Sense of sound Collagraph

The morning was amazing, the singing bowls set the tone quite literally for the packed studio session ahead. The smooth and efficient methods of Bob's masterful mind that we learned yesterday were put to use again today as we rubbed, rolled, wiped, placed, pulled and lifted image after image totally over 45 prints, a good days work out. Bob says the answer is in the studio... so more collaborations today and color, color and more color. I learned that my intrinsic palette is surely being pumped through my veins as it comes out even with severe limitations. I was extremely frustrated this afternoon by the process which requires me to give up total control. I see what a control freak I am( who me?!) As a painter I wanted to spend alot of time on "painting" the plate but needed to work in a timely fashion since others were waiting. I was trying to force the work instead of letting it go where it wanted to go. In the end I stayed late and pulled two more print quite quickly I might add and am now a happy camper, or rather printer.

collaboration print

Aluminum foil made an ascetically pleasing print on its own but in collaboration, it almost completely overpowered the form underneath. Voiding the effect in a collaboration defeats the purpose. In future collaborations, aluminum foil would not be an option. However, the foil on its own made for many different forms and ridges for ink to adhere to. Experimentation with foil on botanical subjects would be an avenue to pursue in botanical art. The plant could perhaps be flattened onto the foil, then printed. Whether or not, this could become a possible future exploration for my classes deserves some investigation.

Bob has really helped me to open up creatively; instead of being so concerned about realistic representation or even composition, he has given me the freedom to let my art make itself. He continues to recommend the process of using the work itself as a work surface, which in turn creates marks and literally the art is forming as a result of me working on it. It is fabulous! I can't wait to get back into my classroom and foster an environment of free creation and no fear of failure. Yes, there are certainly some answers that are better than others, and this class has not been a cake walk by any means. Each work was labor intensive and full of decisions, but they were quick, from-the-gut decisions.