MStraccia Art

Block Printing on Fabric

I have always wanted to create my own block printed fabric. I wanted to make myself a pretty headscarf. I didn’t know where to start so I did some experimenting and I want to share with you my discoveries. Experiment no. 1 First, wash the fabric to clean off any impurities that could stop theContinue reading “Block Printing on Fabric”

Checklist for Selling Your Artwork at an Art Fair or Flea Market

I panicked the last time I did a flea market because I couldn’t find the checklist I made. I was terrified that I was going to forget something important. By writing my checklist as a blog post I will never lose it again AND you can use it to help get organised when you goContinue reading “Checklist for Selling Your Artwork at an Art Fair or Flea Market”

Etsy Issues

Settle down. This is a long read. I’m feeling deflated at the moment. I sell artwork via Etsy, like so many people, and I’ve just been informed that I have a payment reserve on my account for the next 90 days. What is it? What does it mean? Whilst I have this payment reserve onContinue reading “Etsy Issues”

Swallows

Here is my latest linocut reduction print. It is called ‘Swallows’, inspired by my favourite early summer walks around Bedford’s Priory Marina. It is always a pleasure watching these acrobatic birds perform their aerodynamics over the lake at dawn or dusk. It’s exciting seeing the first swallows arrive each year. You know that summer isContinue reading “Swallows”

Hope is the thing with feathers

‘ “Hope” is the thing with feathers’ is my latest three colour reduction linocut print. I made it without a press. It is hand burnished with a trusted wooden spoon. The lino print sold out within a week. It was a fundraiser. A buyer had to send me proof of a £30 donation to theContinue reading “Hope is the thing with feathers”

Yaffle Bird

The Process of Creating This Green Woodpecker Print I like to look at vintage nature books and prints for inspiration. Going to my local library, charity shop and using Pinterest are my favourite places for inspiration. First, I do a drawing in pencil in my sketchbook, then I take a digital photograph of it andContinue reading “Yaffle Bird”

A Lesson with a Green Woodpecker

This is my first finished reduction print of 2023. I printed the first peachy coloured layer on Christmas Eve 2022. It’s taken me many weeks to complete the print. I do linocut art around my day job and everyday life, snatching little pockets of time to print when I can. Printing isn’t a full timeContinue reading “A Lesson with a Green Woodpecker”

Christmas Menu Design for Foxy Wings

We had a fantastic meal at Foxy Wings last night! Look how excited I am in this pic! I finally got to see my illustrations on their new Christmas menu. Of course, the best thing was actually tasting it! We had a posh pomegranate Bellini for starters (it is Christmas!), some sticky gochujang cauli, someContinue reading “Christmas Menu Design for Foxy Wings”

New for 2023: A Newsletter

Newsletters and email subscribers are useful ways for me to keep in contact with you, but signing up to things suck. Our inboxes are crammed with junk trying to sell us things we don’t need. My newsletter will be more informative than just an ordinary marketing email. I’m going to write articles about artists IContinue reading “New for 2023: A Newsletter”

My favourite paper

I occasionally get asked about the materials I use for my handprinted reduction prints. My favourite paper is Zerkall, made near the Rur River in Cologne, Germany. It’s heavy enough to take quite a few layers of colour and has a lovely delicate grain that gives my prints a dreamy vintage style that people tendContinue reading “My favourite paper”