In homage to the recently deceased master woodcut printmaker Harry Brockway, we will pick up our carving knives taking inspiration from his awe inspiring prints. Rather than working in wood which requires untold hours of skilled cutting we will create our nature-themed stamps using the more user-friendly medium, rubber. Choosing from a colour wheel of inks campers will stamp their designs onto their own canvas tote bags and tea towels. 

 

We’ll spend the first few evenings reading the book, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, illustrated with Harry Brockways stunning wood-cut prints. This classic story from the 1950s is a parable for the modern day. Readers follow a shepherd in the French Alps who has taken on the mammoth task of planting 100 acorns a day to reforest his homeland. This one man’s efforts have emboldened people everywhere to believe in their own capacity to effect change in a troubled world.  

 

When creating our stamps, we encourage designs from both ends of the spectrum: extremely intricate to clean and simple. Each camper will come away with unique and commemorative items, as well as the confidence that they have the skills to create using a less common art medium.