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27 March 2019

Woodblock Wednesday - advanced, week 1 (of 2)


Techniques that are "on the menu" include betazurie (flat uniform printing), bokashi (different types of graduated printing) and Kakenase, using dark pigment over light pigment for an impression of transparency -
Some of the class were drawing up and cutting their "mountain and moon" woodblocks, as we did last term, while Carol showed us kakenase (on the left) - possibly next week we'll do the hakkake and stencils (on the right) -
 First, "quite a lot" of white pigment is laid down, and printed -
 Then the dark pigment
once that's printed (over the white), more pigment, halfway
A line (ichimoji-bokashi) turns the mountain into a mountain behind the lake, which holds the reflection of the moon.

Over to us -
I'm using one of the unprinted blocks from the plates prepared last term. Simple cuts in the sky evoke clouds. At the moment I'm not interested in having realistic clouds - these abstract ones use the process, tools, and materials of mark-making, different gouges, and the wood itself ... the making uses the available materials and processes in a "natural" way.

Which is not to say they are under my control, quite...

The first print was done in indigo, and I hoped adding an ultramarine layer would even up the sky -
first layer

ultramarine added
The second print has an indigo bokashi at the top, and ultramarine mostly at the bottom -
On the third, I was trying to mask off some lighter "clouds" by laying torn paper on top of the pigment ... not terribly successful! -
And that's the extent of my actual printing!

After class, a walk over the hill to N8 (Alexandra Palace in the distance)
to check the garden - wallflowers out, tulips about to bloom, much weeding and replanting needed...
 and to hang out with the grandbaby -


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