This is another technique that is completely new to me, but opened a variety of possibilities.
Relief printing is when you carve into a printing block that you then use to press onto paper and make a print. The lines or shapes you carve into the printing block will not have ink on them, so will not show up on your paper. Instead, the print will reveal the parts you don’t draw, because they come into contact with the ink. The print will be a mirror image of what you see on your printing block!
On the first session of the workshop we created a linocut and got an induction into the Intaglio technique(dry point, etching and mezzotint), but we also have been given many materials to experiment on. From learning how to use the tools and how to draw with them, with patience (you do need a lot of patience and flow there), to applying ink and transferring onto the paper, we somehow managed to come out with some sketches and designs.
Although it's a very satisfying process, the multiple "layers" to it are a bit exhausting. I'm wondering now if this is just my brain rationalising "the new". Maybe :)
Bellow are a few attempts of my exercise with the linocut, I was really pleased with them on the first try. As usually, my brain speaks in symbols, therefore the sketch represents the feminine power.
On the second session we worked with Intaglio, which was my least favourite, The copper was a pleasant material to draw on, but the end result was a bit disappointing and I wasn't aware that I need to wipe off all the ink from the surface, leaving some just in the scratches. I ended up with some messy prints, I didn't even make photos of them. Not being to harsh on myself, we're all learning and it was nice to try as an experiment.
I can see this technique incorporated in my art collages, printing would make amazing backgrounds for them! So, looking forward to develop my skills here.
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