Gnarled Tree

Gnarled Tree
Drypoint
11.7 x 8.3"

     I love trees. So much character. I might make a painting of this one later. Instead of ink I used watersoluble wax for this one. I rubbed it into the burr to create the colours. I might try and develop this technique further.

Flash

Flash
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     With this monotype I attempted to show the light from a flash bulb as a photograph is taken. I also did a lot more post print work on this one than I normally do just to create more tonal values. As its a monotype I can work on it a much as I want but I have to be careful not to overwork it and kill its energy. Its trying to get the right balance between spontaneous and correct.

Sketching

Sketching
Drypoint
11.7 x 8.3"

     A drypoint of a good friend of mine sketching away. I used water soluble graphite again in place of ink.

Cold Night Air

Cold Night Air
Drypoint
11.7 x 8.3"

     I'm trying out drypoint printing right now. I haven't done it since college and I already have a few plates scratched and ready. I'm not using ink yet though and this was printed using water soluble graphite. It seems to work pretty well though.

Canadian Goose

Canadian Goose
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     Monotypes can be a bit hit and miss. Part of the 'fun' is not knowing how it will turn out after it's been run through the press. Unlike other printing methods you only get one go at it as well which adds to the risk. So this one turned out fine and what a fun subject as well. It was difficult to create the feathers but well worth it. I might also do a painting of these guys later on.

Fragile

Fragile
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     This is a print that went wrong. I think I put on the paint on too thickly and it didn't transfer properly. The brand used was different from the normal one I use and it was having a hard time sticking to the plate. Anyway I messed around with it a bit and made something a bit more abstract. I'm working on a drypoint of this vase right now so you will get to see a more representative version soon.

Remembrance

Remembrance
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     I made a picture for remembrance day last year and so thought I would do one again. I thought one of those plastic poppy's would be an ideal subject and print be the ideal medium. Originally I was going to make it using flat colours but I decided I wanted to give it some depth. I'm glad I detailed it with the shadow and highlights now as it really adds another dimension to the piece.
     So here are the results of another successful monotype. With it I give thanks to the men and women who fought and died to give me the freedom I enjoy today, and allow me to create my art. Thank you for your sacrifice and I will not forget it.

Grazing Sheep

Grazing Sheep
Monotype On Paper
8.3 x 11.7"

     Another fun little monotype (little is now A4 to me and A3 just doesn't seem that big either). Sheep are great fun to work from and the black and white makes them interesting subjects from a graphic point of view. Sometimes its ok to just make art that looks nice and doesn't have a message.

Chinese Lantern

Chinese Lantern
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     Another monotype. I found this interesting plant on a trip to Cannon Hall and thought it might make a good subject to work from. After some searching on the internet I discovered it was call Physalis alkekengi. Its more commonly know as a Chinese lantern for its colour and texture however. Anyway it made a great print which is really vibrant. I also used a better quality watercolour for this one which probably helped.

Colour Monotype

Rubber Duck II
Monotype On Paper
8.3 x 11.7"

Butterfly
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     I read about a simple technique for creating coloured monotypes with watercolour and thought I would give it a go. All you do is paint the picture on a plate using watercolour straight from the tube, wait for it to dry and run it through a press with damp paper. The transfer is pretty good and much easier than using ink. I suppose you don't even need to use a press the transfer is that easy and the results are really vibrant. So there we go, another new thing to occupy my time.

Fun With Monotypes

Black And White Cat I
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

Black And White Cat II
Monotype On Paper
8.3 x 11.7"

Rubber Duck
Monotype On Paper
8.3 x 11.7"

Jackdaw
Monotype On Paper
8.3 x 11.7"

     I have been experimenting with monotypes again. These are far superior to my last lot and have more tonal work in them. I enjoy making monotypes as they are easy to do and the results are pretty good. I just paint the image on a plastic plate and run it through the press. Simple fun.
     I may try my hand at collagraphy soon as this could prove easier to do than the woodblocks I have been working on. It may be a more expressive way of creating multiple editions too.

Monotype Prints

Eating Carrots
Monotype On Paper
11 x 8"

Apples
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

Eating Seed
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     A little while ago I bought a small etching press with the intention of creating some intaglio prints. Before that though I wanted to get used to using the equipment and I had read about monotypes as an easy way of producing one off prints. So here are my efforts at producing some nice little pieces of art.
     I enjoyed the ease at which monotypes can be created so much that I will be making some more in the near future. I will be experimenting with the technique too and seeing what interesting pictures I can create.
     Making prints is a really rewarding experience and the anticipation you feel as you turn the handle of the press and then peel back the paper to see the results is quite exciting. I hope when I have become confident with monotypes I can move on to intaglio prints and see where that takes me.

Dancer With Sword And Mask

Dancer With Sword And Mask
Ink And Acrylic On Ho-sho Paper
11.2 x 15.7"

     This started out as a block print that didn't transfer too well so I went over it with some acrylic washes and it came out pretty colourful. I have a few more print stuff I'm working on so it is another avenue for me to explore.

Back again

     The winter months mean there is not much light and the weather is poor. All this means i have been unable to photograph my latest paintings and i have a healthy pile of them building up. I may attempt over the next few days to scan some of the paintings done on canvas paper but this usually gives me mixed results. So in the meantime heres a woodcut print im working on. I plan to make a whole series on bellydancers and maybe try some landscapes too.

Away too long

     I realise i have not updated this blog in some months and will be correcting that from now on with regular updates. So what am i working on right now. Well take a look at those two prints above. The tree with the moon is one that i plan to add colour to, blue for the moon, while the one with the house will just a black. Well thats all for now but expect more from me very soon.

INK 2012

     Here are some lino prints i have been working on for the past week. The two smaller ones below are for Staffordshire University's INK 2012 exhibition. I hope to have a third entry ready for printing by Friday and will be making ten editions of each of them. They're mini prints measuring twelve centimetres squared which was good practice for me as i haven't made prints since my art foundation course.