STUDIO: Mandy Knapp

Well here it is at last, my printmaking studio. It started out life as a bog standard shed, which my clever husband transformed. He put in lots of windows and glass in the door, so its flooded with natural light. 

The space really works, as I have designated areas for inking up, working, blotting, storage etc. Its been a long time coming, so I had been able to plan ahead how the space was going to be used. It certainly involved a few trips to a well known Swedish furniture store, a few auction site buys, and we are on first name terms with the local DIY store. So now I had better start selling some prints to pay for it! 

Let me give you a quick run down of my practice. I really like to etch with zinc and nitric acid. As I dont have a fume cupboard at home, I use a local facility for the toxic stuff. I lay down a hard ground on the zinc plate, then with an etching needle I scribe my design. The hard ground resists the acid, and the areas I have scratched away get bitten by the acid. When etching ink is applied to the zinc plate, the ink collects in all the grooves I have made. Having to use a seperate facility for biting the plates has been really good for me, as it makes me get out the house and see other printmakers, and share ideas.

Back in my studio I "ink up" on an old zinc plate, mixing raw pigment with copperplate oil.

The pressure of the printing press forces out the ink on to the dampened paper. This process is called "intaglio." I enjoy putting different textures on the plate, using a various methods. My work often depicts images of chairs, furniture and interiors, and I enjoy using different textures in my own home environment. I like to use a limited palate of colours, and rarely use black. I am a traditionalist, and use raw pigment mixed with copperplate oil, whereas some printmakers like waterbased inks.

I was so lucky to be given some raw pigments when I bought my etching press, as the previous owner was moving abroad. I also enjoy making monoprints with found items; ribbon, string, scrim, jam tart foils and the like, in abstract designs. Using this method is much free, and I will often find marks that will transfer in to ideas for my etchings.  

You can see more of my work at http://mandyknapp.co.uk

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