On Saturday July 2, 2022, I gave an Akua printmaking demo at Estanco du Mont Cindre in the region of Lyon, France, to a group of 18 professional printmakers. The demo was organized by Isabelle Fraysse, president of the Empreinte association of printmakers of Lyon and Suzanne Paliard, who directs Estanco du Mont Cindre.
Estanco du Mont Cindre, 12 kilometres from the centre of Lyon, is located on the summit of Mont Cindre at Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d’Or. This enchanting haven for the arts presents exhibitions, concerts, theatre, lectures, and poetry readings. It is also where the artist Suzanne Paliard has her printmaking studio.
It was pure pleasure for me to give my demo outdoors at Estanco, overlooking the mountains of Lyon and the Beaujolais region.
I made two color monotypes, demonstrating how to use Akua inks and modifiers. I also printed a collagraph of one of my leaf plates with Akua Intaglio Carbon Black. To print, I used the portable Akua Pin Press. It was the first time that these artists saw this nifty press and they were truly impressed!
Although most printmakers in attendance use traditional oil based printing inks, a couple of them had been experimenting with fume-free Akua soy and water based inks. Everyone was curious to learn new techniques.
Lyon, the third largest city in France, is a culturally vibrant place. With a long history of printing and publishing, Lyon is home to the top-notch printing museum, Musée de l’imprimerie et de la communication graphique. There are printmaking studios in the Lyon area, such as URDLA and Alma. However, many Lyonese printmakers, as in the rest of France, own a press and print in their private studios.
Isabelle Fraysse mentioned that because many of Empreinte’s members work on their own, they welcomed the opportunity to get-together at my demo. According to her, it was exciting for them to meet an artist who would introduce them to innovative North American printmaking techniques and products. Suzanne, who had already started using Akua Intaglio, was happy to discover Akua Liquid Pigment and Akua Modifiers. She was excited that the Akua line is now distributed in France and that it is in the midst of being available in Lyon.
After the demo, I showed my prints. The selection included monotypes, collagraphs, corborundum gel prints and drypoints. Half were printed with the Pin Press and the others with an etching press. There was a buzz around the table as artists viewed the work and asked questions. Artists were eager to experiment with Akua and expressed interest in taking a workshop with me in the future.
To top off the event, Suzanne invited us for drinks and a typical Lyonese praline cake at a table overlooking the magnificent view of the Estanco. It was wonderful to chat with the artists. Everyone was elated, including myself! It is always enriching to meet and share with a new branch of the global printmaking community.
Talleen Hacikyan
Merci beacoup à Isabelle Fraysse et Suzanne Pailard.
Many thanks to Speedball Art for sponsoring this event.
talleenart 