Black, white and red all over
Another adventure in screen-printing today. I can see the appeal of the technique ... and I can see the frustrations too. My lack of attention to details and my need for perfection are completely at odds with this technique. Ugh. Love it ... frustrated by it.
Next week we move from masks to photo emulsion in our screen printing lessons. I will have a chance to try my hand at building layers too. (More exercises in frustration I expect ... but a very pleasant way to suffer!).
Woohoo class has resumed
Finally, after weeks of school holidays and public holidays, we finally got to go back to class. Let the printmaking begin!
A new technique this week: screen printing. For many people this is something they have tried before but for me this was the first time I've tried it. A basic start - using masks/stencils as the means of blocking out the paint. The other part of the technique, photo emulsion, is scheduled for 2 weeks time.
This was a completely different thought process to the printmaking we've been doing up until now. It seemed ... more graphic? At least that is my sense of the art form. I'm more than OK with that. We printed on to an apron - a great way of creating something usable and a great way of reminding me to make art a part of my world.
Let the learning continue ...
Words in her hair
I am continuing to be inspired by the work of Jane Davenport and Joanne Sharpe as they co-teach the Miss Quoted class. Combining words and pictures is tricky - there is a fine balance needed - I find either my words or my picture gets in the way of the other. I'm sure that's fine but, hmmmm, it is definitely trickier than it looks. Throw some water color painting into the mix and the whole project become thoroughly enjoyable but quite often a hot mess too :-)
Still I think (I hope) persistence is the key. Something good must come from practice, right? Well that's at least what I tell my family. Guess I better do the same. (Although if I'm honest, I don't see it as practice as much as just a very enjoyable way to escape to my happy place).
Copic pens and hand writing
More inspiration from the Jane Davenport and Joanne Sharpe "Miss Quoted" class ... this time I was inspired to play with my Copic pens and combine my drawing with some handwriting. The inspiration for the words? Well, that would be my favourite poem by Yeats, "When You are Old"...
Curly writing and ink-filled pens
Writing as art ... and so it is, on so many levels. There is an art to the written word and there is an art to each of the individual letters. How wonderful to combine the art of the letter with the possibilities of an ink-filled pen. I have filled by pen with a turquoise blue Schmincke aerocolor ink and am on my way to filling up page after page of inky letters.
Inspired by the Jane Davenport and Joanne Sharpe Miss Quoted class, I am so pleased to be combining my love of words, ink and art. Happy place!
Eucalyptus oil meets musical notes
My mental health moment (ie my Monday morning art class) continues. Learning a new creative technique on a Monday morning has got to be just about the best way to start the week. After a crazy-busy weekend of kids' sport it was such a pleasure to be able to carve out some time for myself to learn.
This week Nancy showed us ways of incorporating eucalyptus oil transfers into our mono prints. My initial transfer wasn't very complex - just some sheet music onto a drypoint I had been experimenting with. Still the idea is interesting. (Admittedly I did have to stop and think a few times about whether the transfer needed to be face up or down ... the opposite to chine colle is the key).
I did skip the transfer technique on my second print with the the drypoint girl - played with a layered mono print instead.
As always, a fantastic learning experience. Thanks Nancy! https://nancybrownstudio.wordpress.com
My second drypoint ...
Sad little creature
I wasn't sure about collagraph as a technique. I am not a huge fan of collage. I've tried it but there are just too many lumps and bumps for my liking. I can appreciate the ideas and and I often admire the finished work, but it is not for me. So when I was introduced to the idea of creating a print by first creating a collage I was hesitant. But in art there is always a way to put your own slant on something. In my case I decided to use gesso as my (one and only) collage material. And so my sad little creature was created.
His little shirt was a chine colle addition (using a scrap of the ghost print from my efforts at least week's class).
Hmm. I just need to carve out some time to do some more gesso-only collages and have some more fun with this technique.
A drypoint teabag
I have been experimenting with both drypoint and linocut techniques. At the moment, drypoint is more appealing ... perhaps it is the neater, finer lines that holds the initial appeal (my ability to carve lino needs significantly more practice!).
I decided something small and everyday was a great place to start as I experimented with both techniques. So, hello teabag! I think I could venture into a more complete piece for my next effort ... although I do so love the small, simple, everyday pieces of life. In a complex world the idea of a teabag sitting on the bench holding the promise of a cup of tea and a crisis resolved is so very reassuring.
Linocut version of the teabag ... I think I will come back and try this again ...
Drypoint printing
My Monday "Introduction to Printing" class has introduced us to mono printing, linocut printing and now to drypoint printing. This particular technique is fascinating. I love the opportunities to bring depth and life to a print with just one pass through the printing press.
I am looking forward to experimenting with this technique. It could be the fine lines combined with the ability to manipulate the ink on the plate that appeals ... or it could be the possibilities of adding a resist that is intriguing. Either way, I think I will play with this technique again before this class is finished.
Carved flowers
Back to art class today to enjoy the second lesson in linocut printing. The work done by my fellow students was amazing. There was such a variety in the approaches taken by everyone. My turtle prints didn't work as well as I had hoped ... I put them down to a learning experience. :-)
I did some flower prints which worked better. Lino cutting is definitely an art form that requires some practice on my part. (In other words what I imagined in my mind didn't translate to what I produced on paper). Still lino cutting is a meditative practice and I'm not upset about having to do some more practice.