Friday 18 July 2014

second play with wood .....

I had no idea that there could be so much fun to be had with wood prints.  Until recently I had no interest whatsoever in making woodblock prints until I saw what Ann Symes was doing with Japanese woodblocks  - bringing her own unique interpretation of technique and design to her work.

I hesitate to send you scurrying over to her website, as once you look at her prints in the portfolio you will realise how elementary my marks are - but everyone has to start somewhere.  I only have black, white and paynes grey water based printing inks and as yet have not tried doing any work with the watercolours and gouache which will enable me to work with very soft and subdued colours.

Like everything we do it is important to learn the techniques and then find a way of using them with some authenticity - I have yet to do either but think that after another experimental morning, I now know what I will be looking for in the way of wood texture before I head down onto the block with Steve and the chainsaw!  I am also thinking I will be more confident now to work in situ when I see gorgeous marks on logs that are way too large to bring up hear the house. I am really looking forward to trying to lift some of the calligraphic marks made by scribbly gum borers around the yard.  Will have to go for an explore and make a mud map of all the logs and marks I want to 'lift'.

A slab of wood that I have had lying around the studio which I have used for displaying some of my books.

Not all that easy to ink the wood as it is curved and does not take happily to the roller.  I love the colour of the wood showing through the soft greys.

Starting to work out what makes for interesting texture, and to go in harder and work some areas into darker shades.

This photo is too dark really - I was braver here rubbing part of the print then turning the paper around and lifting off areas on other parts of the block.  I like the overlays.  

The next couple of photos show up the wood texture much more effectively and accurately.





I cut up strips of the work that came out of my first play earlier in the week.  I can see how effective multiple techniques will be.  I like my images all to appear on one surface though, not collaging them, so I will need to find ways to print my etched marks, wood marks and rubbing all on one piece of paper. I don't think that will be too difficult - or I hope not.


Just having fun with overlapping pieces of very light weight papers.



Camera bogun - there is no blue here really! But I quite like it .....

Lots of bits with which to play.




14 comments:

  1. Speachless...

    All I can think is how much fun we're going to have when Pam and I visit. Can we invite ourselves for 2 weeks? Who needs to see Australia when we can gather in the studio and play?

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    1. We certainly are - and I am ready to ink you in!!!

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  2. I love the subtle textures and marks you are getting with this process

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    1. Thanks Jac - some of those really subtle marks are gorgeous aren't they. Now I just need to marry them with marks of my own so they really become my images. Nice to have that wood starting point though ....

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  3. We are in sync... I just posted a new blog post on woodcut block prints... not mine but another artist I have discovered. I absolutely love your subtle textures - they are wonderful.

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    1. oooohhhhh - I am going to run over and have a peek! The subtleties are gorgeous and I can't wait to find time to add my own marks and personalise the images. x

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  4. Beautiful marks, Susan - so many possibilities, can't wait to see your progress with this project.

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    1. thanks Helen - I am hoping that these marks and images will give me another way to express 'my place' - that body of work for the living room (7 metres of it!) - of course, I am hoping that the work also translates into A HUGE book, and to a wide audience! Not asking too much ..... meanwhile, I will just potter along and see what happens.

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  5. Such utterly beguiling marks, entrancing...

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    1. thanks Fiona - am now thinking I may use some of these prints for our next collaboration. Think there is potential here.

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  6. Replies
    1. thanks Mo. It is a fine thing to add some new technique to the printmaker's arsenal. I will have fun experimenting here.

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