There have been plenty of amazing art exhibitions on this year, and I have been lucky enough to visit a few.

Picasso the Printmaker at the British Museum

I have always loved the way Picasso delved into different media – he worked in ceramics, photography, metalwork and printmaking as well as the paint and canvas we may universally remember him for. Within the sphere of printmaking, he experimented with many different methods, often pushing the boundaries of the ‘usual’ processes. In this picture he made a drypoint and then used emery paper on three more colour plates to get the scratchy texture he was after. The picture is titled Head of a woman no.7, Portrait of Dora Maar (1939). This was a fascinating exhibition that showed samples of many different techniques (and Picasso’s experimentation with them) and in some cases, the separate colour plates that combined to make up the final image. Much food for thought there, and some experiments to be sampled in future Printmaking Club sessions!

Hiroshige at the British Museum

A huge collection of extremely beautiful woodcuts showed the different feathers in Hiroshige’s printmaking cap. From scenic landscapes to nature studies, from street scenes to colourful portraits, his range and output was exhilarating and has had an effect on artists that continues to this day. But my personal enjoyment of the exhibition came from the explanations of his techniques. Like Picasso (but well before his time), he pushed boundaries and experimented with new methods as well as mastering the traditional ones. Although his work was enormously popular in his day, he seemed never content to stand still, and that too, is an inspiration to us all.

The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy

Known for its variety and sheer number of works, this year’s exhibition was no exception. As well as paintings, sculptures and architectural models, there were a good number of prints including linocuts, etchings, woodcuts and even a work that looked to be inspired by Hiroshige! I was delighted to see that many of the prints were hugely popular with buyers (each red dot signifies a sale) – the benefit being that even with limited editions, there are more than one available! Often more affordable than other types of art, I think it is important to remember that each print has still been pulled by hand and is unique in its own way. You may think you are getting the same picture as a few other people, but there will be tiny differences and it is still a handmade work of art. Enjoy!

Why not have a go at printmaking yourself? Find my printmaking workshops here.