Shooooot

I know I haven't updated my blog in awhile. I am going to be so good about it from now on! Although, my picture taking is not quite up to par. Two weeks ago, I have to admit, I was wrapped up in applications, and didn't make a lot of art progress. I have put in a substantial amount of hours since. I also feel like I have some bedrock to stand on project-wise for the first time. My two main themes that I am certain that I have stuck with and will stick with are; telling the narratives of people whose stories are never told, and humanizing these people who have been through a dehumanizing situation through my art about them. I have decided to use the process of reduction woodcuts because it is a delicate process. It is largely labor intensive to carve wood. Once that intricate work has been done, I'll carve and forever lose that layer on the block, making it precious and one-of-a-kind. I feel this is similar to the narratives I will be telling; in both the lives of the people, and the act of their telling. I plan to carve portraits of the people I meet, but collage them onto a larger piece of Rives paper and continue to tell the narrative with painted expressive but simple silouhettes (on the same paper). The stories will not be understood in a sequential pattern, but they will evoke a feeling that the person experienced.

So ANYWAY...here is how I have gotten started...

Meet...my dad

Whatta guy! He is my first narrative. He has been battling metastic liver and lung cancer for the past few years. He is humble and quiet. There are so many people like him who spend days in the hospital and no one hears them. He is also one of the foundational reasons I want to to this project.

So to begin thinking about how to turn this photo into a reduction, I did a lot of planning. I did a few studies of black and white paint, as well as drawing on the photo to divide the colors into segments. I've decided on a five block print printed in a series of 15-20.

I did some small studies on how the silouhettes would look and act on a large sheet of paper.

I went and purchased some real nice wood, sanded it and shalacked it.

Then, I started carving. This is the first of five layers

I did 4 test prints, figuring out press pressure settings, heaviness of inking, registration, and mixing different shades of light gray. I definitely took time doing this. I am very nervous about getting everything right because this is my one shot at this layer. This whole process is a bit anxiety provoking actually. I haven't done a realistic reduction before, this is a challenge.

I have since completed 13 final 1st layer prints....only 7 more to go! Then I can carve my next layer! I wish I was handprinting these, but I just don't think time will allow for it.

Time Keeping

Studies and planning for reduction: 3 hours

Wood Prep: 1 hour

Measuring and Sketching image onto wood: 1.5 hours

Carving first layer: 4 hours

4 Practice Prints: 1.5 hours

13 finalish 1st layer prints: 4.5 hours