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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sculpture by the sea for 2010

"Sculpture by the Sea" has just finished for another year in Sydney but we did manage to get down to Bondi on Thursday evening after it had been raining over the last weekend.  You have to walk along the headland from Tamarama Beach to Bondi to see all the sculptures which is great, but not so much in driving rain!
The light was fading a bit so the photos are not as good as they could have been but here are some of my favourites.



The shark fin is made out of car doors


Detail showing the eggs inside
"chicken chainmail"













The glass pieces reminded me of Jane's hanging

This would have been lovely to see in different lights.
detail of above

This was the only fibre-based exhibit this year







Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Printmaking

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try my hand at print making with a real print roller.  My daughter has been having a course of printmaking lessons at weekends to help her HSC studies from Andy Totman of the National Art School, at the Newington Armoury studios, Sydney Olympic Park.  She couldn't attend one of the days so I went in her place.

We were introduced to photo polymer (solar) plates which I'd never used before.  The plates have a surface which is activated by sunlight and so by placing an black and white acetate image on top and leaving in the sun, an etching is produced from which prints can be made.  It's a bit like cyanotyping where the treated fabric exposed to the sun turns blue but not where the fabric is covered.


I chose a photographic image of a neighbour's tree I frequently use in my sketchbook.  Once exposed for 2-3 minutes the plate is immersed in water and gently the excess polymer coating is rubbed away to reveal the image.
The plate was inked up with oil based printing ink and a print produced under the roller press.


I was amazed by the detail produced particularly when so little ink is used. I printed a couple more - one over a newsprint and one with a second inking in red on top.




By overlapping the acetate images on the plate then exposing to the sun, you can get multiple images on the one print.  I mixed some Shakespeare with Stonehenge.

We also did some monoprinting, using some torn muslin and threads as resist.


I personally prefer the second print from the plate which is a little more subtle and shows more textural detail.