Printmaking Courses in Spain

Jennifer Morgan Family, Nova Scotia, Canada

I received an email from Jennifer Morgan in Nova Scotia asking me if I could mount a one-day solarplate printing workshop in my studio for herself and six family members, as a creative stop on their trip to Spain. I thought, “That’s impossible.” But I, who believe in the impossible, said “Fine. Come on over. We’ll give it a try.”

On the day, I had the great good luck that all Jennifer’s family had surprising artistic talent, which they may have inherited from their mother, the Canadian novelist, Bernice Morgan. (See photos) The quantity and quality of work they produced in a single day, their first, was impressive. I tremble to think what they could have achieved in a week.

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Jini Grinwald, Melbourne, Australia

Jini is a very special person, profound, talented and loving. She stayed for a month and we became sisters. She had powerful personal motives for wanting to professionalize the level of her artwork and made great strides in that pursuit while she was here. She also had time for lunches at sidewalk cafes, trips to the Mediterranean shore, visits to friends’ studios and walks along our river path.

Mike made these pictures of Jini’s escapades and her work.

We know you’re busy Down Under, Jini, but do come back as soon as you can.

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Lorna Ryan, Mt. Macedon, Victoria, Australia

Lorna has spent time in my studio with me a couple of times, both en route to the UK to visit family there. From the beginning she was very humble about her artistic talent. My reaction, as always, was to get started and see what happened. As it turned out Lorna was far too self effacing, as she soon started adopting new techniques and turning out some delightful prints. She gained confidence day by day.

While Lorna and I were making prints, Mike and her husband Roger were doing walking tours inspecting  monuments and tapas bars in Granada.

P.S. I was delighted to hear from Lorna later that when she returned home she started winning cash prizes for her prints.

From the visitors’ book: “Maureen, how lucky I was when I surfed the Internet for a printmaking workshop. I am thrilled with my work that we have produced. You are an inspiration and a beautiful generous lady. Thank you. I hope to be back.”

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Iram Wani, Islamabad, Pakistan

Iram is an English teacher and artist from Pakistan’s capital city. Her original plans were to come with a friend but when the friend couldn’t make it she jumped on the plane by herself. We picked up this fearless young artist 15 hours later at the Granada airport. When we arrived home I suggested that she might want to rest. “No, no,” she said, “I want to start working!” It was this kind of enthusiasm that permitted Iram to pack a tremendous amount of learning and print production into a short time.

Iram is a lovely gentle person with lots of human and artistic sensitivity. She learned fast and it was rewarding having her in the studio. She loved Granada and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her back here someday.

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Louis Netter, Portsmouth, UK

Though Lou was born in Paris and raised in New York, he spent most of his summers in Ireland and it has left a foin soft air about him. He’s also a prodigious illustrator and impetuous printmaker. (“How did you do that?” “Hmm, straight nitric acid, I think.”) Besides teaching illustration at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, Lou does books (Life’s Too Short for Nuance, Lizard Life) and animations, as well as playing in a band. Besides his drawing talent Lou has another powerful asset: a formidable social conscience.

His stay with us and the time we spent together in my studio was too short. Lou Netter has a lot to offer. I predict a brilliant future for him both in the art world and the real world.