Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, drypoint, monoprints, printmaking, Prints, solarplate, Venice, Visual Arts
In spite of the fact that this was the week from h*ll, I did manage do get some prints done. The majority of my week consisted of leaden snow, a feverish preschooler, a cocoon of ice, and general malaise. I had two, brief moments of peace…my two printmaking classes! I am SO lucky that, though kindness of my family, I was able to go to both. Otherwise, we probably would have had a scene here not unlike “The Shining“.
My prints this week are in sepia tone. I think that this subdued color resonated with me. I just wanted something simple, straightforward, familiar…and perhaps, easy. There is a certain recognizable comfort to this color…
The prints which are a street scene in Venice, were printed from a drypoint plate. The test plates of the hand are from solarplates. Both are intaglio, which means that ink is pressed into the grooves in the plate, with the excess wiped away. Just the ink in the grooves is printed (primarily). The first print of the Venice scene has too much ink in it. It’s too dark, and the detail is lost. The ghost print of the Venice scene (a ghost print is a second printing, without adding more ink), has more detail. I also manipulated it afterward with a watery tone to the sky and piazza. This makes this print a “monoprint“, where there is a combination of repeatable, and non-repeatable marks.
This was SUCH a tough week. I’m glad that it’s over. I hope that I can have some kind of normal schedule next week. This art endeavour is challenging enough…without having only fragments of free time to work, and no space to set up. I know. “Waah”.
detail:
and the ghost print:
detail:
test prints of my hand drawing…hopefully i’ll have one printed next week!
I don’t think that there is a big difference between any of these exposures…
I’m trying to convince my DH that we should hire someone to finish the basement. So far, no success…I’ll just have to keep working out of the large tupperware bins stacked in our dining room, a.k.a. my workspace. CHAOS! I don’t think that our home is going to be featured in Elle Decor any time soon…
slightly wonky 