Dolby Mills original linocut
A reduction linocut of the historic calcining kiln at Dolby Mills in Stoke-on-Trent, on the bank of the Trent and Mersey Canal. It was a calcining kiln, breaking down flint to grind into powder that was used in the pottery industry. I have wanted to make a pece of art based on this kiln for some time. It's an unusual shape, having a flat front and back, and rounded sides. I loved the textures that surround it and really wanted to make the most of them. The corrugated metal cladding and the wooden slatted fences were tricky to cut out, but well worth the time that it took!
The colour palette is a little different to the series that I have been working on. Rather than the bright primary colours, I wanted to go for something a little more muted. Yellow ochre, a maroon-ish red, with greys and greens to balance. I also chose to give it a grey sky to add to the atmosphere.
It's hand-printed on Japanese Ho-Sho paper, the print size is A5 (approx 15cm x 21cm), using Caligo Safewash oil-based relielf inks.