Imagery
I
found it difficult to think of original imagery to use in my prints, I was very
keen to find something different and unique, I really could have continued to
deliberate over this for the rest of the term, however in order to physically
make a start I pushed myself to choose a subject. A trip
to Manchester University Museum gave
me the inspiration I needed.
As
a starting point for the minor project I am looking at the complex structure of
insects as there is potential for interesting shapes and detailed texture to
carve. I feel more involved with
technical considerations at this stage in the project. I intend to expand on and experiment with the
types of imagery I use during the major project and be more selective with my
choice of subject, as it has been pointed out to me that insects on a wall are
not to everyone’s taste, however I was hoping not to make conventional
wallpaper, so for now I am happy with the imagery.
I
have carved a set of three individual insects which I can use to form a number
of different print designs. I have
experimented with some different layouts on strips of wallpaper. I think they are more effective when they are
crowded together rather than in isolation.
I am pleased with how my carving technique is improving.
Following
on from this week I feel that I am up for the challenge of carving a larger repeat
pattern. I have decided to design a
collage of insects overlapping and interlocking, the individual insects won’t
stand out as clearly so it will appear more like a mass of detailed pattern
with balanced areas of dark and light.
Marthe
Armitage
I
have found it quite difficult to find other people working in a similar way, although
this gives me confidence that what I am doing is somewhat unusual and inspires
me to pursue it. One of my main
inspirations is Marthe Armitage who block prints wallpaper using her hand cut
lino blocks. I first came across her
work on the ‘Fabric of Britain’ series on wallpaper on the BBC. She looked very involved in her work and she
had obviously found something that she really enjoyed doing, which she had also
made into a successful business.
Her
large lino cuts are mostly 21 inches, covering the width of the wallpaper; this
is something I could possibly aim to do in the future. There are a lot of
technical aspects I need to consider, but I enjoy that kind of challenge and
want to take time to find the most effective way of printing with wood. At this point I do not know exactly what type
of printing machine I will need. I
admire Armitage’s determination to work for herself and see the process through
from beginning to end. I aspire to have
a similar outlook and really try to make a success of working for myself in the
future.
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http://www.house.highroadhouse.co.uk
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| Wallpaper printed by Marthe Armitage House and Garden, November 2013 |
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