To the original drawing, I added some water soluble graphite to darken and enhance (I hope :-): the modified drawing is shown at left. The poly litho plate used for the print was from the earlier version of the drawing. I used water soluble graphite on the burnt umber ink print also, but a bit differently from on the pencil drawing. The graphite becomes a second color on the print. In the final version at right, I added a touch of colored pencil. Stop me now! 🙂
Below is another (older) poly litho print newly completed with colored pencil. I used the one plate, twice through the press, reversed & repositioned for the a second pass.
OK, it is done: I have entered three prints in the Corvidae Press sponsored juried show Printmaker’s Hand III (September at Northwind Arts Center). This involved much agonizing: none of my entries were accepted last time, and it is the same juror. Oh well, just $45 & much stress 🙂
Update: none of these submissions were accepted 🙁 Very depressing!
After my first try at poly litho with this new drawing was so unsatisfactory, I cleaned & redrew both poly litho plates, using a micron pen this time (not a fat “ultra fine” sharpie!).
The micron pen seems to work well: I have to be very aware of the lines blending with the laser toner but the plate charges (with ink) very quickly. But I think this pen, like the sharpie, will not hold up well when cleaned, so I may have two editions of only four prints from each plate … I was too short of time to print more with the show deadline today.
I used a new tin of Dark Umber, rather than the old black ink used on the first plates. This was nice, not as stiff, so I did not need the burnt plate oil amendment or have to work the ink quite as much!
This gave me time to do the color mono print work. This time I painted the color directly onto one of the poly litho plates, which made registration a breeze! It was a bit of an experimental rush job, but I like the effect. I will probably add color to a couple more of the prints, maybe with that red dress although not sure with the brown ink.
Above is a digitally modified layered collage that started as a carefully arranged scan of red maple leaves, a scrap of red mesh, and two strips cut from a blotter. Just some fun…
And at left is a colored sketch of salal in bloom, in water color, soluble graphite, & colored pencil, started on a recent camping trip.
My new mini-print mini folio: the folio is 6″x7.5″, & has the hand rubbed iris print on the front. Inside are two variations from a shellac matboard plate, mounted for easy removal. The plates are 3″x3″. The color on the 2nd fuschia print is watercolor painted added after the print was dry.
I was tired working in the print shop yesterday afternoon, especially after completing an edition of 16 for our current print exchange. To experiment & use up ink, I grabbed leftover paper and printed some more, using the Iris that is featured in the edition with other recently created plates. Select an image to see the folio and these other prints in the larger lightbox display.
If only I had managed to get them straight on the paper! Oh well…
