Seniors try their hand at new art forms

The Arts in Bartlett Village Gallery March exhibit is by the Hanover Township Senior Artists, and is titled “Intaglio and Block Prints.” The works are on display now through March 28 at the village of Bartlett 2nd floor Art Gallery, 228 Main St., Bartlett, open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays.

The public is also invited to a free reception with refreshments and time to visit with the artists, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 20.

Printmaking is a new medium for senior artists at the Hanover Township Senior Center. Intaglio printmaking involves etching into a copper plate, inking and wiping down the surface. The plate and paper pass through a printing press — our clay slab-roller worked fine as the press.

Another method used was block printing. Linoleum blocks were carved, inked using a brayer and then passed through the press with the selected paper. Both print types result in a mirrored copy in reverse.

The intaglio print shows the etching from the copper plate on the printed paper. Whatever is carved in the linoleum block will not print on paper, but only the surface left behind. The printing techniques are messy, negative and positive space-challenging, but the rewards are many.

Art educator, graphic designer and artist Sue Baptist teaches painting, printmaking, etc. at the township Senior Center. For more information on the exhibit, call (630) 372-4152; email art@artsinbartlett.org, or visit [URL]www.artsinbartlett.org;http://www.artsinbartlett.org/[URL].[/URL]