other, The Shining Woman by Count Plunkett, is presented with a linocut of the two poets.

All prints are books are available for viewing and purchase in Graphic Studio Gallery, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Below are some images of the opening night at the gallery. We were delighted with the crowd that arrived on the night and thanks to all who attended. Seán Sills of the National Print Museum and formerly of Distillers Press, NCAD opened the show for us with a well researched and very complimentary speech which delighted all in attendance. The show continues until 28th May. 

Caroline Bond, Mary Plunkett & Siobhan Hyde (thanks to Siobhan for the photo)
Thanks to all who came along!
Viewing the handling copy of the book
Mary pictured with the book and prints at Graphic Studio Gallery
Seán Sills opening the show

Links:
Siobhan Hyde
Caroline Bond
Graphic Studio Gallery
Duffy Bookbinders

Creating the Manifesto

This Easter I’ll be involved in a very interesting project between the dlr LexIcon and the National Print Museum. Have a look at the description and the link below: Spaces available!

wood setting

Creating the Manifesto
Led by Clare Bell, Nathan O’Donnell & Mary Plunkett

Over four days during Easter 2016 (29 March – 1 April), participants will devise and write personal manifestos at the dlr LexIcon, Dun Laoghaire, and then use these texts to design and print letterpress posters at the National Print Museum, Beggars Bush, Dublin 4.

This is an active, practical and fun 4 day project incorporating creative writing, design and print, during which participants will also find out about historical manifestos, including the 1916 Proclamation.

The project is free and open to those aged 16-20 yrs.

See more at: http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/creating-manifesto-project

***

Three Yeats Books

Standard Edition bound in Hahnemuhle Bugra Butten
Winter Fair at the National Print Museum
Title page of ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’

This set of three books of William Butler Yeats’ poetry were designed and printed towards the end of 2015, the year which celebrated the 150th anniversary of Yeats’ birth. I had the opportunity to work with Yeats’ poetry for a number of projects during the year but wanted to take the chance to make my own books.

Each book contains one longer poem on which a three page fold-out linocut is based, as well as a selection of four or five shorter poems. The linocuts for each were exhibited earlier in the year with the Hamilton Gallery offsite at the Hawk’s Well Theatre as part of my exhibition, ‘Words and Fragments’. The linocuts had always been planned with these particular poems in mind and to fold down to fit within the books.

They were set in 18 point Caslon and printed on 170gsm Somerset Book on the Arab treadle press at my workshop. The accompanying fold out linocuts were inked by hand and printed on 250gsm Somerset Velvet using the Farley proofing press in Graphic Studio Dublin. They have been printed in an edition of 50, the first 20 of which (deluxe) are quarter bound in cloth with a printed cover and contain a three plate linocut. The other 30 (standard) are bound in Hahnemuhle Bugra Butten paper with a single colour linocut. A set of the deluxe is presented in a slip case. The deluxe binding was undertaken by Duffy Bookbinders. The bound size is approximately 17cm x 24 cm.

Linocut inked by hand
The third plate is printed
Linocut from ‘Sailing to Byzantium’
The Deluxe Editions at the Winter Fair, National Print Museum

The three books and their contents are:
Wild Swans at Coole
He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
When you are old
A Coat
The White Birds

Sailing to Byzantium
The Choice
No Second Troy
Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland

The Song of Wandering Aengus
Down by the Salley Gardens
Who Goes with Fergus
An Irish Airman Foresees his Death
The Lake Isle of Innisfree

The books were launched at the Winter Fair at the National Print Museum at the end of November and I was delighted with the very complimentary responses I received.

The three plate linocuts have also been printed in editions of 50 and are available in the Hamilton Gallery in Sligo and Graphic Studio Gallery in Dublin.

Book prices:
The deluxe are priced at €85 or €250 for the set of three. The standard paper covered are priced at €45. Please contact me directly for sales!

 

Somerset Velvet Newsprint and Somerset Book
Detail of ‘The Song of Wandering Aengus’
Linocut from ‘The Song of Wandering Aengus’
Linocut from ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’
Linocut from ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’
Single colour linocut in the Standard Edition