Monday, March 10, 2014

First steps in the new direction


Having taken the first step and opted for a theme I have started on some prints. 

To ease myself into the new direction I have been concentrating on the not too daunting task of printing backgrounds while I draw possible images in my visual diary and my mind sifts through the many possibilities until it is happy to commit to positive action. Some may call it procrastination. I think of it as all valid progress towards a desired end.

The backgrounds are a “generic” stipple collagraph plate which I print both right way up and on its head to produce a two colour base onto which I will then print images in a further two colours. As the colours are subtle photos are not a great illustration of the effect but give the general idea ...see below.



(detail)

As I am keeping to my previous format of 30 x 30 cm square prints I am using a plate that I made ages ago and have already used many times (they seem to be very hardy). I have a number of these “generic” plates with either hatch or stipple patterns. I find them a useful way to provide background colour. They are made by applying a thin layer of impasto gel to a pasteboard plate, then creating texture in the wet gel using a palette knife and coating both sides of the plate with shellac once the gel is dry. 

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