'High Mountains are a Feeling'

Byron

Audrey Vaughan

Artist & printmaker

This series of prints has been based on my experience – both visual and emotional – of mountain places.

For many years I have loved and climbed the Lakeland fells.  Recently I visited the Andes of Peru, giving me the opportunity to reflect on the grand scale and awesome power of nature displayed in these great mountains.

Mountains have been powerful symbols in many cultures, representing spiritual beings and sacred places.

In my work, I attempt to express something of the feelings of excitement and awe aroused by my experiences of these places.

All the prints I create are originals.  A plate is constructed, by etching, cutting, drypoint or collage (see below).  Each plate will then be inked, several times to create a series of similar, but not identical prints.  Each print is carefully created by hand.  Depending on the colours, density and the way the plate is wiped, I can create a variety of effects.   The process is time-consuming and painstaking, and it takes considerable experience to produce a successful series of prints.

Every print produced is unique.  It is numbered and signed by me.

The prints I exhibit here – collagraphs, carborundum and photo etch - require a press, a ‘plate’, special inks, and good quality paper.

Collagraphs

The word ‘collagraph’ comes from ‘collage’ – a work of art in which various materials are glued to a backing.  To produce a collagraph, I make a ‘plate’ of card, to which I glue other materials.  Cuts or tears into the card also create texture on the surface.  Ink is applied to this surface and then paper is laid over it.  The plate and paper are put into the press and subjected to extremely high pressure.  The resulting image printed is a collagraph.

The ‘carborundum’ plates are metal with carborundum glued on.  Photo etching is a photographic process to etch a drawing onto metal plate.  When making these prints I have collaged tissue paper at the printing stage (the chine colle).

Exhibiting in the Upper Gallery

19th June - 12th August 2008