Assignment 5

**Assessors please see below for re-written artists statement. 

Selection of prints:

Prints on Strathmore printmaking paper with Essdee waterbased inks.

Winsor and Newton Cartridge paper with Essdee inks.

All supporting sketchbook work and notes can be found here: https://nikisprintmakinglog.blogspot.com/2020/04/part-5-project-13-personal.html

Part 5 Artist Statement

For this assignment I wanted to continue my theme of nature using Collagraph’s with Chine Colle’.  I have found this method of printmaking suits my abstract style very well because I can select elements to create the textures and patterns that I want.

I plan to use the elements that were successful in my test Collagraph as a guide to which materials will work best for the natural elements in my design. Taking photos, collecting imagery and sketching on my iPad are all techniques I usually use and these will be part of my printmaking process.

I have chosen to continue my theme of nature because I’ve always had a passion for it. Forms of nature appear in my work as a form of self-expression. Feelings of isolation; my work becomes more minimal, if anxious more complex or chaotic. The colours I use also reflect how I am feeling.

My needing to stay home because of the pandemic has enhanced the way I view my surroundings. I’ve found myself looking more closely at what is in my own back garden and out my windows.

To visually communicate these things I find abstract techniques the most natural for me. I’ve always been drawn to abstract art because I feel it has a great connection with how I view life – noticing what others don’t and expressing that in a symbolic way. I look more closely at parts of nature that go mostly unnoticed by the hurried, busy lifestyle of people today.

As a Christian my faith plays a big part in this lens I look through. God as Creator made all things beautiful. It is my hope and joy to find ways to express those to a world who has never seen them before.

My fascination for looking closely at things comes from this place of intrigue. It’s like viewing another world, a secret place that no one knows about. When you look closer, you see things very differently.

I usually create my abstracts in acrylics, so the transition to printmaking has been a steep learning curve. The process is quite different and more involved but I have enjoyed learning a technique that supports my abstract style. Researching other abstract printmaker's has also inspired me and I’ve enjoyed looking closely at their Chine Colle’ artworks to see how they have incorporated the thin papers into their own prints.

 **Re-written Artists Statement: {Learning Log submission chosen for Context learning outcome for assessment.}

For this final assignment, my work is focused on the patterns of light as seen through the lens of nature. In this case I am choosing to focus on Christmas lights shining through a frosty spider's web. The glow of the lights against a delicate but expertly woven spider web is just one example of the beauty of God’s Creation, of which my work aims to shine a light on during my career. It is currently Winter and near Christmas time, which is giving me plenty of inspiration and reference.

The techniques and methods I have chosen for this final work combine Abstraction, Collagraphs and Chine Colle with the aim to create an unusual, textural print that has the success of found elements like my previous collagraph in part 4. I also would like to use my iPad to sketch ideas to aid me in planning this print.

Influenced by artist’s such as Emma Lock, Squeak Carnwath and Sandra Blow, I would like to create a print that feels like the Winter elements but also introduces the warmth of bright colours to give a sense of Hope. Winter can be considered a depressing time of year and I like to bring an optimism to my work, viewing the world from a new perspective.

When collecting materials to create my collagraphs I am considering what has worked well previously in my test collagraph and using a combination of those with my coloured papers collected from Chine Colle. I am going to work on A3 paper for my main prints, using an A4 collagraph plate. I would also like to try a small-scale version - a macro lens of the spider’s web in black ink and one or two colours of tissue paper for the lights as a contrast, representing the harshness of Winter against the glow of the warm lights. My larger collagraph will be a full-scale version, with the landscape around the web. My small-scale version will be A5 with an A6 plate because I want to experiment with the objects and how they behave on different sized plates. I will use cartridge paper for these prints as it worked very well for my previous collagraph prints and held up well to the uneven surfaces of the various materials. For the larger print, I would like to experiment using green and grey ink, two colours seen in nature during Wintertime. 

Reflection:

During this project I have demonstrated technical and visual skills through the preparation and research I have undertaken, gathering inspiration through several different sources and working through my design ideas before going to print. I have experimented with compositions through my sketches and during the printmaking process in order to try to make a more successful print. 

I have presented my work to the best of my ability and have aimed to equip myself with the knowledge needed to undertake this assignment by watching videos, reading blog posts and talking with my tutor. I always try to use a methodical approach when documenting my process on this learning log, going through every stage taken and adding my thoughts and notes along the way.

During this assignment my personal voice has become more deeply known to me and I have endeavoured to present that in my sketchbook work, design process and with the final prints. My research of other abstract printmaker's has helped inform me and inspire my personal voice even further and I have enjoyed learning about these artists work and processes. 

I have experimented a lot on this assignment, trying out lots of different ways of producing my design, I have hit road blocks but tried to overcome them and all of this has been reflected upon and documented on this learning log.

Overall this assignment has been challenging, informative and very experimental. I don't feel I achieved the design I set out to do entirely but I was close to it. The patterns and textures in my final prints are a good step towards my aims and I have learnt what does and does not work when it comes to Collagraphs and Chine Colle' techniques.