As part of PRESS+PLAY Festival of Print, studio artist Luella Martin presents a series of her solar plate etchings in the Window Gallery.

Solar plate etching is an eco-friendly, modern way of working which uses sunlight (or UV lamp) and tap water to process steel light-sensitive plates without harmful chemicals. After processing, the plates are inked and wiped by hand and the image is printed on to dampened etching paper ‘intaglio’ using a traditional etching press. Luella’s landscape etchings are the result of repeated observation of places that she knows well – usually on the South Downs or the Sussex coast and she often combines the printed image with loose gestural painting on the paper, blurring the boundaries between the two mediums. Each of the limited editions can go through up to 14 different steps between the original idea and the finished framed piece and is individually hand-made. The process that Luella goes through to make the images and plates, tear and paint the paper, ink the plates and print helps bring her closer to her inner vision.

Luella Martin grew up and was educated in London. She studied at Hornsey & Byam Shaw Colleges Of Art with post-graduate studies at Goldsmiths College, London. After lecturing part-time in London and Sussex, she travelled extensively in Europe and lived in Australia for 12 years, seven of which were spent living on a steel ketch in Queensland. Luella has has been based in her studio at Phoenix Art Space on the south coast, where she paints and creates her solar etchings, since 2000. Find out more.

VISITING THE GALLERIES
From 13 November – 19 December, the galleries at Phoenix Art Space will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 17.00. You do not need to pre-book to visit, but the number of people in the gallery will be limited which may result in some queuing during busier periods. See here for details on what Covid-19 health and safety measure remain in place.

• Please socially-distance throughout Phoenix Art Space.
• Please wear a face covering in the galleries and corridors.
• Please sanitize your hands on arrival.
• Please stay at home if you are feeling unwell.