Textured Surface Exercises

I had a bit of a play with the Hi Build

I'm not sure if I was "doing it" correctly but I wanted to

 create an impression from some ferns and leaves

hmmm....

I'll try some paint or even inking them up

and see what the print is like...

I love the textural effect of the leaf veins.

I just wish I could replicate it!

Time: 1 hour

PRINTMAKING - Linocuts

The Quarry Arts Centre here in Whangarei has a number of workshops going for people to attend. My initial reason for checking out the place was because of my interest in print-making after I learned that my neighbour was instrumental in the starting up of the Te Kowhai Print Trust. The INKY FINGERS workshops have been running for a few week now but it only last week that I managed to get there as the times/days don't always work for me. This time, I thought "just go" and see what it's like.. When I arrived it was really dark and with no outside night lighting was a bit scary. But once I'd fond my way to the workshop I was surprised (and a bit freaked out!) that there was only only two men there. Apparently, Jasmine who runs Inky Fingers was out at a meeting so I set about to make myself (as) comfortable (as I could!) and the guys introduced themselves. (but I can't remember their names now) They said they were both 3rd Year Art Students from NorthTec and I immediately felt intimidated! They appeared to be confident and well informed, unlike me who has only done a little printmaking last year at a TLC workshop.  When  I ordered the Hi Build (for texture work) last week from the TLC Shop, I also purchased some lino squares not realising they were only tiny (but I realise now that small is really good for starting out) My next disappointment was my tools. They were cheap..and NASTY...and didn't cut AT ALL!  Lucky for me, there was tools available for me to loan and a started with drawing some leaves. Sadly, I was disappointed at them too.... 

 The two guys were very encouraging when I said I thought I might go home

as "it wasn't really working" for me. Anyhow, I was tired and been working.

 They suggested I just make some "marks" and ink the lino
up regardless. Sadly, I gave in to my negative thinking and
went home with the intention of inking the lino squares
 at home where nobody could see my disastrous results.
What I didn't expect was to kind of like them! 

 This was my first leaf and I didn't like my jagged cuts. 

 The second inking was a bit better.

 Mind you I was only using a (marble) rolling pin!

 The other leaf...I was happier with this one

but didn't like the bit where I shot off the stem.

 Trying one face down inside of face up....

 

 I quite like this actually!

 Then I had an idea of taking a print using my handmade
flax paper. It didn't "take" very well. Maybe I'll need to try
again when I'm next at the Inky Fingers workshop
using the big press.

 Just mucking around and having fun now...

I'm looking forward to doing some more now as I have
 useless tools but will have to wait a fortnight until the
next Inky Fingers Group.

Some images I've found on the internet that inspire me

 I've printed these out to put in my visual diary.

Printmaking - 6 hours

(15/16 May 2014)

Where I'm at...

Yikes...it's almost the end of my first part-time diploma year so 

I'd better get some pics up or you'll be thinking I've been sitting

 on my laurels doing nothing, which is furthest from the truth!

It took me a few days to readjust to being back home from 

the Scrapbooking Retreat in Dunedin. I worked some more 

on my pages and got the journalling done and even made a start 

on a few new pages. Sadly, the scrapbooking has been put again 

as I have so many other projects on the go and some days 

I get so flustered and confused as to what to do I end up

 wandering around feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.

I've been enjoying the workshops provided at 

The Quarry Arts Centre and even taken the enormous

step of putting my name on the waiting list for a studio.

A couple of artists studio have become available

and I looked at them when I was there for Monday's

Art Journalling Workshop. I'm not top of the list, and 

there's other artist interest in the studios so I'm not

expecting to be called up and invited to lease one..

but hey, you've gotta be "in to win" and having my own

studio space might be just the ticket I need!

Here's some of the things I'm working on 

and being doing the past two weeks...

A few pages of my visit to the Hutt Valley in 2012

..and visiting my home area growing up

and a few pages of my fur babies, of course!

BTW...sorry about the poor photo quality...I'm too 

lazy to take the pages out of my album!

I have REALLY enjoyed the scrapbooking again

and VERY PLEASED to say, as a result of my TLC

Art Course I'm feeling HEAPS MORE confident about

 my personal style. This is so awesome to feel!

I've also been do a little painting exercises 

using textured surfaces to lay down paint on.

(Resource #6 in the workbook)

TEXTURED BLOCK

 The exercise called for Hi Build but as I didn't have

any of that I used Gesso. It was a fun process!

 Bubblewrap

Using the prongs of a fork

 Using a serrated knife edge

 Dabbing with screwed-up 

ball of waxed paper

 Pressing plastic netting into gesso

 and then placing netting on paper 

and brushing over with Gesso

 Crumpled handmade paper strips

 Shredded string pressed into Gesso

I chose to go the netting technique at the time

though it didn't turn out as good as I had hoped.

 My painted textured canvas

 and a close up of the texture.

I have "plans for this" 

I saw a cool idea using found objects.

Here's my inspiration...

I showed Ricky, a homeschooled student

 that is Autistic how to do paper marbling

 We mixed oil paints with a little turps and drizzle it

 over a shallow tray of water. Swirl it with a tooth pick...

...and ta-da...marbled paper!

This week I showed Ricky

 how to make paper using flax. 

 I do hope he enjoyed it! 

 One of his "couched" sheets...

After pressing them between two boards weighted down 

with a brick, I lay them out on the trampoline to dry.

Next week I'll help him make a book with the paper.

I'm also working on an applique but haven't 

taken any photos yet. Will do that...

...AND, I've been asked...no, I offered to 

complete a beach-theme tapestry

Now that I've seen it...I'm hoping I won't

 regret offering as it looks pretty fiddly!