Multi-layered screenprint action:

Similar to Longitude. I’ll be adding some (subtle and not so subtle) text layers in coming days. I’ve decided that’s it’s much better to work on a bunch of prints at the same time than just focusing on one at a time. This way I can’t mull over the same print for weeks on end. If I get bored or stuck with one, I can play with another one. Hopefully it won’t all turn into an organizational nightmare. I remain optimistic about it.

In-progress monoprints I am working on:

Today I started the first part of this monoprint series. I had already planned on making some monoprints for a show in October (to break from the cycle of constantly burning and reclaiming screens and inject something more tactile into my practice) and I knew I wanted to incorporate type / the idea of language, but apart from that, I had no clue what these prints were going to look like. The majority of the summer, thus far, has been spent brainstorming and sketching. I finally had the “A-HA!” moment on Saturday, as I was walking through my house. I found some old, yellowing paper from a brief childhood stint at Chinese calligraphy and it so perfectly fits into the theme of this show (tentative title, “Lost in Translation” relating to the difficulties that I’ve had in communicating to my family, no intentional relation to the movie of the same name) that all the pieces quickly came together.

So long story short, I am now making my own alphabet / set of characters from structural shapes. In the future, I’d like to combine specific parts from the Roman alphabet and Chinese characters, but for now the shapes are mainly organic swooshes and geometrics that I freehanded. After this first chunk of printing, I’m really satisfied. I’m definitely going to add more layers (probably too many) and there’s always the possibility of hand drawing or painting shapes. Whatever strikes my fancy.

Here are some notes:
– More spray adhesive / more burnishing to adhere the calligraphy paper to the printing paper. No access to a press = being more attentive to this chine collé business. There are corners lifting and little bubbles scattered throughout, but I’m hoping it won’t completely peel off in the future.
– All of these shapes were made by drawing on the exposed screen with watercolor crayons (water soluable) and printing over it with clear base.
– Color choice definitely needs work. It’s difficult because with the watercolor crayons I’m using, I’m limited to 12 colors. Blending doesn’t work spectacularly and ends up looking more striped than anything else. I chose to use the watercolor crayons because it would be an immediate and tactile way to add texture to these shapes, so I’m in no way looking for them to be completely smooth. But I am also not looking for them to be striped. With more time and experimentation, I’m sure I’ll find the right balance.
– Instead of clear base, print with very transparent colors/tints. Add pigment to the base?

There’s not a whole lot to nitpick about at this point. Tomorrow there will be more!