The Press Gang printmakers at Wallarobba: I’ve Got the Blues - The INDIGO Blues... by Michelle Mabbott

Sometimes “blue” is a state of mind, and I am in that internal landscape at the moment, as I deal with another week of endless hospital corridors, elusive doctors and a hungry multi-level, money sucking parking station. Sometimes the daily frustrations can lead to expletives, and the air, as they say, turning a little “blue”!

As my thoughts turn from blue to INDIGO blue, I am, whenever possible, mentally designing my next print plates. I'm enjoying The Press Gang blog that Frances has skillfully created. It’s become a little art lifeline for me, voyeuristically espying, the glorious efforts of June Lord’s rich and lavish gold and indigo botanicals. (June “she who plays with leaves”, as my daughter Samantha fondly describes her). I peeked at Helen’s quaint character outback birds on a textured setting, as opposed to her delightful wading birds, bringing a coastal theme to life. Judith and Heather are also hard at work, and I can’t wait to see their finished prints.

I sorely needed a culture fix this afternoon, so popped into Wallarobba, just in time to see some of the HAS Members' Exhibition as it was being taken down. Tucking wee Chester (Mum’s dog) under my arm, we enjoyed seeing several prints of our group and associates. Marianne Vidal Potts and Juliet Holden’s work, Ann Condon’s outer space with Astronaut, (that I had witnessed in development - see photo below) and more of Helen’s coastal series. This rounded out a very good art show, by including printmaking amongst all the other mediums.

Whilst there, I met a new member and was able to explain the term “collagraph” to her as she wanted to understand how these effects were achieved. She told me about the inspiration behind her artworks, and methods.

I felt artistically "refreshed", and even though I know my own designs are at present only pipedreams, I will finish them one day. In the works are Satin Bowerbirds, my daughters playing out a social statement, a nocturne, and recently a collagraph of a peacock feather, all in glorious blue.

As well, I’ve been actively researching printmakers efforts using blue, and accompanying colours that make blue sing. I now have a good pile of these samples to share with the group very soon. Until then, I’m singing the blues!

Michelle 7/7/2013

and from the HAS exhibition...