Leaf Mono Prints

For the past couple of days I have been doing mono prints of leaves.

I used the original leaves from the memorial tree, rolling some safewash dark green ink on a sheet of glass. I mixed this colour myself using 1 part blue to 6 parts yellow.

After rolling the ink thinly onto the glass, I ensured that the ink was spread evenly by rolling over it repeatedly. I then used the roller to ink up the original leaf. Then I prepared the paper and 'sandwiched' the leaf. I then stepped on it to create the print.

Quite a long process but the result is lovely :)

Leaf Printing

This week I have been screen printing! I made a screen with 8 different leaves on it earlier this week, and today I spent the day printing.

I started with a green mixture of 1 part hooker's green and 3 parts printing medium. I gradually varied this colour by adding more medium for lighter coloured leaves.

Then I went on to make a mixture of hooker's green and gold, to create a slight golden yellow tone to the leaves. I also used the same method of adding medium to create lighter coloured leaves. I then proceeded to use burnt umber to create deeper toned leaves.

I printed over 700 leaves today! Pretty awesome.

Update on Final Piece

Hooray! Feels like I'm actually getting somewhere.

I chose printing for my leaves because it would help to extend some of the knowledge from my previous projects, and bring my specialisms together better in terms of the theme.

Today I experimented using printing for my leaves. I used 2 main techniques; screen printing and mono printing. Initially I had thought about drawing the leaved using the mono printing technique, however after speaking to my tutors, I decided that it would be more appropriate and relate to my theme better if I were to use the real leaves. The drawn leaves just didn't have the same quality.

So I collected lots of leaves from the memorial tree to use. To create my screen, I proceeded to scan a selection of leaves with attractive veining using Grayscale mode into Photoshop. I then adjusted the curves and brightness/contrast to create the optimum appearance for a screen. This was then transferred to a screen and I proceeded to print with it.

When using the mono-print technique, I took a roller and some ink and spread it thinly and evenly on a glass plate. I then took my desired leaf and used the roller to ink it up where I required. I then took a piece of paper, which I folded in half. I 'sandwiched' the leaf between the sheets and then trod on it to transfer a print. The detailing of the print was fantastic!

I will experiment more with these prints on different types of paper and fabric to produce the best outcome. I aim to produce around 600 prints though!!

Final Idea

I finally came up with my final idea today. I wanted to choose something spectactular, considering it will be my final project! Therefore I went crazy and chose my most unusual idea:

I will create an interpretation of the memorial tree using mixed media.

The leaves I will create using hundreds of printed leaves. These will be printed using techniques I learned in my last project, for example screen printing and mono printing to extend my skills.

I will create the trunk of the tree using masking tape and paper torn to create a bark texture.

Below the tree there will be a selection of books that I am going to create using mixed media. This will also relate to some of the work I did using concertina books in my last project.

So, now you know my idea, I will be posting every couple of days to report on my progress with the final piece. Let's see how it will look in the end!!

Animation...?

HMM. Trying to think of a possible format for my final piece. It needs to show progression so I was considering doing an animation, but I'm really not sure.

Is it wise doing something I haven't done before? It would really show the progressive feel of an illustrated narrative.

UPDATE: I've decided against this idea. I haven't done any animation since the rotation project, so I would much rather choose something that I am more experienced with for my final piece.

Plans for my Final Piece!

I am finally getting to a point where I have a vague idea of what I would like to do! Wahey!

So, here is my main idea:

I'm going to create a tree that is the centre of a number of narratives. I will illustrate a variety of narratives that all stem from the tree. This was inspired by a memorial under a tree that I saw near my house.

Now, how exactly I am going to do this, I am not sure. I'm going to doodle a few different ideas and chat to my tutors to see what is most practical. I shall update in a few days :)

Keri Smith - Mess

I have been working on my 'Wreck this Journal' and another book called 'Mess' in the past couple of weeks. The concept behind 'mess' is for the 'user' to let go of making things pretty, and focus on accidental beauty. The loss of control.

It's really helping me to loosen up with my work, and I really went crazy the other evening with it. I started to make a massive mess on some paper and then create a narrative from it. It was really liberating and I enjoyed it very much! I shall post photos when I get home...

Progress Review

So, with not long until my deadline I think I should post a small update on how everything is going, and my plans for the next few weeks. I have been doing lots of artist research and media experimentations, which have been much more focused since 'discovering' my brief, though I feel like I can start to focus even more.

The question is how! I had an idea of creating an animation using my mixed media experimentations, combining drawing with the messes and the collages and everything else that I have done to create a narrative. I will give this a try and see how it comes out, because my only concern is that it's something I haven't really done before.

Watteau Exhibition

I attended a lunchtime lecture on the Watteau exhibition at the Royal Academy, to find out a little more about the drawings.

The exhibition consists of a series of tiny drawings created by Watteau, a painter that also created these tiny drawings. Below are some of the things I learned about him.

He used something called the trois crayons technique, where he used three colours of chalks; red, white and black. Chalk had fallen out of fashion at the time so it's interesting that he went back to it.

He took interest in drawing whatever took his attention at the time - much like I do. I go through phases of obsessing over something then I draw whatever I can think of. I don't tend to have a set idea or style.

He often drew figures in various positions in his sketchbooks, then used them as references for his paintings.

He also had an unusual practise of going back to drawings, even returning years later to fill a space.

He selecterd details and borrowed from paintings, choosing details that particularly conveyed human emotions.

& Also re-used scenes and characters from other artists, often improving them along the way!

The talk can be heard here:
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/events/talks/watteaus-drawings-virtuosity-and-delight-an-introduction,1435,EV.html

Motivational quote.

"There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes"
- R. Buckminster Fuller, innovator.

Three Weeks Left

There are 3 weeks left on my project today!! Scary stuff, I have a lot to do.

I'm still pretty unsure about what I'm doing exactly for my final piece... I am toying with the idea of using the memorial tree as inspiration for it... There was something really symbolic about it, I don't really know why.

My plans for the next few weeks:

• Have a clear idea for a final piece within 2 weeks
• Start on experiments for final piece
• Then do it!

I guess thats 1 thing per week, which isn't too much. I really need to push this!

Progress Review

Ahhh. I am feeling a bit of a block. I've done all these media experiments, but I can't see where I can take it from here. My theme is 'illustrating a narrative', so I definitely want to have a story to my work.

Some of the possible things I could do:

• Book
• Really big piece
• Series of tiny illustrations
• Mixed media using stamps and ink

I really don't know!! I guess I need to do more research into this.