Henry is primarily a painter. His work is figurative, gestural and alive with sweeping colours and brushmarks. He came to Dekkle eager to make etchings, having already had some printmaking experience working with Stone Litho.
We organised a meeting, discussing his ideas over coffee and we explained the possibilities in relation to his budget.
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I encouraged him to take an 2 day introductory course into etching which taught him terminology in relation to process. This allowed him more flexibility with his budget and also made him more aware of the process. This put him in good stead for his project and allowed me to understand how he worked.
The studio was then booked for three to four days. Plates and coffees were prepared so that the most could be made from the time booked with us at Dekkle. Henry normally takes over the studio hanging his previous pieces. The studio is transformed into his space with the processes working like clockwork, copper in the ferric chloride, melting aquatint with the gas poker, mixing hundreds of variables of orange and with proofs stacking up. Magic is happening, Henry stops to say that is the ‘one’ but can we try it with a hint of Vermilion with some extender, a few prints later the work gets signed off, ready for the edition.
Throughout the four days he may go through 6 to 10 plates with 3 to 5 plates ready for editioning.
Editioning would normally take 3 to 5 weeks which includes drying time but this can be done quicker if required. Henry would normally collect in person where he checked the prints.
Finished prints can also be shipped.
Henry Jabbour says:
Printmaking is an integral part of my art practice and my approach to printmaking is not too dissimilar to how I approach or think about my paintings.
Although I may have a particular image in mind when I start working on an etching plate or a stone, I do rely a lot on the element of chance and surprise. This helps me embrace the unexpected in my work and also allows the work to guide me so to speak.
I have been working with David at Dekkle studios for about three years now. David is a very experienced and patient printmaker. Our personalities are compatible in the sense he listens and allows me to vent my frustrations when the plate or the image do not feel right. He is happy to trouble shoot constantly with me so that we can achieve a desired outcome. After a period of about two years of experimenting and trying things out, I feel like I have developed a language with my prints that feels intuitively mine and that relates to my painting practice. I am looking forward to seeing how my printmaking relationship develops with David and what prints we will be making over the coming years.
www.henryjabbour.com
Dekkle Printmaking Studio sponsored a prize at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair. I selected Cat Roissetter’s work as I was intrigued by her drawings and knew that we could offer her ways to develop her practice. Over the years, we have sponsored several prizes as we think it is important to encourage up and coming artists, giving them a place to explore printmaking.
Cat Roissetter says:
Working with Dekkle Print Studio was a real magical experience for me.
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Finding my way to the beautiful old town of Baldock to develop and produce some long anticipated etchings in a traditional and romantic setting was priceless. David’s knowledge and expertise helped me to realise some large-scale soft ground copper plates. The result had all the depth I had hoped for from such a sensitively made plate. With many a cup of tea and philosophical chat it was a place of work I would be lucky to go back to. The only thing I regret is not having enough time for David’s idea to add aquatint for the large areas of colours. These I ended up hand water-colouring instead. Perhaps I’ll get to do it in the near future.
www.catroissetter.art
Paul Finn says:
I had been looking for a small professional print studio where I could make small editions of images using a range of print methods.
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I am a painter and so I knew I would require the technical help of a master printer. Having visited a number of editioning houses and print studios in London, I found them not suited to my needs. I wanted to work semi independently but needed the help of someone who could help me straight away. Dekkle print is a small very well equipped print studio which I could book for a day or so and have the support of David Borrington. David is a good listener and has a wealth of knowledge about printmaking, especially etching. He enjoys working collaboratively and is a generous and sympathetic teacher. I have no hesitation in recommending Dekkle print studio to any artist wishing to extend their work into etching, woodcut, wood engraving or lithography.
Mark Clark is inspired by the figure and his travels to India. He has a wealth of experience, having worked in a major London gallery. However he now works predominantly as an artist. Dekkle provided him with the ideal opportunity to continue his work outside of the big city.
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We met Gudrun when she happened to move next to the studio. We became friends and as time passed, we worked together. She decided to move away from Hertfordshire, however this did not stop us from being still able to provide a printmaking experience to suit her needs.
Gudrun writes:
Dekkle offer a bespoke service which can be accessed even if you are unable to be in the studio in person. – Read More
David will talk to you about your project and printing needs post you prepared plates if necessary and carry out the printing of editions according to your instruction – they are also developing a way to print artists’ designs using a 3d printer, so they will be able to offer their printing services to anyone across the world – as far as I know they are the only print studio offering this unique ‘remote access’ model’.
