My+Carving+Process

My Printmaking Process

When I began drawing ideas for my edition I had no idea what I wanted to do. But to me that's art, starting off with a vague idea and seeing it completely transform into the end product. I began drawing fairies and people, but the idea I decided to put forward as the basis for my print was a blue horse with a golden crown. I began by photocopying the picture I had drawn, three times. We use this photocop to transfer the design on to the matrix. With a little help from the terpentine the design transferred well and I went over it with a sharpie marker so not to lose the outline. I then waashed the matrix to get rid of the strong smell left by the terpentine, to then find I couldn't possibly transfer my other design on to my second matrix and have it in the same place, which in necessary in a two-coloured print or they will not be alined. I then went back and used my second photocopy to transfer the design, this time taping the photocopy to the desk and marking where I lay the matrix so I could slide it out and place the second matrix underneath. I did this and again outlined the design with a sharpie and washed both matrixes. I then began to block, meaning I covered all the areas I didn't wish to carve. These areas were different in each matrix. For example in the first matrix I wanted the horse to be blue originally, the later changed to red. So I didn't carve the horse, but carved the mane, outline, outline of the crown crown and designs I hade made in the crown as I wanted them to stand out. In the second matrix I carved the horse, the mane, the crown but left the outline of the mane and head uncarved. I did this so that when place on top of eachother the horse would be red, the mane yellow, crown red, background orange as I carved parts of it in both matrixes. I then started to do proof prints in black and white I realised I need to carve more in certain places, alter certain things. Then I proof printed using my two colours, I then had tp register which is when you tape along the side and base and other side of the matrix so you know EXACTLY where to place the next one, I then placed the paper on top and used the spoon to rub. My problem was I used to much ink, so Ms.Rocio showed me how I should be printing and after that I got the hang of it. I did a few more proof prints then began my edition of 6. When I finished I experimented by mixing blue, white and yellow to create an aqua type colour and then did single colour prints, I then did the same with gold then did a two colour pint using aqua and gold. This was my Varied Edition (EV).