A Printmaker Who Paints Plein Air: Lowell Boat Shop

Monday, February 20, 2023

OUTSIDE SKETCHING

Along Point Shore along the Merrimac River, in Amesbury there is a business called Lowell Boat Shop. Established in 1793, this wooden boat building shop is the oldest operating boat shop in America. I have spent many outings there, sketching the multitude of boats found on the property: most are sea worthy, some not. The stacked formations of these crafts make very interesting compositions.

While out drawing one morning, a Newburyport Daily News photographer stopped by for a chat and asked if I would mind him taking pics while I worked. The temps were in the 20's, so I was properly attired as only an outdoor artist could be dressed in layers of clothing, hats, scarf and a blanket for my lap.

Recently I have been making pronto plates, a type of lithography process, from my Lowell Boat Shop charcoal drawings.

Drawing directly on a polyester plate using China markers, Litho pencils and Sharpies, I can closely replicate the marks and tones of the original charcoal drawings. The plate is then inked up using a brayer while the surface of the undrawn plate is kept wet by sponging on a solution of gum arabic and water. The basic principle to lithography is water and oil do not mix. They repel each other. Using an etching press, I offset the image onto printing paper.

There is so much more to learn about this new printmaking process. Experimenting over time will lead to more interesting results.