Yesterday I ran a Jelly printing workshop for Max Chant and 3 of his friends.

In May 2014, Max (then 10 yrs old) was travelling to school with friends and his younger sister, their car was involved in an accident and Max suffered a broken back, collar-bone and a split duodenum. Max was air lifted to Bristol Children’s hospital and was operated on immediately. In December he underwent a second operation to remove the titanium rods, nuts & bolts from his spine and he is now on his way to making a full recovery.

Understandably this series of events will form a major stepping stone in Max’s life.
Always looking for the positive approach, Max’s mum Sadia spoke to me wondering if there was a way for Max to incorporate his metal work into some form of artwork. I immediately thought of Jelly Printing, where the unique properties of the soft, flexible printing plate allow the imprint of shapes and textures to be captured in detail.

Each of the boys brought with them some textural items that were personal to use in their printing, alongside Max’s nuts and bolts were shells, fossils, medals, old coins, treasured toys and drum sticks.

Together with some hand cut stencils that the boys created, they started printing, layering up their inked up printing plate with the textures. Prints were pulled from the plates, items are then removed and a second print called a ‘ghost’ print is then pulled. The ‘ghost’ print is paler but carries the most incredible detail. Most prints are then over printed with new colours & textures to create the final prints you see here.

It was a privilege to be able to offer Max and his friends this experience, and to see Max create his own unique artwork, that is strong, bold and bursting with energy.

Max and his friends are currently in training for the White Horse challenge, a 25 mile walk taking place on 5th July. Their team ‘Back on track’ are raising money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, a charity close to their hearts.  If you’d like to read more of Max’s story or to help him raise the funds they need, please visit Max’s just giving page.