Sunday, April 28, 2019

Jo Lankester - Fundraising for the Australian Print Workshop

Impressions 2018 - APW

Supporting the fundraising efforts of the Australian Print Workshop is something I take pleasure in. Being a part of the biennial fundraising exhibition Impressions is a great feeling and something I look forward to. Working small is a challenge but I always manage to create something I'm happy with. I have been invited to contribute a print to the fundraising event over the past few years.

Impressions 2018 was a record-breaking fundraising success for APW. There were 182 artists from around Australia, over 750 prints were sold during the exhibition, and 27 editions fully sold out.

The money raised will enable the APW to continue to offer access to the APW's printmaking facilities at affordable rates.

This is the print that I contributed to Impression 2018.

Jo Lankester, Cortex - Wulguru, 2018

The pictures I make explore ideas of aesthetics, experience, and elements of the landscape; colour, line, texture, and form. My work is inspired by the unique combination of the regions’ dry and wet tropical landscape extending west of Townsville to Charters Towers, Magnetic Island, and as far North as Weipa.

SOLD OUT

Click here to purchase your copy through APW

Friday, March 15, 2019

Jo Lankester PCA Print Commission 2018

PCA Print Commission 2018

Cortex – Balding Bay Walking Track

A highlight in 2018 was to be shortlisted for the Print Council of Australia’s Print Commission.

The Print Commission is held annually and is one of the key programs run by the Print Council of Australia Inc. (PCA). Every year the PCA sends out a Call for Artists and receives applications from printmakers around Australia and New Zealand for the Commission program. 

The program has been running in one form or another since 1967.  Canson Australia is the major sponsor of the program. The Print Commission is a major fundraiser for the PCA and prints from the commission are offered to subscribers at very reasonable prices to ensure the ongoing success of the program. As a not-for-profit organisation the PCA relies on membership fees and its fundraising programs for its survival. 

Since the 1960s the commissioning process has evolved so that independent artists, curators and academics are now appointed to assist and judge the selection process. Having kept one print from each edition since 1967, and two prints from each edition since 1990, the PCA’s Print Collection Archive reflects the depth and diversity of Australian printmaking from the 1960s to today. As such the collection is of national significance.

I'm proud to report my print Cortex – Balding Bay Walking Track is held in the following collections as well as private collections.

Print Council of Australia Archive
State Library of Victoria
Canson
Camberwell Grammar School
Artspace Mackay
Shelford Girls Grammar
Westbourne Grammar
Presbyterian Ladies College
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
Grafton Regional Gallery
Lake Macquarie Art Gallery
City of Yarra

Artwork Details 

Jo Lankester
Born 1972, Vic. Now lives in QLD.
Five colour plate intaglio and relief
Edition of 35
Image and paper size: 70 x 50 cm

The pictures I make explore ideas of aesthetics, experience, and elements of the landscape; colour, line, texture, and form. My work is inspired by the unique combination of my local regions’ dry and wet tropical landscape extending west of Townsville to Charters Towers, Magnetic Island, and as far North as Weipa.

To purchase a copy of this print click here 




Saturday, December 1, 2018

Review: Australian Print Triennial 2018

Australian Print Triennial 2018, Mildura

31st Oct – 4th Nov 2018




“The Australian Print Triennial is a major international art event spearheaded by The Art Vault that will bring together artists, academics, arts ambassadors and practising printmakers from Australia and overseas to engage in a celebration of art printmaking and its significance in modern Australia’s Art’s culture.” To read more of Robyn Archers forward for the event click here 

This 2018 world-class event ran over five days. The first 2.5 days comprised of Community Workshops, Artist workshops, Presentations and Demonstrations. A fabulous Meet and Greet at Stefanos CafĂ©, one of the event sponsors, kicked off one of three opening launches in venues on Deakin St, the Young Emerging Artists Exhibition, Exhibition by La Trobe students from Mungo, and the Exhibition of Indigenous works. Congratulation to all the artists who had prints showing in these exhibitions including Hannah Caprice, Lauren Carter, Annalise Mayer, and Olivia Wilson who’s work I thoroughly enjoyed hanging in the Young Emerging Artists Exhibition.


Olivia Wilson, Lauren Carter, Annalise Mayer Young Emerging Artists Exhibition

Hannah Caprice at the Young Emerging Artists Exhibition. Photo sourced from Instagram hannah.capice

I attended a Mokulito workshop facilitated by Barbie Kjar along with other printmaking friends, Catherine Pilgrim, Julie Holmes, and Cat Rogers to name a few. It was a lovely introduction to the APT and a great opportunity to get to know other APT registrants. I found the Mokulito process to be very immediate, we used a drawing approach to mark making and had our plates prepped, drawn and gummed within a 3hr session. The printing went well for everyone on day two, each creating a small edition of three prints. I’m looking forward to spending more time exploring this process in my studio, I can see how the immediacy of the process will compliment my printmaking practice.

Drawing along the Murray River
Julie Holmes, Barbie Kjar & Catherine Pilgrim - Mokulito Workshop
Mokulito Prints

From midday Friday 2nd of Nov – midday Sunday 4th Nov the events were held at the Mildura Arts Centre (MAC) except for the Triennial Dinner, an exquisite dining experience held at Ampelon Gardens, featuring local foods and wines accompanied by singer Nicky Crayson and her group.

A highlight, among many, was the Opening Keynote by Robyn Archer AO, singer, writer, Artistic Director and public advocate for the arts - The Tenth Mildura Art Vault Address: Do We Care About Craft? Robyn spoke with such passion that I was left feeling inspired, and in total awe of this incredible woman, not to mention that I was covered in goose bumps. To read Robyn Archer’s Opening Keynote click here 

It was lovely to see Ron McBurnie up on the stage flying the flag for Townsville printmakers. He gave a short presentation on The Process (psychological and physical) that he goes through to making his prints, and he also took part in numerous discussion panels throughout the whole event.

Ron McBurnie, Mark Dustin, Michael Kempson, Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin, Wendy Murray, Jazmina Cininas & Simon Cooper

The Australian Print Triennial Prize winners were announced by the judges, Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin and Akky van Ogtrop President of the Print Council of Australia. Congratulations to all the entrants and prize winners!    Click here to read of the winners.


Center Print: Janet Parker-Smith

Wendy Murray, Joshua Season, and Rona Green gave engaging, informative and humorous short talks on How do you get seen as a printmaker? I particularly loved Wendy Murray’s subliminal marketing campaign to be seen throughout the event, she handed out stickers that fitted into the back of our lanyard name tags hanging around our necks. Either due to the weight or its size, all our lanyard tags were facing backward with her sticker shinning through. Brilliant! Rona Green generously gave out packs of goodies during her talk containing book marks, temporary tattoos, badges, fridge magnets and a catalogue, including an arsenal of easy to do marketing tips for all printmaking artists.

Press Gang Original Reproductions Handbook, Wendy Murray sticker, and Rona Green Tats and Benigo Art Gallery touring exhibition catalogue

The event closed with the Long Lunch on the banks of the Murray River with food by Steffano de Pieri and Ryan Casey, this was for all the registrants, VIP guests, volunteers and event partners. In addition, we were entertained by a band called the Press Gang and found ourselves laughing uncontrollably and singing along with the band to humorous and witty parodies written by Jazmina Cininas to well know rock songs. The Press Gang gave out hand stitched limited edition of 40 original lyrics handbooks to sing along to. The Press Gang comprised of Adrian Kellett on drums, Julie Forrester on vocals, Martin King on lead guitar and vocals, Graeme Drendel on lead guitar and vocals, and Jazmina Cininas on vocals and wrote the original lyrics to all the songs. GOLD! You can download a pdf file of the booklet and lyrics by clicking here 

I am incredibly grateful and thankful for the amazing hard work by all the staff at the Art Vault, the sponsors and everyone who attended. I can’t wait for the next Australian Print Triennial in 2021.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Douglas Art Group (D.A.B.) - Carborundum Collagraph Workshop 18,19,20 Nov 2017

D.A.B. - Carborundum Collagraph Workshop 

Ellen Terrell, a potter living in the Mossman region recently invited me to submit a workshop proposal for a 3-day Carborundum Collagraph Workshop as part of a RADF funding application for the local arts group D.A.B. Douglas Art Group

D.A.B. Studio Gallery Mossman FNQ

I had an enjoyable 6-hour drive north of Townsville arriving early on Friday evening to a very warm welcome by Ellen and D.A.B’s outgoing treasurer Liz Showniruk, and her family. We enjoyed a lovely evening at the Exchange Hotel Mossman including a dance with the locals to a rock band in the front bar before heading to her property at Whyanbeel Valley situated in the rainforest 10 minutes north of Mossman. 

Saturday Markets - Mossman FNQ

On a Saturday morning in Mossman, there is a local market full of fresh fruit and veg, a hairdresser amongst other professional’s, handcrafted wares including hand-printed tea towels and aprons. I purchased a lovely apron for the workshop designed and printed by Mary.

Day 1 - Introduction to materials, image design, and plate creation
D.A.B. have an etching press 40 x 70 cm. fitted with a good thick blanket suited to Collagraph printing. The press size determined the maximum size of the plates for use, 25 x 51cm.  We were using full sheets of strawboard 101 x 76cm. We were able to get 6 cut plates from one full sheet with no wastage.

We covered all the basics of studio practice included setting the press, clean paper areas, messy plate creation areas, demonstrations on sealing the plates and making your own textured mediums, composition and mark making.

D.A.B members applying Shellac 

Plate creation

Ellen working with PVA

Lea applying Carborundum grit
Britta tearing back the surface of the plate for texture

Lil exploring mark making

Day 2 – Plate creation & printing
The D.A.B. group purchased 3 different weight Hahnemuhle papers, 300 gsm, 230 gsm, and 150 gsm to use for printing. The lightweight paper, 150 gsm, was used for image transfer as part of multi-plate registration. The 230gsm for proofing and 300gsm for printing final prints. I gave a demonstration on inking up with a stipple brush or plastic card. We discussed when best to use transparency and how to mix it into your inks. I demonstrated different ways of wiping back using paper and or tarlatan.
The group really enjoyed these activities, especially pulling their first print, and making ghost prints for further overprinting at a later date.

Inga printing plate 2 of 3 colours/3 plate collagraph print

Inga & Ellen marvelling at Inga's print 

Gail working on a design

Test plates printed with varying blacks and transparency ink

Day 3 – Printing
Everyone seemed to get straight into it displaying confidence and enthusiasm. All the prints coming off the press were terrific and bold.
Inking and wiping the collagraph plates

Lea's 4 colour/3 plate collagraph print

Britta's 3 colour/3 plate collagraph print

Gail's 2 plate/2 colour collagraph print

Britta & Inga

Lil printing a textured plate made using a textured medium

Lea reflecting on her collagraph prints

Inga experimenting with colour and transparency ink


Lil's 2 colour/3 plate collagraph print

In summary, the workshop explored multi-plate colour printing using textured collagraph plates. Workshop participants worked to create a series of plates that were printed in succession producing multi-colour prints. Engaging with a diverse range of materials, plate creation, monoprinting techniques, including the use of transparent ink.

Carborundum Collagraph: Carborundum grits (silicon carbide, lithography graining grit) are mixed with glue and applied to the surface of strawboard, perspex or plastic etching plates to produce rich tonal areas, often in a very painterly manner. The plates may also be incised, abraded, or attacked with various sharp hand and/or electric tools to create velvety linear marks, and/or combined with monotype.

I’d like to say a very big thank you to the D.A.B management committee, and artists for the invitation to facilitate a workshop in their very friendly gallery and studio. Including the outgoing president Liz Showniruk and her family for welcoming me into their home. Liz runs her own Studio & gallery, Whyanbeel Valley Studio & Art Gallery  which includes and the most stunning Artists Residence accommodation available for hire.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Jo Lankester Recipiant - APW Regional Artist-in-Residence Project 2017

Australian Print Workshop Regional Artist-in-Residency project

I’m please to write of a recent professional development opportunity in Melbourne at the Australian Print Workshop (APW) as a recipient of the Regional Artist-in-Residence project between 16 November to 5 December 2017.
Australian Print Workshop 210 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Vic 3065
Proposed Print Project: To make experimental studies of textured surfaces of the given environment in the form of Unique State Prints.

During this time, I enjoyed early morning walks to parks and gardens located close to the APW including the Fitzroy Gardens, Yarra Park and the Botanical Gardens. Stopping to make small drawings of the surface of gum trees then return to the studio and draw in my journal from memory of the observational drawing made in the park. Then in the APW Access Print Studio working from memory, I printed a series of monotype prints on Hahnemuhle 78 x 53cm, using etching ink and a copper plate 90 x 60 cm. Each memory exercise is a process that removes my mark making from the literal and becomes an intuitive process to making prints. The Monotypes were printed with up to 4 layers of colour using a subtractive approach to create the image.

Subtractive Monotype printing, printed by Jo Lankester in the APW Access Print Workshop
4 layered subtractive Monotypes, printed by Jo Lankester in the APW Access Print Workshop
In week two I was presented with a generous opportunity to create a Limited Edition Print with APW Senior Printer Simon White. We worked together to create a 4-colour plate lithograph printed on the FAG offset press, I drew on the prepared plates, which Simon then processed and printed. This was an amazing experience to work in a medium that I don’t have access to in Townsville or the skills to work in this medium unassisted. The technical guidance and skills provided by Simon White realised a beautifully printed edition of prints containing intricate marks and a subtle colour palette that tells a story of my physical, and artistic journey whilst in residence at the APW. 

Plate 1 of 4, Tusche Wash & crayon

3 layers of colour of 4 plate/4 colour Lithograph. Printed by Simon White, APW Senior printer. 
Key plate for Lithograph print (4 plate/4 colour)
Cortex-Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Plate lithograph (4 plates/4 colour)
76 x 55cm | BFK 250gsm
Drawn by Jo Lankester and printed by Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017
This Unique State print can be purchased through the Australian Print Workshop.
The key Lithography plate was also printed on the dry surface of the 7 monotypes created in week one, in the APW Access Studio. The monoprints were then further worked on by myself in week 3 to created 3 x unique state diptych prints and I x APW unique state single sheet print.

Key Lithographic Plate printed on Monotypes to become Monoprints.
Drawn by Jo Lankester and printed by Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017.

Applying the final lines of colour in the APW Access Print Workshop
Cortex-Parliament Gardens, Melbourne
Drawn by Jo Lankester, printed by Jo Lankester & Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017.
This Unique State print can be viewed at the Australian Print Workshop.

Cortex-Botanic Gardens II, Melbourne
Drawn by Jo Lankester, printed by Jo Lankester & Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017
This Unique State print can be purchased through the Australian Print Workshop.
Cortex-Yarra park, Melbourne
Drawn by Jo Lankester, printed by Jo Lankester & Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017.

Cortex-Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne
Drawn by Jo Lankester, printed by Jo Lankester & Simon White, APW Senior printer.
This work resulted from an Artist-in-Residency project supported by Australian Print Workshop in 2017.
In between printing the monoprints and working on the limited edition print, Cortex - Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, I produced 3 x small editions and a couple of trial proofs. These prints are what I call my drawing prints. I use only one element of the subject to focus on, usually the outer layer of textured bark and stains on a tree.
Additional small editions made and printed by Jo Lankester in the APW Access Print Workshop
This incredibly generous opportunity offered by the Australian Print Workshop also enabled me to make contact with professional practicing printmakers living, and working in Melbourne. The inner city location of the APW situated near commercial and state/national galleries allowed easy access for me to see exhibitions, attend exhibition openings, artist talks, and print studio launches. During my stay I built new connections and working relationships resulting in a true sense of connectedness with printmaking artists in Victoria reducing the sense of physical isolation through distance of living in regional North Queensland.

Thank you to the Australian Print Workshop Board, APW Directors and staff for this incredible opportunity to make new connections, and extend my knowledge of the print medium.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Peebles Print Prize - Highly Commended Jo Lankester

Watch the official announcement of the Peebles Print Prize at Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop by Hertha Gluge-Pot.
Congratulations to Olivia Mazzone, winner of the inaugural Peebles Print Prize.
High commendations by Hertha Kluge-Pott to Michele Kershaw for Re:Sown and Jo Lankester for Rhytidome Viscaceae – Townsville II.

Friday, June 30, 2017

PUNQ: Pop Up North Queensland Arts Festival 28 July - 6 August 2017

PUNQ: Pop Up North Queensland Arts Festival 28 July - 6 August 2017

Brush & Press Studio is participating in this unique 9day arts festival in Townsville, North Queensland.
Screen Shot of Umbrella Studio Webstie

Brush & Press

In Artists in Action, Pop-Up Shop  April 5, 2017
261 Flinders Street

Brush & Press is a print focused studio showcasing works on paper & linen by local and interstate artists Laura Castell, Mini Graff, Jo Lankester, and Janet Parker-Smith.
At this pop-up, you will see artists in action showcasing the process of printmaking and you will be given the opportunity to purchase a piece of work!

Laura Castell

Laura is originally from Venezuela and a trained biologist – a practice that has given her close contact with nature. Castell became a full-time artist in 2014 and her interests revolve around two main topics- often treated separately, nature and the human condition. She works in a variety of media, with printmaking a major focus, especially relief printmaking, but more recently exploring the combination of techniques.

Laura Castell,Nine treasures, 19.5×18 cm, Reduction linocut, Edition 10.


Mini Graff

Mini is a New Zealand born, Sydney-based street artist who works in and around the city’s urban fringe. The streets and inhabitants of the area provide the content and impetus for her work. Mini Graff stencils and prints images onto a variety of media (walls, boards, vinyl, paper, rarely canvas) which strongly relate to the given environment and community, transforming an anonymous repetitive urban landscape into a unique and personal aesthetic experience.
Mini Graff, (l-r), Play that card again (multi stencil).

Jo Lankester

Jo is a passionate printmaker living and working in Townsville, North Queensland. The natural environment informs her uniquely printed fine art prints. Mark-making and experimentation is the process behind the work. Her focus in the medium of Collagraph is an ongoing enquiry resulting in the extension of the parameters of both the medium and her own visual language.

Jo Lankester, On the Surface, 2014, Intaglio 88.5 x 75cm

Janet Parker-Smith

Janet is a Sydney based artist who works with Printmedia, Sculpture and Altered books. She has been exhibiting nationally and internationally for 20 years.
Parker-Snith is represented by Van Rensberg Gallery, Hong Kong and supported by May Space, Sydney where she has had several solo exhibitions, and M Contemporary Gallery, Sydney.

Janet Parker-Smith, (l-r), Aberrant, One screen print

To visit the Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Arts website to find out more click here: PUNQ Arts Festival