Nostr notes by John Bloor Printmaker

Having an off day today. Don't feel like much. How are you ...

2024-10-29T14:08:51Z

Having an off day today. Don't feel like much.

How are you doing?

#update

You can expect a lot more hand made screenprints next year. I ...

2024-10-28T10:59:01Z

You can expect a lot more hand made screenprints next year.

I have now worked out how I can do it all as handmade stencils – even the negative bits.

I looked at my Thatcher idea and while it's ok it needs more work. I am going to be doing more sketches so watch this space!

This Upturned Boats print is my first print made entirely with hand made stencils.

#upturnedboats #boats #upturned #beach #boat #fishing #buoys #hut #beachhut #lobsterpots #sand #waves #coast #coastal #screenprint #printmaking #handprinted #art #artist #craft #printmakersofmastodon #illustration #handmade

Dartmoor editioning is finished! I got about 23 good ones out of ...

2024-10-25T15:02:27Z

Dartmoor editioning is finished! I got about 23 good ones out of 27.

I will take a good photo tomorrow and post it. This one has some reflections of light off the ink.

#dartmoor #devon #print #printmaking #handprinted #handmade #art #craft #illustration

Hard bit done! Fourth colour down. Now for the 60% white and dark ...

2024-10-25T12:37:59Z

Hard bit done! Fourth colour down. Now for the 60% white and dark grey. So exciting to get this done at last.

#dartmoor #print #printmaking #haytor #gorse #screenprinting #handprinted #wip #art #illustration #craft

Second colour proof, looking much better! The green is supposed ...

2024-10-23T15:25:56Z

Second colour proof, looking much better! The green is supposed to be a bit more blue but otherwise I think it's looking good.

#screenprinting #printmaking #dartmoor #handprinting #handmade #print #devon #art #illustration #craft #printmakersofmastodon

So this is the second colour proof. I have adjusted all the ...

2024-10-23T12:51:37Z

So this is the second colour proof. I have adjusted all the colours and the light grey.

#proof #printmaking #screenprinting #printmakersofmastodon

So this is my colour proof of Dartmoor. Imagine this but with ...

2024-10-22T16:04:53Z

So this is my colour proof of Dartmoor. Imagine this but with better registration! The cyan, in particular, is in the wrong place.

You can see that my version of this print has a different bridge to the Dartmoor National Park version.

I am very happy with how it's looking. Now I need to tweak the colours.

#proof #printmaking #dartmoor #handprinting #screenprint #screenprinting #art #printmakersofmastodon

After watching Chernobyl I'm now rewatching Traumazone. #tv ...

2024-10-20T19:52:16Z

After watching Chernobyl I'm now rewatching Traumazone.

#tv #russia

I will make 108 mince pies this Christmas. #christmas

2024-10-19T19:10:52Z

I will make 108 mince pies this Christmas.

#christmas

I can now finally reveal (because of course you haven't seen ...

2024-10-16T09:45:00Z

I can now finally reveal (because of course you haven't seen it before!) to you that I've been working on a print for Dartmoor National Park!

It is a print of Dartmoor with various landmarks including Haytor, sheep, ponies, gorse, standing stones, stone wall and a clapper bridge.

It will be available from today at the Dartmoor National Park visitor centres at Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor.

This is a high quality digital print onto 350gsm uncoated paper and is A3 in size.

And...I will also be making a special version of this print as a limited edition screenprint which I will detail soon.

#dartmoor #devon #haytor #sheep #clapperbridge #bridge #stones #moor #print #flowers #walking #hiking #hares #ponies #trees #stonewall #art #illustration

I should have done three colours today but I've only done ...

2024-10-15T16:40:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…yfw2
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I should have done three colours today but I've only done two.

60 scandi squirrels... #60 #squirrels #scandi ...

2024-10-15T16:25:04Z

60 scandi squirrels...

#60 #squirrels #scandi

Thanks for all your alternative Christmas music suggestions! I ...

2024-10-07T15:58:10Z

Thanks for all your alternative Christmas music suggestions! I have bought a few tracks so far.

#christmas #music

Here's the test illustration for my Thatcher print. It would ...

2024-10-07T09:27:49Z

Here's the test illustration for my Thatcher print.

It would be paint, pencil and paper cuts.

Obviously this is not finished but I have worked out what I would do in most of the print.

#thatcher #thatch #cottage #cottages #fields #handmade #printmaking #print #wip #illustration #printmakersofmastodon #art #illustration #craft

I've done about three inches! It's very slow. #knitting ...

2024-10-03T21:09:03Z

I've done about three inches! It's very slow.

#knitting

I have ribbing! #knitting ...

2024-09-30T21:35:33Z

I have ribbing!

#knitting

My table from today's New Forest Wayzgoose at Brockenhurst ...

2024-09-29T18:06:53Z

My table from today's New Forest Wayzgoose at Brockenhurst Village Hall.

I have used Photoshop to clean this up a bit.

#wayzgoose #printfair #printmakersofmostodon

Doing a bit of image research for my working people prints. So ...

2024-09-28T15:34:21Z

Doing a bit of image research for my working people prints.

So far I am thinking about doing a baker, bee keeper, cockler, fisherperson, fruit picker, shepherd and thatcher.

I think next year is going to be a mishmash of working on ideas on the computer, drawing them in natural media and making prints.

#printmaking #prints #screenprinting #printmakersofmastodon

Detail from my Upturned Boats print, completely made with ...

2024-09-27T10:46:48Z

Detail from my Upturned Boats print, completely made with handmade stencils.

My film positives have arrived for my last screenprint of 2024. I cannot show you it yet but I am very excited about it.

#upturnedboats #boats #stencils #handmade #screenprint #printmaking #handprinted #buoy #art #craft #handmade #illustration
2m

I absolutely love Jojo Rabbit.

2024-09-26T16:14:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…qsyd
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I absolutely love Jojo Rabbit.

I will be bringing Upturned Boats, Harbour Walls, Corner of the ...

2024-09-26T16:14:15Z

I will be bringing Upturned Boats, Harbour Walls, Corner of the Shed, On the Waves and the Scandi Forest print to all the events we are doing leading up to Christmas!

I am already working on new prints for next year with a looser style. Expect more hand made stencils and natural media.

#printmaking #fairs #printfair #handprinted #handpulled #upturnedboats #boats #coastal #shed #lobsterpots #art #craft #illustration #handmade

Ok so I did some more knitting today. Screwed it all up, but ...

2024-09-25T22:17:21Z

Ok so I did some more knitting today. Screwed it all up, but still.

I did rows of knitting first of all, to practise.

The I tried purl. I found it easy to do but everything kept going wrong.

I know that knitting is all about consistency. I noticed that I was probably not starting with the wool at the font so I tried to be more consistent.

So I pulled it all off and tried a few more times.

I created 24 stitches and tried to knit 2 purl 2. It seemed...ok except I ended up with about 30 stitches and some of them were crossed over each other!

Things are definitely going in the right direction and I just need to keep on doing it.

I think half the problem is the wool is so thin I can't see if I've pulled the loop through or not. So I've asked Alice to get me some fatter wool.

#knitting

ok thank you, good advice. I don't use the phone and I hate ...

2024-09-25T13:20:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…jw7u
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ok thank you, good advice. I don't use the phone and I hate talking in person. I'll see what I can do.

My "best" friend doesn't have the time to respond to ...

2024-09-25T13:08:46Z

My "best" friend doesn't have the time to respond to my (infreqeuent) messages but he somehow he finds the time to message me about something and expects an instant response.

I want to actually tell him how I feel, that he doesn't make the time to respond. But Alice wants me to just ignore him if he messages me again. That seems petty to me.

I'm very frustrated that my best friend is so time poor. He has told me in the past that he makes himself really busy all the time to deal with his anxiety.

What do you think I should do?

I managed it! It took me a few attempts until I worked out what ...

2024-09-24T21:02:50Z

I managed it!

It took me a few attempts until I worked out what the hell was going on.

I will carry on doing this tomorrow.

#knitting

We will have the new Scandi tea towels at Festival of Crafts at ...

2024-09-24T16:03:12Z

We will have the new Scandi tea towels at Festival of Crafts at Farnham Maltings! Both colours of tea towel.

Festival of Crafts is on 12th and 13th October. See you there?

#teatowel #scandi #craft #handprinted #handmade #art

ooh I've never been there! Love the blue sea and the sky ...

2024-09-22T12:21:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…ctfp
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ooh I've never been there! Love the blue sea and the sky though.

gorgeous colours

2024-09-22T11:48:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…9y4k
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gorgeous colours

I have now created all of the new Scandi work (for the moment). ...

2024-09-21T09:16:35Z

I have now created all of the new Scandi work (for the moment). Everything is hand printed except for the cards.

We have two tea towels (in raspberry and icy blue), a set of Scandi Forest animal cards, an icy blue Scandi Forest print (huge), a set of six tree decorations and of course my set of small A6 Scandi Christmas cards.

All of these will be coming to the fairs and available online. I have no idea if we'll need to print more of anything but we are ready to do so.

#scandi #scandiforest #forest #animals #squirrel #fox #stag #hare #bear #bird #decorations #teatowel #print #cards #handprinting #handmade

Pixelfed to me seems like Instagram used to be years ago. In a ...

2024-09-20T19:49:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…nrkk
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Pixelfed to me seems like Instagram used to be years ago. In a really good way!

I'd much rather use Mastodon than Pixelfed. And I don't ...

2024-09-20T19:46:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…ve4l
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I'd much rather use Mastodon than Pixelfed. And I don't think people use Instagram to post photos any more, really. Everyone I know uses it to promote their business.

It's fascinating to me that I posted on Instagram to my 8,600 ...

2024-09-20T19:41:32Z

It's fascinating to me that I posted on Instagram to my 8,600 followers that I get much more comments and sales from the kind people on Mastodon.

Not one person joined Mastodon. You'd think they'd jump at the chance.

But no, they'd rather stay on Instagram and complain about the lack of engagement.

#Instagram #Mastodon

Printed four years ago, this Rock Stack print is the first in a ...

2024-09-20T09:55:34Z

Printed four years ago, this Rock Stack print is the first in a little series I did of coastal paths.

It's pretty simple but employs a few things for the first time for me, such as monoprinted textures, natural media brushes.

#rockstack #rock #tintagel #cornwall #path #coast #coastalpath #seaside #sea #coastal #art #screenprint #printmaking #handprinted #handmade #craft #illustration #printmakersofmastodon

Stunning

2024-09-19T19:29:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…y3ea
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Stunning

I do everything I can to find new music via other channels.

2024-09-19T19:11:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…jp6e
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I do everything I can to find new music via other channels.

Just sold an Along the Coastal Path print. Printed three years ...

2024-09-14T09:51:28Z

Just sold an Along the Coastal Path print.

Printed three years ago this is inspired by coastal paths I have walked and features stones, steps, a stone wall, tin mine, fence and headland.

This was my first print to feature overprinted white ink. It also features my ink scraped textures (of which I need to make more). It is an edition of 28.

#screenprint #printmaking #steps #handprinted #handmade #tinmine #screenprinting #coastal #coastalpath #printmakersofmastodon

Maybe you should call the police and say someone's been ...

2024-09-12T17:07:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…4sxj
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Maybe you should call the police and say someone's been hanging around outside.

My Scandi Forest print will be coming to the fairs where we have ...

2024-09-11T09:45:55Z

My Scandi Forest print will be coming to the fairs where we have a wall to display it on!

The paper is 50cm x 70cm in size!

This is also available as a tea towel in icy blue and raspberry which I hand printed.

It is also available on my shop.

#scandi #forest #animals #print #handprinted #fox #bird #hare #squirrel #bear #stag #mountains #rocks #firtree #branch #screenprint #printmakersofmastodon #handprinted #art #craft

So this is my most recent print, Upturned Boats. It is the first ...

2024-09-09T09:49:31Z

So this is my most recent print, Upturned Boats.

It is the first print where I have hand made the stencils from bits of paper cut with a scalpel painted black, pencil marks, black brush strokes and pen marks.

It was a lot of fun and I shall be employing this technique a lot more.

Nothing quite lines up because everything is cut out by hand so it has that hand made feel but I'm delighted by how it turned out.

An edition of 50, printed on Fabriano 5 printing paper, it is A4 in size on larger paper.

#upturnedboats #upturned #boats #art #craft #handmade #handprinted #screenprint #printmakersofmastodon #print

Love the light

2024-09-08T21:51:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…nwf0
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Love the light

Aggie in the wood store a couple of days ago. We have started ...

2024-09-08T18:02:15Z

Aggie in the wood store a couple of days ago.

We have started letting them out and so far they have been very well behaved, staying in the garden.

I have started to stay in the house when they go outside now.

#aggie #agnetha #kitten #CatsOfMastodon #cat

Thank you! I've been on Mastodon for nearly a year but my ...

2024-09-08T12:21:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…q0m7
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Thank you! I've been on Mastodon for nearly a year but my server died...hoping this server is my forever home

So this is what I get up to. This is my Rooftops of St. Ives ...

2024-09-08T10:18:06Z

So this is what I get up to.

This is my Rooftops of St. Ives print from Autumn 2023.

It is a seven colour screenprint. I love making screenprints (I also do linocuts but not as many).

It features lots of natural media marks and brush strokes as well as textures. There are three main colours with overlaid transparent black, light grey and white.

It is one of my favourite prints to date though I have done some recently which I am really pleased with.

I'm trying to become more of an artist and less of a graphic designer.

#rooftops #stives #cornwall #screenprint #printmakersofmostodon #art #craft #illustration #print

Nostr event nevent1qqszk8rttndh3ql9zavzfukzv3kl5lq03uppfm4df9de6vmt9jjaztqzyqjn3rxj28t5frxj7jsa899e8r43y5ka5d6t2klysgw0gn8c98tzgyhmtu7

2024-09-08T09:46:58Z

Hello everyone! I see you! Do you see me?

Hello! I've just moved (yet again) to a new server (this one) ...

2024-09-08T09:46:04Z

Hello! I've just moved (yet again) to a new server (this one) as my old one has melted down so here's an introduction about me.

My name is John Bloor, I'm 53 years old and married with two grown up boys. I live in southern England.

I studied film, worked in the film industry, learned how to do HTML and became a web designer in 1996. Then slowly I became a graphic desiger and illustrator.

I kept losing my job, kept having confrontations with people and eventually was diagnosed with ASD in 2011 age 40.

Even when I told my employers that I had ASD I was still forced out of jobs. So I freelanced but developed so much anxiety when freelancing and dealing with clients that I fired them all.

I had a psychotic episode while at one of these jobs and have never been the same since, starting to suffer from paranoia. I have since learned that working on my own and having minimal contact with people is the best thing for me.

Printmaking literally saved my life! I started printmaking in my early 40s and began doing it seriously in 2015. A few years later I became a full time printmaker.

Printmaking is very mindful (I hate that word) and it is a safe place for me where I know what I'm doing.

Now I bring in an income, I'm not quite where I want to be but I'm getting there. I'd like to be able to print what I like all the time instead of just some of the time.

I live every day with anxiety but that is manageable. I know how to deal with it and plan things carefully. The episodes of paranoia and mood swings are harder to deal with but I'm hoping I'll get there.

I came to Mastodon to escape other social media which was completely doing my head in with perfect posts, adverts, videos and suggested accounts. Also following too many printmaking accounts led me to feel terrible.

So far so good, I am loving Mastodon and the way everyone supports each other. I hope to contribute to that.

As well as a printmaker I write music and sometimes take photographs. I am very keen on collecting new music too.

So you can expect to see posts from me about my printmaking, music, photography and mental health. I hope that's ok!

#autistic #anxiety #paranoia #mentalhealth #printmaking #printmaker