SouthSeaEyes

Introduction: Connections Through Handcrafted Ampersands
The gentle glow of the sepia-toned video I recorded and shown here, I sit in my (mostly) calm and restful studio (aka kitchen), carefully hand-carving rubber blocks into delicate ampersands. The video, available in this post, offers a personal view of my creative process, where each ampersand is skillfully shaped into various fonts and forms on fine printmaking paper. This is not a mere exercise in artistry; rather a heartfelt exploration of connection and unity. Each hand-carved block is to me a unique form and feeling, a delicate connection crafted through techniques refined over the years.

I invite you to watch the video in the background, showing my hands printing the hand-carved ampersands, one after the other.

The beauty of making something with your own hands is empowering. Whether you’re an artist, community builder, or someone simply drawn to creation, you can use your hands to shape your world. To shape your universe. A safe, private space that’s uniquely yours, hand-wrought and fashioned to your specifications.

Now, consider the ampersand. It’s not just a conjunction; it’s a symbol of connection, handcrafted like a piece of art.

Here’s what I mean: I adore ampersands. They stand for “AND,” …and to me, they mean more. They symbolise TOGETHER WITH. From individual creations to collective endeavors, they echo our ability to connect, create, and build together.

Here perhaps you may want to watch the video again. Perhaps see the printings of ampersands as not just symbols on paper – but representations of our connections:

• You AND Me

• Artists AND Community Builders

• Individual Empowerement AND Collective growth

Here I present that each ampersand is a link, a bond that unites disparate elements into a harmonious whole. A symbol which makes a ‘We’, from an ‘I’.

And ‘We’ celebrate the ‘&’ not just as a linguistic tool but as a profound symbol of our capacity to unite, collaborate, and create.

And so, through the simple yet profound act of handcrafting ampersands, I offer here an exploration of a world of connection, of creativity, and community. In their creation and the words here, I delved into the artistry, the process behind the ink, the paper, and the hand-carved rubber blocks, and it echoes stories of the emotional connections between artist, symbol, and audience.

Are you inspired to join this journey of handcrafted creation? To take the raw materials of your world and shape them into something meaningful? To bring your universe into our collective space and thrive together?

Then mark these dates, and join me at CourtX Southsea:
• Sunday, 10th September: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 1st October: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 8th October: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 12th November: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 10th December: 3pm – 6pm

In these workshops, we’ll not only explore the art of creation but also how to foster community. We’ll celebrate the beauty of crafting with our own hands, making our worlds, and building connections.

I provide all the best-in-class tools and materials in the workshops, keeping the classes small for a more personalised guidance, and a charming venue at CourtX Gallery; this is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the transformative power of printmaking and art. Don’t miss out on the chance to create extraordinary prints and explore various techniques in an intimate setting. Reserve your spot today and let the magic of printmaking unfold.

In this printmaking workshops, participants are introduced to the intricate world of lino printing, monoprinting using gelli plates, and hand-carved blockprinting stamps. With a wide array of tools such as pfeil and flexcut, and the Japanese carving tool chokokutō, each individual finds their rhythm and style in the carving and printing process. Multiple selections of surfaces to print onto offer endless possibilities, from good printmaking paper to textured paper and card stock, and fabric too. SouthSeaEyes’ commitment to an environmentally-conscious approach resonates in the use of water-based safewash inks in the workshops, reflecting the care for both printed art and the world we share. Beyond the techniques and materials, the heart of the workshops is in building a community of creators, where connections are forged, and creativity has the safe space to thrive.

Hand-carved, hand-printed gift certificate is available to offer for your loved ones to attend SouthSeaEyes printmaking workshops.

This journey is more than a creative endeavour; it’s a celebration of what we can achieve together. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or exploring your creative side for the first time, you are welcome to join me in this adventure. The calm and restful atmosphere of the CourtX Gallery space as our workshop studio, the joy of shaping your own ampersands and other worlds you wish to create, and the warmth of a shared passion await you at my upcoming workshops at CourtX Southsea.

The dates are:
• Sunday, 10th September: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 1st October: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 8th October: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 12th November: 3pm – 6pm
• Sunday, 10th December: 3pm – 6pm

I look forward to meeting you AND your loved ones, AND creating with you in a space that values the individual voice and the collective harmony. A space where every handcrafted ampersand is a symbol of our shared journey.

Your printmaking guide,

Nusye

Nusye (psst, here’s a pronounciation aid – my name rhymes with “fuchsia”, the flower: “Nuschia”)