Dear Rebecca Tiedt (her blog isn't terribly current, but still an interesting read on new media aids in K-12 education), I could kiss you. She is the creator of the "Lithography: Printing Without a Stone or Press" slide show I also shared last blog post. I feel like the clouds have parted and ethereal beings are singing.
I had a suspicion I would love lithography. I have been told by other professors that I would love lithography. During my bare-bones experiments in the last year, I've found stone lithography to be immensely gratifying. Not to mention griding down stones is wonderful meditation. However, this photocopier-gum arabic-litho method has stolen my heart.
It's not without its hitches of course. I'm finding it a little bit tricky to get the water saturated just enough, but not too much. It could partly be materials; Tiedt's slide show says to use sponges, I've been using paper towels. A professor of mine has also suggested that the gum arabic-to-water ratio can affect the results. So there's more tinkering to do. So far, though, I'm very happy with this process and how it's going.
Conceptually, my work has focused on reproductive issues the last 4 years or so, largely influenced by my activism. Specifically, I'm focusing more on motherhood issues and maternal mental illness this past year, but I've always been passionately pro-choice. It was through pro-choice activism that I became acquainted with Michelle Kinsey Bruns, and later met her in person when she co-chaired an event I had a painting in. Michelle always has very intelligent and thoughtful things to say, but this article she has up on Feministing today really struck me. I've been diving more into the power of narratives in art to create societal change in my own work, but I've been a little timid when it comes to using my own narrative in my work. Producing art work and putting it in the public sphere is already such a vulnerable thing - how much more so when you scrub yourself raw and put your personal struggles in there too?
I've been feeling lately, though, that I have to go there. Especially for my thesis show. Michelle's article today, the courage she had to stand up on that train and then to also put it out online gives me courage too. These are the stories we need to share and get out there, as artists, as activists, and as people if we ever want to change anything.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
New year, new experiments!
Welcome to Searching for Prints Charming! This is my documentation of my ongoing experiments with printmaking, bookmaking, and related mixed media techniques for advanced printmaking course in the 2013 Spring semester.
I am currently an artist and studio art senior at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York. A long time resident of Central NY, I have two degrees from Onondaga Community College and will be receiving my B.F.A. from Caz this May. My full resume is available at my website.
I find most of my work is influenced by background as an activist and being a mother. I am currently engaged in research, compiled in part for my thesis, into the ability of art to help better society through political activism. I strongly believe that every artist has a moral requirement to use their work to help other people.
My media choice tends to fluctuate depending on the needs of the concept. Painting and printmaking, however, are my mutual first loves. The majority of my print background has been self-taught through good old-fashioned experimenting in the studio. This is a trend I intend to continue this semester, in an effort to further my technical abilities in various print techniques. To this end, my main focus will be in different lithography, monotype, and etching techniques. I also plan to experiment with different papers not traditionally used for printmaking and non-traditional presentation. As a result, I will be splitting my semester up into thirds.
Weeks 1 - 5 (January 23 - February 22) I will be focusing on lithography. Specifically, I will be working on traditional stone and copier lithography. I have heard of different methods of using a copy machine previously, but have had my interest piqued by this excellent tutorial uploaded onto Slide Share. http://www.slideshare.net/rebeccasue/lithographygray When I saw this, it made my little zinester heart happy.
Weeks 6 - 10 (February 25 - March 29) I want to shift my focus towards monotypes. I first fell in love with this print technique and its wide range of possibilities a few months ago, and it has been a main focus of my work. I am especially interested in its limited edition possibilities. Most people consider monotype to always be an edition of 1, but by balancing the amount of ink and wetness of the paper, I have been able to pull lighter, "ghost" images from the same plate. While working with monotypes, I would also like to reacquaint myself with different book binding techniques.
Weeks 11 - 15 (April 1 - May 3) For the end of my semester, I want to experiment with different methods of creating colored etchings; various ink methods, using multiple plates or ink viscosity methods as well as mixed media methods.
To the end of these goals, I spent 2.5 hours in the studio staining paper for lithographs and another 3 sketching at home. My plans for this weekend are to have a few images prepared to start having some photocopier fun Monday morning.
I am currently an artist and studio art senior at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York. A long time resident of Central NY, I have two degrees from Onondaga Community College and will be receiving my B.F.A. from Caz this May. My full resume is available at my website.
I find most of my work is influenced by background as an activist and being a mother. I am currently engaged in research, compiled in part for my thesis, into the ability of art to help better society through political activism. I strongly believe that every artist has a moral requirement to use their work to help other people.
My media choice tends to fluctuate depending on the needs of the concept. Painting and printmaking, however, are my mutual first loves. The majority of my print background has been self-taught through good old-fashioned experimenting in the studio. This is a trend I intend to continue this semester, in an effort to further my technical abilities in various print techniques. To this end, my main focus will be in different lithography, monotype, and etching techniques. I also plan to experiment with different papers not traditionally used for printmaking and non-traditional presentation. As a result, I will be splitting my semester up into thirds.
Weeks 1 - 5 (January 23 - February 22) I will be focusing on lithography. Specifically, I will be working on traditional stone and copier lithography. I have heard of different methods of using a copy machine previously, but have had my interest piqued by this excellent tutorial uploaded onto Slide Share. http://www.slideshare.net/rebeccasue/lithographygray When I saw this, it made my little zinester heart happy.
Weeks 6 - 10 (February 25 - March 29) I want to shift my focus towards monotypes. I first fell in love with this print technique and its wide range of possibilities a few months ago, and it has been a main focus of my work. I am especially interested in its limited edition possibilities. Most people consider monotype to always be an edition of 1, but by balancing the amount of ink and wetness of the paper, I have been able to pull lighter, "ghost" images from the same plate. While working with monotypes, I would also like to reacquaint myself with different book binding techniques.
Weeks 11 - 15 (April 1 - May 3) For the end of my semester, I want to experiment with different methods of creating colored etchings; various ink methods, using multiple plates or ink viscosity methods as well as mixed media methods.
To the end of these goals, I spent 2.5 hours in the studio staining paper for lithographs and another 3 sketching at home. My plans for this weekend are to have a few images prepared to start having some photocopier fun Monday morning.
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