Art Theory & Practice - Lino cut portrait

I started fiddling with an old photo in Photoshop and came up with something that I will use as the basis of the design for the required Lino cut portrait. We were required to do a proper process, however I haven't been as exact as I should have been.

I have decided to do several projects for VACC on Michael, my eldest son. He turns 16 soon and he has always taken up more attention than his little brother. I expect it is because he is the first and the eldest. I think I need to express some of my feelings, emotions regarding Michael and doing it through several art projects isn't a bad way to do so. The photo that I'm using for this lino cut design is of him at approx 2 1/2. It was at this age I started to notice some of his more unusual behaviours. This is where I will start my projects.

Printmaking with Helen - Artists books

The previous week Helen told us that we would be making "Artist Books". I don't think any of us really understood what she meant, tho. Below is the printing for mine and the end result should follow soon.


As you can see I used my relief block "Waves", my collograph "Blossoms" some string and a leaf. This will be the cover.

This is the pages of the book.
The greens are created using Faust AquaLine Inks and Yellow Ochre Oil based ink.





These will be used for the covers. The lighter print for the outside cover and the deeper toned print for the inside cover. I used some torn cardboard to create the bird shapes and my collograph block "Knit".

Oil based Heidelberg inks of Ultramarine, black, red and Yellow ochre were used.



The paper for the covers was simply some mottled inkjet printing paper. The paper used for the pages was a very light Japanese paper.

All this meant that I've just gone off and bought some really nice paper from Neil's in Fitzroy and some wrapping paper from Ikea which has some interesting paper.

Drawing with Andrew - Something

I'm coming to enjoy Andrew's classes. I don't know if he has taught before, but he is certainly warming to the task.


This is a enlarged photocopy of a quick ink drawing I did and then coloured with watercolours. The photocopy paper was very shiny and the paint beaded on the hatching which gave it a good effect.

In this class I did some contour drawing in oil crayon.


This pic is one with wet on dry colouring.
I drew this one in different coloured crayons. I think the vase and blanket are better in this one.


This pic is wet on wet colouring. I prefer the thistles in this one, however the pillow, blanket and vase aren't as good.

Painting with Pi

Well this week was just a waste of time. I'm seriously thinking of giving up the painting subject.

Printmaking with Helen - Collographs

On the last day we had printmaking, Helen told us we would be expected to have two collographs ready for our next session of printmaking in several weeks time.

Well that day has arrived. Below are the collographs I created. Not all are exactly collographs, but are useful anyway.


This was printed waves first in Ultramarine Blue. Yuk! with the fish overprinted in black. After seeing the blue this lead me to creating a nice indigo blue to continue my printing. The following prints were in indigo.








"Waves"
A relief block carved from cardboard and sealed in shellac.


After the previous effort in the bright blue I started experimenting. This is the first indigo print. The resulting print on the left, which I think is far more pleasing.






"Fish"
I never made another relief print of the fish, however below is an example of some rollings that I did.


Rolling of the fish relief block in a nice murky green.










"Blossom"
This collograph, as with the one directly below, is a Japanese quilting pattern. It is constructed with 120g cardboard glue to a heavier base cardboard and then sealed with shellac.


The resulting print.


And another.











"Arches"

This could easily have been left as a stencil.

"Knit"
This collograph is threaded cardboard glued onto a base and sealed with shellac.

I later used this when making an Artist Book. See a later post.

Drawing with Andrew - Perspective

This week Andrew introduced perspective to the class. It was to bad for me, and covered old ground and so was a good refresher.

After explaining perspective and taking notes, Andrew took us up to the top floor of the building to do a perspective drawings.


I wasn't too displeased with the results. The cabinet on the right is off, but it wasn't flush with the wall either. The closest end was about an extra foot away from the wall, and that was what I was trying to show, but it just looks wrong.

Painting with Pi - week 4

Well this week Pi finally decided to show us some different techniques. She decided on pointillism and long strokes.

I hated pointillism when I studied it twenty odd years ago and I still hate it. After looking at my vase she dismissed it as a dot painting and didn't bother to add any constructive criticism on how I could improve my technique.

I later overheard her say, well she's never taught before and didn't really know what she was doing. That's been obvious to the students since the second class.


My pointillism vase. blurg




My pear.