Letterpress Learnings

A few weeks ago I took a mini course on letterpress at the city TAFE. Letterpress involves using type made out of metal or wood and depending on the project, will also use different kinds of presses -- either a cylinder, platen or rotary press. I don't know if I had too many expectations but most assumed that it would be a breeze. What we learned was that letterpress is a fiddly process.

We had access to a limited number of typefaces for our projects--and for good reason. You could spend a lot of time (at least I could) figuring out which one to use. As it turned out, I didn't get to produce very much. It may have been easier if I took one concept and did a few things with instead of trying to do too many ideas. If I decide to do it again at least I know for next time.

bits and bobs at the workstation 

That metal frame is called a chase and all the bits around the type furniture. The most time consuming part I found was adding the right pieces to put enough pressure on the type to keep it in place when taking it over to the press for printing. For all that Tetris playing the result was simple:

Part of a quote from Baha'u'llah's Hidden Words

The next day I worked on a different passage excerpted from Dante's Inferno. 

The time was the beginning of the morning;
the sun was rising now in fellowship
with the same stars that had escorted it
when Divine Love first moved those things of beauty

I was able to get an initial print from it earlier in the afternoon but that's where it ended. I just needed to fix a few backwards letters and change the spacing a bit but after making those edits I wasn't able to get everything to stay as it did before. Unfortunately, by the time I flagged down the instructor there wasn't enough time to remedy the situation.

Me and another lady who finished last stayed to help clean up, including scrubbing off the inks we used to print with vegetable oil. When I pulled off the scrap paper I had laying around for the rollers to sit on, an interesting print was underneath. I didn't keep it but thought I'd at least take a picture of it as evidence of producing *something* even if not intentional.

Collagraphing

I'm thankful to have been able to take advantage of a free printmaking workshop sponsored by the Tea Tree Gully Council and taught by none other than Simone. 8 of us got together and learned the basics of collagraphing using recycled materials. Collagraphs are basically a type of collage that you can ink up and make some interesting prints with anything from onion bags to paper doilies.

I spent most of the time chatting to others while I waited to use the press. Even if people specialise in different mediums I like to hear what people are up to and what influences they use for their work. I tend not to make friends that easily but conversation seems to flow a lot smoother when it comes to creativity.

When my turn came around, I learned I had some issues with the design placement. I wanted to layer everything in one go but you can't really pile things on top of each other and make it work. The plate also didn't really want to stay in place at first and neither did the objects placed on top. I think the image below was made by printing the inky plate after removing all of the objects.

For the second one I just used the bits of plastic I removed, then ran it through the press again to get kind of a 'ghosting' effect. I wasn't really sure what to do and there wasn't a lot of time to be indecisive. Not quite what I imagined (with printmaking it usually isn't) but hey - it was free, got to meet some cool people and managed to score some free rollers!

Adventures in Drypoint

This Saturday I returned to Union Street Printmakers with Chad for a casual Saturday class. Simone, the instructor, thought drypoint would be a good entry point for us to get into intaglio printmaking. Intaglio techniques are just ones where you etch your image onto a surface, ink it up and then print. Drypoint uses a needle or sharp instrument and in this case, was etched onto a plastic surface. The act of scratching into it makes a sound that personally makes me cringe but I managed to block out some of it and just go with it! 

The technique and the effect is similar to drawing, which is probably why I found it a bit easier to get my head around in the first go than with lino cutting where you have to carve away surfaces. I still have to get used to the image printing from back to front which sometimes makes a slightly more abstract image, like with the orchid below. I chose the initial print to add a little watercolour to when I got home. The second print I decided to leave alone, but it has a cleaner look because I took off more ink before putting it through the press.

I drew the second image more quickly. It wouldn't pass as a scientific illustration but it's sufficient for the experience.

 

At least I'm keeping up momentum a little. There's a few classes in my line of sight in the near future, and I'm in the process of hunting around for some projects to fiddle around with at home ... so stay tuned.

Yes, I'm Still Alive

Well, well, well ... look at what the cat dragged in. Is it really me? I haven't updated in over a year. Needless to say the creative energy hasn't quite been there. Sometimes there would be a spark and then nothing. Or sometimes there was a something but no motivation to post it online.

The other day, however, I did an intensive at Union Street Printmakers on lino cutting. It was me, the teacher, another participant and a couple of others who were using the studio space for other projects. It was a good atmosphere, and the garden outside was peaceful to hang around in during the break. You wouldn't know a little oasis existed in the industrial side of town.

The first part of the class we practiced basic cutting and stamping. Much easier to begin carving this way. It's like a potato print. You could even use old flip flops or erasers if you wanted to. But even if the material is simple to deal with, as with anything, learning to work with new tools takes time. You start to learn which tool does what and how. Alongside this you also have to train yourself to think about how image making works in relief printing. Cut away what you don't want to show and the rest stays.

Design 1

 

Design 2

After lunch, we did some actual lino cutting. Lino is a little harder to deal but the process can be made smoother if you have sharp tools and warm linoleum. At least if I start doing some at home I'll have another use for the electric stove! I found my carving to be pretty jagged, not really what I was dreaming up in my head but what can I expect for a first time? Well, when you're a bit of a perfectionist, probably a lot. But it was all in good fun. You also learn some basics in printing and what prints can look like with different techniques and papers. Take a two-toned effect on a thicker more absorbent paper:

 

and then you compare it to a print on lighter, textured paper and you get another type of effect. Line integrity aside, in this case I preferred this type of print. It has a bit of a redeeming quality to it...

Afternoon at the museum

Eros - Alfred Gilbert

This afternoon I went to the Art Gallery of SA to attend a lunchtime talk that's part of the OzAsia festival. It was a 30-minute session from the curator of the 'Paradise on Earth' gallery regarding the use of flowers in Islamic Art. The floral imagery largely represents the notion of Paradise as being a beautiful garden, which naturally would imply the role of flowers in conveying that idea.

I hadn't been to the Art Gallery before today so it was nice to experience something a bit new around town. I didn't take any photos from this particular gallery nor did I think I'd end up drawing anything until I convinced myself to give it a go before I left. I managed to come away with the sketch above. For awhile, a mother and her two young daughters watched me while I drew. I get nervous doing these types of things in public because it can draw (ha ha) attention, particularly if I'm not convinced that it will turn out in the end. The two girls thanked me for letting them watch me - at the mother's prompting but they still were genuinely impressed. Either way, it was good that I forced myself to sit down and do something, regardless of how it turned out.

my sketching perspective

White on Brown

I've been hiding away somewhere in the midst of activity and emerge briefly in the form of white flowers. Hopefully more to come.

The Art of Science

Today's Google Doodle pays homage to Maria Sibylla Merian on her 366th birthday. She was a German naturalist and scientific illustrator. I thought it fitting since this afternoon I visited the South Australian Museum's special exhibition The Art of Science. The scientific illustrations on display were borrowed from Museum Victoria. There were some fascinating depictions from household names like John Audubon and John Gould, as well as some Australian artists.

I appreciate detail in artistic works, be it the precision of scientific illustrations or the patterns in an abstract geometric piece but I don't think I have the patience to do them. Perhaps one day I'll discover the satisfaction of completing something like that. In the meantime, I can admire those who have already fulfilled their vision.

Reinwardt's Trogon by John Gould

Eastern Wirra by Arthur Bartholomew

Victor Harbor

Scenic view from Willunga Hill

View from Granite Island

From the causeway to Granite Island

This weekend, Chad and I headed to Victor Harbor. It was a bonus trip of sorts, which we tacked onto the end of a rather mundane task that required a long commute. If you drive about an hour and a half south from our residence you'll find yourself in Aldinga, a little town with not much to its name but a good view and at least one all purpose diner with with more choice than the fancy bistro down the street. The mundane task? Watering the lawn. There's no tenants in a property my in-laws own so someone needed to keep the grass from going all dead and straw like. It seemed natural that on one of those trips we'd go the rest of the way to Victor Harbor.

Victor Harbor is the main tourist destination in the Fleurieu Peninsula. Despite the dryness of the summer, there is a lot of greenery. The Peninsula is known for its agricultural flare, particularly when it comes to wine production, not to mention a number of other things like almonds, olives, and cheeses. We stayed the night with some family friends and then went into the hub of Victor Harbor to explore the next day.

Granite Island was the only place we managed to visit while we were there. A causeway connects the town with the island where you can either walk across or go on the horse drawn tram. Aside from the novelty, it didn't seem necessary to take the tram but we regretted that we didn't do so on the way back. The sun in Australia can be pretty strong, and sometimes the heat feels much closer than it should be. Nonetheless, there was a bit of a reprieve on occasion when a breeze came off Encounter Bay. By the time we made a full loop around the island, we were more than ready to head back to the car and grab a late lunch.

For the past few weeks I haven't been able to find my camera charger for the life of me so I wasn't able to take photos. At least I could go back to basics and do a few sketches. There's still more to see. Victor Harbor, I'm coming back for you one day.

An Afternoon in the City

Today many people were off and businesses closed because of the observance of Australia Day. The actual date was this past Saturday, but of course when something falls on a weekend it would be a shame to deprive yourself of a day off. Although I'm not working yet, I was momentarily relieved of my volunteer duties at Lyell McEwin. Chad and I went into the city to visit the Botanic Gardens and grab some lunch. 

Initially it seemed that we didn't pick the best day to go out as it was windy and rainy when we arrived in town. As a compromise, instead of going straight to the Gardens we headed to Piatto for lunch in lieu of Kishi Sushi, which seemed to be waiting for a later time to open. I'm never inspired to order much more than pizza at an Italian restaurant so we shared a Little Italy pizza. Since we had to wait quite awhile for our order (due to mishap with someone not putting it in the system), I had time to sketch, something which I haven't been doing recently. 

Diners at Piatto

The sun came out by the time we were finished. The Botanic Gardens were nice. I brought my colored pencils with me as well but there wasn't a color that represented the pink of these lotus flowers, the first and favorite of the species displayed. There were quite a few dusky moorhens in the area as well taking advantage of the marshy conditions. 

With this blog I try to post things that I've drawn on location but this past Saturday I also had the chance to march in the Australia Day parade they had in the city. I took some less than quality photos with my phone but they may do with some artistic rendering, if so I'll post them here. 

I hope all is well with everyone's 2013 so far. One month is practically gone! 

Hyacinths of Knowledge

I dug this one up from the archives. Not that it's particularly old, but its been out of sight for awhile. I sent this watercolor home in a document box when I said my goodbyes to Israel for the first time. I had it hanging in my cubicle there, and it would receive compliments from time to time when people stopped by to ask questions or have a chat. To me it was never quite right visually, the greens particularly, but still people liked it. My interest was more in the quote "... Sow the seeds of divine wisdom in the pure soil of the heart, and water them with the waters of certitude, that the hyacinths of knowledge and wisdom may spring up fresh and green from the holy city of the heart." I like the imagery of the heart being composed of pure soil from which things such as wisdom can grow like beautiful flowers. However, it takes a certain attitude to cultivate it.

I think we can all do with a little tending. May our hearts spring up with good things in 2013 (and forever and beyond).

Perth in the Periphery

Whoa, nelly. A month ago I took my first extended trip out of Adelaide to go to a family wedding in Perth. I finally got to meet and spend more time with the family I married into -- my husband's cousins, aunts, uncles and slightly more distant relations. I was a bit intimidated by the prospect but excited I would take the flight I dreamt of taking almost since I arrived in Australia. Well, not quite, but at least it was one step in the direction of exploring other places, an impulse perhaps nurtured by a tendency to move around.

In the end my apprehensions were allayed by enjoyable company and a welcome change of scenery. However, when I came back to Adelaide I was mildly comforted as well. Leaving and then returning to what I've recently called home helped me to realize the degree to which I've grown accustomed to life in this town. I guess I do like it here.

I was a bit negligent of my sketching practices but below are a few doodles.

Perth skyline from the south side of the city

Sleepy koala at the Perth Zoo

Classic Cars

Chad and I got up early Sunday to go into the city for Soul Food, a monthly devotional held by the Adelaide Baha'is. For a Sunday morning it didn't seem like it would be a big deal to find parking but little did we know that there was another event happening simultaneously. While we were driving I spotted a lot of old, shiny cars at one of the parade grounds. I'm not really a car person, and normally this isn't something that would draw my attention but there's something about old car models that I love.

Apparently the Sporting Car Club of SA was having a 101 years of motoring display, where a bunch of people got to show off their sporty rides. Needless to say, we headed over after the devotional was over. I didn't have my camera, unfortunately, but I did have some of my art supplies and managed to get a few sketches in. Colour was added after I got home.

Silver Jaguar MK2 3.8

Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Jaguar XK150S

It's obviously been awhile since I've posted last. Over a month in fact. If anyone is still out there I don't know. But here I am, out of the abyss for the time being. I've reached a point in my stay in Australia where time is going by much quicker than it has previously. I've had a birthday, been steadily volunteering at two different places a few days a week, been looking for work, being of service to others, running errands around town, among other things. Unfortunately, that means that I haven't been doing too much drawing. Hopefully that'll change and I can be a bit more regular than I have been. Otherwise, maybe I'll just count it as a shift in priorities.

It's spring now here in Australia and the weather continues to fluctuate, however this past weekend was a fairly nice day so my husband and I decided to take a walk around Parra Wirra, one of the local recreational parks that has different hikes you can go on. The sun wasn't very bright but at least it was warm. It's nice to get back to nature a bit in order to decompress. Sometimes you just need a break.

Woman in Black

Did another drawing this afternoon using my Staedtler glasochrom pencil. While I dream about different types of inks and nibs and their various uses, traditional dry media still holds my attention. What I like about doing sketches with that pencil is the moody feel they have to them in the end. Working with toned paper might make things more dramatic. Strathmore just started making them in sketchbook form, though I'm sure other companies do as well. Now all I need is a representative from there to send me a sample to test it out ;) Hey, it's worth a shot but I know I'll probably just go out and get my own.

A Saturday Sketch

Its been nearly two weeks since I've thought about updating. Time is still abundant but drawing is a bit slow. I've been otherwise engaged in those things you do when you're establishing yourself in a new place. Some of my tasks don't seem to want to go away and so amidst occasional setback, you spend the rest of your time mulling them over or otherwise ignoring them completely. Today, though, I managed to use a quiet Saturday to do a (fairly) quick drawing. 

Some time back in my search for artistic inspiration, I found myself attracted to the drawings of Georges Seurat, who is typically known for his pointillistic paintings. In his studies, Seurat employed a unique style of drawing, which consisted of using conté crayon and highly textured paper to create a certain type of image. His subject matter was depicted mainly in value and tone instead of relying on lines.

Georges Seurat, The Black Bow

I wanted to imitate his style so I used what I had on hand which was some sketchbook paper and a wax crayon that's really supposed to be used for writing on glass surfaces. I used a photo for reference purposes.

In this first attempt I didn't spend too much time building up dramatic contrasts or fussing over technique. The point was just to do something. Eventually, I'll buy some conté crayons and try this exercise again.

EDM #13 - Draw your telephone (land line, cell, old fashioned?)

Uh yeah, I haven't been keeping up with the everyday matters challenge recently but in my defense, the original challenges were weekly. I think in that case, I'm not far behind. My cellphone is pretty boring so I decided to use the land line as today's inspiration, however standard it may be. 

I've been in Australia for two months now and needless to say I don't get phone calls, there's barely anyone to text. Thankfully I have a pre-paid plan so I can keep the funds for however long it lasts. 

Of all the callers, the one I'm really hoping for is someone who wants to hire me.  Until that time, I guess I'll have to be content with relative silence.

Illustration Friday - Carry

Its been awhile since I've done Illustration Friday. Every Friday a topic is posted and anyone can illustrate the theme in whatever way they choose. Once you've posted it to your blog, you can provide a link on their website to what you've created. I had a number of ideas but chose this one, in the form of a mock page in a story of a polar bear named Peter. 

EDM #12 - Draw what you ate for dinner

I don't know how to draw chow mein in such a way that it looks appetizing. Nondescript scribbles of various shades of brown will have to do. The viney background is the place mat. Each one is grey with leaf print patterns. 

I had this for dinner the night before (we had chicken tonight) but didn't have the opportunity to scan it and put it up. 

Why So Serious?

The Dark Knight Rises comes out this Thursday so they've been showing old Batman movies on TV the past week. Having liked The Dark Knight, and dismissing the fact that it took me 3 tries to get through Batman Begins, I'm looking forward to its release.

Naturally, then, Batman has been on the brain. So to stave off the boredom I've felt the majority of the day I did a quick sketch of the caped crusader early this evening. I can't take any credit for coming up with an original drawing, but until I become an anatomy aficionado, copying will have to do! Besides, it was fun.

EDM #11 - Draw your glasses or sunglasses

One of the points of doing an everyday matters challenge is to actually draw one for the theme on that day, not to come up with something you've already done. Today, I thought I would fudge the rule, just this once. This drawing must have been from a couple of years ago when I had long, straight hair. That me, it seems, is long gone. 


I've been wearing glasses since the 4th grade. I remember only one kid in class made fun of me for getting them but the teacher quickly shut them down. I think she got in the faces of a lot of kids from what I can recall. I guess you didn't want to get on her bad side. I've had these same glasses for some years now. Even though I have a newish purple pair, I still keep wearing these old green ones.  Go figure.