Printmaking 1
The Idea
Inspiration:
I’m constantly amazed by nature and the Australian landscape. I can spend hours venturing out in reserves and conservation parks marvelling at the endless beauty and inspiration this provides. I live on 10 acres south of Brisbane, and my dream is to revegetate the property with around 120 varieties of native seed I’ve been collecting and turn it into a sanctuary for the native wildlife and the bees!
Subject Matter:
The subject matter of choice for this exercise was native flora. I searched for photos for inspiration and settled on the following. I liked that each are completely different anatomically, yet stunning in their beauty.
Figure 1. Leptospermum
Figure 2. Waratah
Figure 3. Banksia
Purpose/Intent:
I wanted to find out if I could recreate the these flowers with the limited materials being used. How would I recreate the detail? Would I be able to tell that they were flowers?
The Process
Materials & Techniques:
All three collages were made from an assortment of papers I had on hand. I tried scissors to cut shapes at the start, but the process seemed a bit too neat/precise (and perhaps too easy) for me, so I went with tearing the paper instead.
Creative Choices:
For Collage 1, doing the tiny detail at the centre of each flower was impossible to replicate with torn paper. I opted instead for piece of torn paper and used tiny, craft scissors to make the fine stamens. It felt like cheating, but I couldn’t think of another option. For Collage 2, the some parts of the flower were quite glossy. In my paper stash, I realised that one of my red papers actually had a metallic finish on one side, so I used that to reflect some of shiny parts.
Challenges
This was my first art exercise since Year 12 (1987), so the biggest challenges were over-thinking, relaxing and just starting/doing. Creating some of the fine detail was near impossible – particularly for Collage 1 and Collage 3. As a neat freak, I was constantly fighting with the glue and trying to maintain clean fingers. I realised about half-way through the first collage however, that I was fighting a losing battle. The glue stick won, but we remain friends!
Evolution
I started the first collage using an assortment of green paper for the background, giving little thought to layout – in my head the background just needed to be green. When I started working on the second piece however, I looked at the photo in much more detail and realised that I could use the various coloured papers to capture dark and light shades and features such as the sky peeking through some of the greenery. This change in tactic I think improved the outcome.
The Outcome
Final Product:
Collage 1 – Leptospermum.
Collage 2 – Waratah.
Collage 3 – Banksia.
Successes:
I do love the flowers in Collage 1. The waratah, however is my favourite, as it really stands out as the feature.
Areas for Improvement:
For Collage 1, I think the background is too manufactured. In the original photo the background was dark green and I should have done the same. Unfortunately the flowers don’t stand out because of this oversight. They look a little lost amongst the “camouflage”. In Collage 3, I should have used the scissors to create finer pieces for the top of the Banksia, as it looks a lot little bits of paper stuck on the page. Rather than sticking to the “this needs to be made out of torn paper”, I could have been more flexible and come up with a better solution for execution.
The Impact
Personal Learning:
Art takes time. You can easily get lost in the process, however with these exercises it’s important to remain cognizent of how many activities there are and to place the necessary time limits on each activity.
Future Applications:
I enjoyed the exercise very much. I loved working with paper. Hopefully I can learn from this, do away with the perfectionistic tendencies and lean into the process more naturally.
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Reference:
Printmaking 1 Images:
Figure 1. https://katehillflowers.com.au/blogs/bloom-journal/popular-native-australian-flowers-when-are-they-in-season-helpful-care-tips
Figure 2. https://katehillflowers.com.au/blogs/bloom-journal/popular-native-australian-flowers-when-are-they-in-season-helpful-care-tips
Figure 3. https://veggiegardenseeds.com.au/products/banksia-prionotes-acorn-banksia-australian-native-seeds?variant=40339204407351&country=AU¤cy=AUD&utm_source=google&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=20196936237&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20205188059&gbraid=0AAAAACaL3tpYh9YXWh7U_W_hMD2OKlr60&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjdTCBhCLARIsAEu8bpK7WYH71VZceN0pNpqtVMDzVBaPnVzBPXisiqoVqyCig1PjnvSo4VcaAoXHEALw_wcB
Printmaking 2
Printmaking 3
The Idea
Inspiration:
Printmaking 3: Figures 1-5
Subject Matter:
When I saw the blank 30x30cm lino block in front of me I immediately knew that I want to do something circular in design. I started thinking about what circular things created interest and went exploring my Pinterest boards for something interesting. I started looking at ink and watercolours and then at zentangle. Some of these pieces reminded my of the cross-section of tree trunks. This is what inspired me for the final design.
Purpose/Intent:
The idea behind the design was to really experiment with the marks I could make using each “ring” in the design to do something different. Could I recreate some of the detail?
The Process
Materials & Techniques:
After watching the instruction video, I had a play with a 15x15cm silk cut lino block and experimented with the tools 7 tools I had. It was harder to control the tools than I anticipated. My first print, despite using the baren and a spoon, was patchy, so I assumed insufficient ink. My second print was much clearer. I also wondered whether the ink I used (Derivan Block Ink) which is water-based was somehow different to that used in the video. I will ask about that later.
Creative Choices:
I wanted to recreate patterned rings and built the design one ring (or layer) at a time. It grew organically, layer-by-layer. When I got to the outer circle and there was blank space surrounding the design, I immediately thought about filling it with something. But left it alone to think on further.
Challenges:
Slippage was a challenge. It was harder than I though to control the carving. I learnt fairly early on that I had to go slow and steady and work hard on controlling each movement. If not, then the tool would slip and make unintended marks.
The silk cut lino blocks are quite brittle. I had trouble when carving two shapes close to each other. If I wasn’t really careful, the piece I was removing would become bigger than intended, flake and take away more of the surface than intended – sometimes taking away the outline of the shape adjacent.
I thought that lines and shapes would be easy. Perhaps I should have chosen something simple, less detailed. I did get to the end.
Evolution:
Each ring was created one at a time and grew organically. When the last ring was completed and I was left with space on three sides, I immediately wondered what I could fill it with. Should I fill it? I decides to wait and think on it further.
The Outcome
Final Product:
Successes:
Areas for Improvement:
The Impact
Personal Learning:
Future Applications:
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Reference:
