I took this photo of one of the work benches, next to the hotplate, in the Print Studio at Cleveland College of Art & Design, some time in the early half of 2005, the year I graduated.
It was where I had been interviewed, nearly seven years previously, then a terrifying room full of brooding alien machinery, high ceilinged and with tall, tall windows in a elderly brick building that had once been, so rumour has it, a lunatic asylum.
Over the course of the next six years (I was a part-time, mature student) I was introduced to printmaking. My first tutor a skilled lithographer, meticulous and precise in his instructions, less so in his professionalism, but endlessly encouraging.
While he was off sick a second tutor was found, casual, very different in approach, much more encouraging of experiment which, in conjunction with the skills already learnt set me free.
After six years I was heartbroken at leaving this haven, with its toxic smells and liquids, it's mysteries mostly explained. I cannot go back since the following year the BA course was transferred to the University of Teesside and the studio re-sited, sans magic.
Fantastic photograph. How sad to think this place no longer exists. You made it sound fascinating. penny
ReplyDeleteThere's something about the smell of printing ink.... I always promised myself when I set out as a journalist that I would only work in offices where the printing was done on the premises. It didn't last because newspapers very quickly started to outsource printing to avoid the maintenance costs for the equipment.
ReplyDeleteThese self-promises can too often be self-broken can't they? I switched to water-based inks when I set up my studio at home - the fact that a) I was working upstairs with the landing and bathroom pressed into service and b) I am a profoundly mucky worker made it imperative.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is as vivid as the photo. Congratulations for your work.Thanks for sharing!
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Nelson - thank you kindly for your comment.
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