Roy Langhorst was gifted a course in printmaking once and ever since then he has been "hooked."
For the past 30 or so years Langhorst, who does not consider himself an artist, has enjoyed it as a hobby. His first solo exhibition, Otium, will be at the Old School House Arts Centre until Nov. 1.
The technique, which dates back hundreds of years, uses an etching press. It uses a matrix, often a plate, that is incised, etched with acid or painted on — the possibilities are endless, Langhorst said.
“It’s kind of a magic thing. You never know what it’s going to look like," he said. "Because you’re going kind of upside down and backwards when you print something, it comes out the reverse."
The damp, thick rag paper is put under immense pressure, squeezed through the two rollers until the ink is imprinted on the paper.
“I didn’t feel like I had any artistic talent or anything like that," Langhorst said. "I was just a fan, I was interested. And it’s kind of a unique corner of the art world."
Otium includes 21 prints created over the past 20 years or so.
The exhibition's name comes from an ancient Roman practice. Wealthy patricians could retreat from public life and leave the city for their villa in countryside. 'Otium' refers to the leisure time they would enjoy, the opposite of 'negotium', which refers to business and political life.
“The word kind of stuck with me. Here I am, I’m going into my own little otium,” said Langhorst, who retired to Qualicum Beach in 2017. “I’ll settle for a bungalow."
Langhorst has worked with his hands and his back all his life, according to his artist statement on TOSH's website. He finds printmaking an "appealing combination of workshop skills, artistic experimentation and luck".
“I get just as much joy out of building something, or building a fence or whatever as I do making a print. It’s something to do with your hands."
TOSH (122 Fern Rd. W) has recently established a printmakers group on the bottom floor, where the gift shop used to be. New members are always welcome. More information is available at https://shop.theoldschoolhouse.org/collections/printmaking-classes.
