Print Elective

After our assessments after we started our electives. My first elective was print. I was really looking forward to this because I loved it when I did some prints for my assessment. Our brief was on space in our own environment.

I decided to go along with my car, the space in my car and what happens around and in my car. I wanted to have a template of my rearview mirror and different images incorporated into the print.

I started with taking photos. These are images of my route home from college and also of inside my car:

After that I started etching out some images to use for printing. We were to use a standard square size.

I was then ready for the Print Room!!

Des did a workshop showing us how to do drypoint and monoprints. We were then left to our our devices and experiment!

I started with my drypoint of my rearview mirror. I etched out the image on acetate and put ink on the drypoint. I scraped off the excess ink. Next I rubbed scrim (a type of cheesecloth) over it in circular movements. The scrim took off most of the ink that wouldn't be used (ink needed is caught in the burrs on the acetate). Next I rubbed paper (from a phonebook) in circles over the acetate. I had to make sure the paper stayed flat and rubbed gently so as not to take off too much ink. I then cleaned off the acetate around the etching.

I wet the paper in the water bath, used a roller to keep the paper flat and to get some of the water off. Next I put the paper on some clean newsprint and took off some of the water. The paper was now right to print on, damp.

I placed the acetate on the roller and lined up the paper to place on top. Put a piece of newsprint over it, and 2 of the blankets, and started rolling. The above image is what came out.

I then tried adding different elements, like above I added a mug to imply coffee that I like drinking and a radio to imply listening to music while in the car. I tried monoprinting some musical notes on it, but this didn't really work out. As the blue and the red were very strong against the white, the white also standing out and confusing the eye as to what to look at, I decided to add a layer of yellow over it. This improved the image. I'll update with a final photo.

I tried again with various combinations of elements.

Here I was experimenting with a transparency tint. I wanted to try and create a watery kind of effect - as if it were raining and not able to see clearly. I mixed up some green and white and added transparency. I wet the paper and as there were huge cues to use the presses, the paper was almost dry by the time I got to print. It made the paper bend a bit, but it added character to it. Once dry, looking at it, it felt like the car was being submerged! I was happy with the experiment.

I then wanted to try a different acetate. I drew out a picture with rearview mirror, my hand holding a coffee cup and a tree that I pass every day. I placed acetate over it and started etching.

I rolled out some colours and printed them out. I then inked the drypoint and printed it on the coloured page once dry and dampened from the water bath.

More to come