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Sometimes you have to leave home to find yourself. This pioneering
spirit has lead American Master Printer Tom Blaess to establish
his own printmaking workshop in Bern, Switzerland.
Next to the banks of the river Aare, as it winds around the medival
city center, stands a landmark white
building (originally a brewery), where Atelier Tom Blaess is
located. The high arched ceiling and large majestic windows create
a luminious atmosphere for visiting artists
to work in.
At his riverside atelier / gallery
the focus is on an innovative approach to printmaking. The agenda
includes monotype workshops for beginners as well as experienced
artists, the custom printing of lithographs, and special exhibitions
by invited artists.
The more traditional printmaking techniques of stone lithography,
drypoint and monotype are offered on the large 100 x 160 cm handpress.
A flatbed offset press (FAG op-104) is
available for images drawn on mylar and printed in a continuous
tone. If an artist wishes to introduce a photograph or text into
a monotype, then "gumprinting" (paper lithography from
laserprints) is the perfect solution.
On the high-tech end, a complete digital
workshop is on site for large format archival Epson pigment
prints. Photographs can be printed in the highest resolution on
coated digital fine art papers. Digital mixed media possibilities
include: old drawings scanned and printed on uncoated papers, with
additional elements added via the handpress. Monotypes can be scanned,
reworked in photoshop, blown up and printed on digital canvas. Overpainting
with acrylic or oil paints is then possible.
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Tom's own personal journey
dates back to his days as a handprinter of stone lithographs in
San Francisco and Amsterdam, before opening his own atelier in Switzerland
in 1990. His resumé shows he as worked with artists from
Mexico, USA, Australia, Holland, Germany, Argentina, as well as
printing his own work.
Next exhibition:
Patsy Payne and Filip Haag
August 14 - September 18, 2011
More information on the
- press release (German only) and
- exhibition
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