Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, drypoint, Ink, monoprints, Monotyping, printmaking, Visual Arts
So, this was a moderately productive week! I think that I managed to produce things in my classes that interested me. Granted, I have a long ways to go in the world of printmaking, but these prints are yet again…something new.
No, I haven’t worn my crazy sweater yet. I didn’t want to risk getting ink on it today. I tend to get ink just about everywhere. I think that I may be too messy to be a printmaker.
Here are the prints. This first one was my first solarplate. Not successful. I used a china marker to draw the image, but it just didn’t print well at all.
I tried to get as much of the linework to print as possible, but it was just too faint. These next plates were using a drypoint plate that I made a few weeks ago, but had not printed yet. This first print is ok…I needed a stiffer ink consistency, so it’s a bit inky looking.
This is the ghost print:
Both of these are “monoprints“. This means that part of the image is repeatable from a plate with some texture/marks on it…and some is non-repeatable…just ink from a smooth plate.
These are some “monotypes” in this series. A monotype means that nothing is repeatable in the image.
and the ghost:
This last one is the drypoint plate again. This time, however, I had the right ink consistency. So, the lines were more fine…less smudgy. It’s kind of neat…
And this was a more successful solarplate print. You might recognize it as one of my previous ink sketches…
So…a bit of work done! Progress is so slow. I hope that in a year’s time, I will feel that I’m getting somewhere! Sometimes, that’s hard to tell week to week. I am learning a lot, so I suppose that’s good, if nothing else.
I have a delusional aspiration to somehow participate in the Arlington Open Studios this fall. Wish me luck!
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…
Filed under: printmaking | Tags: art, boston, cambridge, cambridge center for adult education, monoprints, printmaking
I had my last printmaking class this past Wednesday. I really enjoyed it. We had a great teacher, and a good group of people. This is printmaking at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. We worked on monoprints, collagraphs, drypoints, and wood block prints. Everyone’s work was so different, but we had a great time seeing what everyone came up with. We also made sure to have snacks for everyone, especially those ginger chews from Trader Joe’s. I felt like I was just getting somewhere, when the class ended! Oh well…my friend and I have signed up for next semester’s class, which starts in January. If anyone out there has taken a great printmaking class in the Boston area, please let me know! I am also willing to travel to NYC for a one day or two day class. (thanks, 3rd Ward!) Well…whaddaya think?
slightly wonky 
