Light Reveals
Block print 22.9 cm x 15.2 cm October 2015 Based on the theme of obsession, I thought about light and how we constantly use it in our daily lives. I decided to use this because darkness is something that is quite frightening. In pure darkness, you can't see anything and you're not sure if anything is happening. With light, it shows all that is there to see. I received inspiration from “Campbell’s Soup Cans” by Andy Warhol because it showed repetition, which I see as a type of obsession. In my print, I created obsession with repetition and light. |
Process
Inspiration
When this project was assigned, we were given the theme of obsession. When I was told of obsession, I thought of insanity even though it's a bit distant. And my definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. From there, I though of Andy Warhol and his soup cans. In "Campbell's Soup Cans," Warhol created 32 cans of soup cans. They are the same except for that fact that each can shows a different flavor. I thought about this because he did it over and over again using a silkscreen print process, and even though he knew what he was going to expect. He repeated the process 32 times and this shows obsession to me. So from there I did something similar, but with 4 sections. 32 would be too much for me and show up very small on the print.
When this project was assigned, we were given the theme of obsession. When I was told of obsession, I thought of insanity even though it's a bit distant. And my definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. From there, I though of Andy Warhol and his soup cans. In "Campbell's Soup Cans," Warhol created 32 cans of soup cans. They are the same except for that fact that each can shows a different flavor. I thought about this because he did it over and over again using a silkscreen print process, and even though he knew what he was going to expect. He repeated the process 32 times and this shows obsession to me. So from there I did something similar, but with 4 sections. 32 would be too much for me and show up very small on the print.
Campbell's Soup Cans by Andy Warhol
From there I created sketches. While creating my sketches I didn't keep the theme of repetition in mind. I thought about other types of obsession and one of my sketches actually shows what obsession can do to you. The eye that I drew has dark bags and, if it was in color, a sclera with a reddish hue to show that obsessing over something can cause fatigue. The sketch I decided to go with was my last sketch. The sketch has four section, and each have one of two parts. The top left and bottom right show just a light bulb which is not on. The top right and bottom left show a light bulb turned on revealing a little creature at the bottom. The light symbolizes the all- seeing eye because it shows what there is to see. When the light is off, nothing is shown, but when it's turned on, you can see the monster that lurks.
|
My various sketches
|
|
Using the graphite transfer method, I transferred my sketch onto a piece of linoleum. To carve into the linoleum, I placed it on a wood block, that kept it in place so it wouldn't move, and used various sizes of cutters. I used the larger rounded cutter for the lines that were on the outside, and the small one for the light bulb and monster. It was difficult carving a straight line, so I used a ruler to help me.
Once I had my carving done, I had to print it. Using a roller, with ink, I rolled the ink onto the carving and placed it on a piece of drawing paper. With the linoleum faced down, I used a baren to transfer the print. I had to use lots of force all over the back to show the print on the other side. After many, many print, I got my final print. The ones before had many problems. Some being that not all the ink was transferred or some ink got into the carved lines. It was extremely difficult for me and I'm not sure why. All my lines were carved deep, I used the right amount of ink, and used lots of force while printing. Below are two out examples of unwanted prints. |
Reflection
Block print was a new type of project for me and it was interesting. The carving taught me how to be precise and use the right amount of pressure so I could carve deep enough, but not so deep that it goes all the way through. It was also the first time using ink and it can get very messy. My lines are uneven, but I tried my best to make them seen as straight and even as possible without making them bigger and bigger, My print was okay, but it could of been done better. There are still some parts around the edges that are faded and show white space. Next time, I would probably choose a print with more carving because I feel that I wouldn't have as much trouble.
Block print was a new type of project for me and it was interesting. The carving taught me how to be precise and use the right amount of pressure so I could carve deep enough, but not so deep that it goes all the way through. It was also the first time using ink and it can get very messy. My lines are uneven, but I tried my best to make them seen as straight and even as possible without making them bigger and bigger, My print was okay, but it could of been done better. There are still some parts around the edges that are faded and show white space. Next time, I would probably choose a print with more carving because I feel that I wouldn't have as much trouble.
Cambell's Soup Cans
- "MoMA Learning." MoMA. Web. 13 Dec. 2015. <http://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/andy-warhol-campbells-soup-cans-1962>.