Thursday 22 March 2018

More playing


I often worry that I’m a bit of a dabbler, starting something, moving on, a new technique here, a different project there, not much staying power. 

But after many years of trying to focus, be organised and follow one thing at a time I’ve decided that it’s time to stop trying to force it.  Dabbling is the way I work best, starting several things at once and dipping in and out, exploring and playing, until at last something is finished.  So from now on I’m going to go with the flow and enjoy the process.

At the moment I’m flitting from the medieval book to a book swop book, from a collagraph to an etching and, to add to the mix, props, scenery and other assorted stuff for Peter Pan which our group will put on in June. 

So in the spirit of dabbling this week I’ve played with etching and looked at more book structures.

I wanted the puppets to have different patterned dresses. I decided that I’d like to take these from real fabrics or lace. I want three different patterns on this plate but I find it difficult to get a consistent result with soft ground etching. Pondering different solutions I wondered if it was possible to print the texture onto the aluminium plate using a gelli plate. It is.

These are a bit grey but have real possibilities 

I think I’ve come up with a possible solution for “?”. It will be a book, in that it will have a binding and open like a book, but once open it won’t have a narrative and will be more of a structural object.  I spent a pleasant afternoon cutting and sticking paper (a good use for old play scripts) exploring different structures.


7 comments:

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  2. Great stuff Jac - and I know what you mean about forcing yourself to be ultra "disciplined". I think I feel similarly and I have this rampant sense of curiosity where techniques and processes are concerned as in I wonder what would happen if I did this to that would it take an imprint ...etc...etc. Generally speaking I suppose I float between the two. Like right now I have just finished making 3 exlibris prints(to send to China). If I dont get selected I will pretty pee-ed off as the submissions won't be returned. They do make a catalogue though.......so I take the gamble on being included in it. I also sent 3 mini prints. so I am hoping between the 5 images that They will at least go for one to include , in the exhibition. Last posting date was 16 March.

    By the way I am wondering what did you put on the Gelli plate, in order to be able to transfer it onto the aluminium plate? Are you using the traditional 'soft ground'. or the A.R.E . "acrylic soft ground" such as for example Lascaux's one. I use their acrylic hard ground all the time - its expensive - but lasts a long time and is incredibly flexible in terms of its usefulness. By the way did you know that you can use "acrylic soft ground" to imprint textures onto for example mount board for use as a collagraph? Contact me if you need any help with it. I have written about it on my blog printmaking art.blogspot.

    bye for now

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    1. I used Daler Rowney System 3 white acrylic. It was a bit stifer than usual because it came out of an old pot and I'm not sure if that made a difference, at some time I'll possibly do some controlled experiments!
      I bit the plate in copper sulphate and I used Mystrol to remove the paint from the plate
      I haven't used lascaux grounds but I am going to try printing acrylic onto mount board with the gelliplate (possibly with a sprinkle of carborundum) to try to get pattern for the dresses in the collagrph I'm working on.
      Good luck with the China prints

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  3. love the greys Jac ... have fun with them. I am envious that you are at the curious stage - time to wander and explore. My project keeps me on the go for the moment but things will slow soon and I am going to be a curious studio dweller!

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    1. I'm enjoying your book posts but it is nice to have time to play without deadlines(even if they are self imposed)

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  4. A huge part of the whole art-thing is working out what is you isn't it? Working out how to get to that place of just accepting that I do what I do, how I do it and so be it! Your trials and experiments are always so full of thought and learning thank you.

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    1. I'm not sure I'll ever get to the point of knowing what I do and develping and refining it. I'm a bit too much of a magpie. I see something interesting and want to have a go. But at the moment I'm enjoying playing

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