extended prints
(These top four were my final prints)
For this project we made four final prints out of a series of steps. Our prints were suppose to be on a political or social problem. I choose to do mine on the 22. The 22 is the title you could say for a very depressing matter, which is every twenty two minutes a veteran commits suicide. i choose this topic to spread awareness of how traumatizing war can be and how little our country gives back to the ones that fought to keep it free. This fact is very saddening to me because I am strongly against suicide because everyone has potential and if they are dead than they are taking away a chance for the world and themselves to see just how wonderful they truly are. Another reason I picked the 22 is, i've always wanted to in the military someday, it's been my life goal, and when i finally get out of the military i want to know that me and my fellow soldiers are all being supported.
Step #1: gelatin prints, we were each given a slab of gelatin in the class and we all cranked out roughly 20 of theses random prints. I sorta liked this part but it was so fast and we were told not to overthink the layouts, and all i do is over think so that was hard for me. i found a cut out that looked like a brain to me so that was kinda the inspiration for the linoleum print. also before we started the gelatin prints i had already desided on doing a veteran issue so that was the inspiration for the colors and flag like layout.
Step #2: transferre finial sketch onto block.
(while doing this whole transferring thing I ended up drawing the brain the wrong way. I wanted it to face the other way so it would line up with the brain shape on my gelatin prints.)
Step #3: linoleum printing block/carving. This part was easy for me because i have done the carving before in past art classes. my only struggle was probably having to use the carving block that kept you from stabbing your hand. It was only a problem because I come from a family that uses knifes and other sharp objects alot, so im very comfortable with the carving tools and feel that I don't need to have the block. But I do understand the school's rules, I will just have to get use to it. I was also very excited to work on carving outside of school because for christmas I got a new carving set that cut much smoother than the schools.
(A simple print with no other extensions)
Step #4: printing, there's not much to say, this part was easy. my only struggle was with to much ink building up in the small lines.
Step #5: extending, I had trouble doing this because I liked my print the way it was and I only wanted to add the words "END THE 22" but my teacher pushed me to challenge myself so I added more. I have mixed feeling on my final project but all in all it was a fun unit.
(Below are some of the other prints I had extended but did not choose as the final four.)
