As I look over my blog to date, I realise I haven’t talked much about my methods of printing.
A technique I like to use is the open screen method where I paint onto the screen and then use a squigee to press the inks through. I often use an aquasheen varnish to facilitate this – and the varnish also gives a slight sheen to the surface – but less so on the Somerset paper that I have soaked in water. Often the image left behind on the screen is one I would like to be able to save too …
When I work with layers of paper, I print and draw onto tissue paper which I then spray with photo mount glue and put the pieces through the roller press to stick them flat together. The layer of tissue slightly dulls down the colours of the inks below – an effect I like and have worked with. Often the crinkles in the tissue show – as it is quite difficult to smooth a large piece flat! Again, I like this effect, it can be like wrinkled fabric.
In Goddess and Church, the female figure has been printed onto tissue paper and stuck over another piece that had been penciled and inked. She emerges from the background and her sheet of tissue has dulled down the pink and red dripping from the cross. The green of her inking has slightly crocodiled – an effect, I have noticed, which happens on tissue when silkscreened.
When I have finished my 90 flower piece, I intend to examine identity and control using some wooden dolls I purchased – like Russian dolls but unpainted. I plan to project images and film/photograph them. At the moment I have the red background and some red splattered cellophane paper over them. This is a project in the making…
I also intend to examine Patriarchy once more with the wooden trusses that inspired me a few months ago. I had been working with them in the Wood Making studio, arduously sawing them down and then using a table to prop them up in the sculpture room. Someone thought it was very interesting how I tried to arrange them – while I had been considering the structure of Patriarchy. She thought it would be interesting to video my decisions. I also think it would be interesting to video both male and females arranging the trusses.
I intend to call this piece The Blind Leading the Blinded, ie male societies dominating the disempowered. The quotation from the Bible is: If the blind shall lead the blind then they both shall fall in the ditch.
The world is certainly in a bit of a ditch as climate change is finally acknowleged and it will be the poorer countries who suffer.
