independent project #3

For my third project independent project, I created a swallow block print. I carved the swallow into a rubber block and then I printed multiple prints of it to get a solidly colored print that I could scan later on. The image itself is an outline of a swallow in flight with minimal detail on the bird. I also ended up painting the block white and filled in some gouges on the block with yellow acrylic.

I didn’t use any composition rules in my artwork. The bird is centered in the block and has very minimal detail on the bird itself. There is also nothing else on the block to provide context for the bird. I had originally planned to submit the print of the bird, but I ended up painting and using the block as a relief sculpture type piece. I did this because I didn’t have a good print at the time and the print itself was a little boring as it was just an outline of a bird.

I have always liked the bird of a swallow. I think that the split tail gives the bird a very interesting silhouette. For this reason, I have always wanted to create some design that showcased this unique shape. To improve my artwork I think I would try and pull out the eye of the bird more. There is a slight white suggestion of where the eye would be, but it is not very defined. I think the addition of an eye would make the shape more interesting by breaking up the dark shape that is the head of the bird currently.