Printmaking hands 1097 :) or so it feels like!

So hand we go again

Today I decide to take all my hands and cut out the best bits. Sticking them back together as a collage.

Next I traced over some main pieces and then decided to make an etching to see what lines etc do and how far I could take my marks before I (pardon the french but) fucked it up!

Notice the image is reversed when printed, this wasn't a concern for me at this stage as I wanted just to move away for pencil and try a different approach. My eyes are still not seeing contours and how to draw the spaces. I know once it clicks in my mind I will never be bothered by it again but for now I seem to have a block or something.  To the point I feel stupid

Many lines quickly take a graphic look and this wasn't something I intended.

Its already beginning to lose its form and shape but I think that by continuing I can begin to push out of my safety zone. (safety zone haha well what the hell am I trying to hid or protect anyway) Leap onward half hearten and frustrated.  I wish I could just see the marks and make them.

Again the above image begins to lose shape in places and my marks are hesitated and unsure. I think you get a sense of this in the etching

I think (no I have to ) get there its just trying out different ways of working I guess. I live in hope.

being human - creative coathanger

Glass Map Making Workshop

Today I was lucky enough to attend a glass making workshop as part of the Being Human Festival (mapping the Borders)

Because I'd looked at my own hand and noted the pattern and contours than make up a hand, I thought I had to make it part of this workshop. I wish I had been more organised with my map and contour but I really didn't know what to expect at the time......

First I drew and cut out the shape of my hand, notice how the roads are vein like. Different maps with didnt scale sizes are really a great source of ideas. So many areas to take inspiration from. I decide however just to pick and choose the bits I like from different maps (again not organised enough)

Now for the engraving part, which I should add has opened up a whole new world of fun to me. So much so that Santa is now bringing me an engraving set from Christmas. Oh the fun times ahead....

seeing the layers :)

I built up the hand using 4 pieces of glass, while making sure that each one fitted on top of the other. Some marks that did jump out of place added to the 3d effect at the end. I kinda knew what I was planning but somehow and without realising my hand began to get fatter.... chubby..

The frost part underneath was done with an acid soloution that you put on and left for 15 mins..... Had I had more time I think this whole hand could be a real fun piece of work. I loved my day learning and had a great time with people that were keen and happy learning new things.

seeing the layers :)

Look at that thumb ...... It could pull out a plum indeed and shame that Little Jack Horner.....

 Boom a Nursery Rhyme Theme and development begins, before you know it I'm looking at etching of Paula Rego or the illustrator Arthur Rackham.... and the list goes on.... Wonderful (alice in WONDERland = Rackham ) how its all connected and travelling one route. Or many routes same paths or destination points.

At one point today I got frightened as I realised for a second I had deja vu, I really did sense it and panicked as my mind tried to remember/search when had I been in this similar situation? I hadn't even been in this building or sat at that seat but I did however get a real sense of I've been here before! I'm suppose to be here feeling and as quick as that my mind settled back to what I had been doing.

Do you think life is as simple as you will get exactly what is for you, without you even knowing what it is. Is it planned and deep routed like the veins that our blood flows, or the rivers and seasons that change, the stars that continue to shine ?  The things that just are and we take for granted everyday? Without question! The thing is I knew while being a Painter and Decorator and as much as I loved it, I always felted something bigger was pulling at my its not enough part of myself. So here I am still trying to figure out what is enough?? Someone said it could be determination! But I don't feel a need to proof anything as such to others or myself! Or do I?

Again I'm going on one so think about it and if you know the answers please do fill me in cos I feel it might be a while before I figure it out.  For now engraving is a new way for me to make and play and create......and for that I'm super excited.

Another question I find myself asking is do all art student go through the same process.... Could someone know that well she's figured out a,b c and d so next she'll learn e etc or are we all different and unique like our fingerprints.... Looking the same but no two the same?

Global Warming - Climate Change - Man Fingerprint on and on and on

evaulation - expressive

Expressive Drawing

Well what can I say, this exercise has helped to let me have the freedom to try many different approaches with regards to drawing.

What do I think expressive meant to me - well fast movement, quick heavy lines and form.  So we got life drawing - a still subject. We got to draw each other - again still.. How do you make it expressive?

I think for me the quicker 20 sec or 30 sec sittings help to free up my hand and eye to be confident to make a mark. Some of my hand 20 sec ink drawing give a great sense of form and perspective.

I've added this to my 7

Next I selected an hour drawing in pencil. It was a still life drawing of a lady lying down. I choose it in my 7 because I think I thought about the shape form and perspective. In parts I rubbed out and started to do over and over again. I think I began to learn about foreshortening which I think has been beneficial to my overall learning. 

The next image I chose was the women leaning forward. Again it was for me a learning surprise at how when I first made contact with the paper, I was worried. As I continued to draw the bits I didn't think worked actually ended up being the stronger features... They made the direction of the back etc. The only thing is I feel like the figure is floating.

The next ones I chose were the mono print ink sketches.  For me the direction and pattern of the figure can create a sense of movement to a still life. I think the dark colour against the light can suggest an idea of movement.

This exercise helped me to think about the background of an image. However, I ran out of time with regards to adding backgrounds on this one. I may take this forward into my colour/painting theme however.

I've added this texture drawing just to show a more detailed way of expression.

Ive added this to show quick informational sketches.

I've learned that expressive can mean much more than just speed drawing.  It can be a feeling or subject, pattern, suggestion, a wash, highlight, light and many more. I have realised the importance of looking at other artists and sometimes doing a copy of their work can help to give a sense of how or why the artist did what they did.

Expressive - Movement and artists.

Movement 

Today I started to think of how I could take my mono prints and turn them into something else. I started by cutting out 3 figures, Afterwards I photocopied them and played around rearranging them. 

These mono prints had started out as studies from my life drawing class, next I'd printed them to look and give the shape and form of the figure. I did like the fullness the print gave. 

The prints reminded me of the work of Herni Matisse's The Dancers. 

I began with quick mono prints of people moving. While I wasn't thinking about proportions I realise it does help the overall feel of the dancers. I gives a flow and progression. My own does take your eye around in a circle but its not as practiced.

movement but because reversed doesn't look right

again just playing to see what happens

idea of a seated pose. legs are off but was trying to give the idea of weight etc

I like this one because I think you get the idea of her leaning forward however, she seems to be floating

head to small but again an idea of position

I think the below images works quite well for movement.

Thinking of the background and if that adds anything.

The Futurist

Movement 

Marcel Duchamp - Nude Desending a Staircase

What did I notice .... darker background and stages.......blocky and the hint of a person.

Duchamp

Above with Duchamp I notice the highlight parts of his arm and the pattern in his trousers... again a dark background and horizontal descend.

Giacomo Balla

Flight of the Swallows

  

Sorry this image is upside down...

I had more images that won't upload on blogger. 

The images of the artist all seemed to flow and have order. Repetition 

Other studies I'd done of repetition 

Egon schiele - hands

The hand figure drawing by the artist Egon Schiele to me seem expressive in the sense that he's looked at them and picked out the most relevant features

The lines are done with biro pen I think and seem to be continuous. I did draw my own hand in mono print with these two works in mind. 

The bottom one I think works well because you get the idea of shape and the image isn't really flat. 

Upon first seeing these sketches I thought they look a little child like but after doing my own similar drawings I realised how much the artist had looked at the hand and studied it in great detail while at the same time relaying in ink his findings.   With this practice I do actually like my own studies in this medium.

My drawing using the left hand I think does have more detail and gives a sense of the same of the knuckles as I angled shapely form. I do actually like this process and I can see a progression with this.

Paul Klee - By giving colour to add to movement. This guy knew what worked and understood his medium. something Im yet to understand

          

Pattern and textures to create another way of looking... my colours didn't work so well.

We also looked at wire art

I have done so sewing onto the paper I'd made. I do think its is some what expressive. 

I'd of liked to do my life drawing using a free hand sewing machine.

Henri Moore

What can I say this guy knew line and form. His work is amazing

    

                

So artists I liked at included 

• Giacomo Balla
• Marcel Duchamp
• Henri Matisse
• Henri Moor
• Paul Klee
• Egon Schiele
• Bridget Riley