These screenprints were an exercise in “creative use of materials” – a big step for such a traditionalist. The point was to try and break free from the standard idea of printing only on paper.
The image is from forth-coming comic book, Modern Times (book II), showing the transformation of the seemingly-nice cookie lady into a wild animal. To make the screen, I drew the image in pencil, scanned it into Photoshop where it was darkened, copied onto various layers and ‘multiplied’. I later photocopied the printout onto clear acetate.
The first print, left, is a straight-forward screenprint using a dark brown ink overlaid with cheap kiddie metallic paint mixed with System 3 acrylic medium. Nothing special there, except for the unexpected sparkly effect.
The next print was on fabric – I tried three different types: t-shirt material (on black, shown below, also on white) and the final one on a crisp flat cotton (my stripey apron!). The object was to investigate whether or not a simple line drawing such as this would reproduce successfully. It was quite successful, I think. The results were good on both the soft and the ‘hard’ cottons. The glitter works especially well on the black fabric. The plain cotton took the ink well, although the stripe pattern renders the image nearly.
The final one was really off-the wall … I decided to try it on a doily. (Or d’oyley, if you’re British. Is that related to D’Oyley-Carte? Sorry, I digress) .
For someone as hide-bound and conservative as myself, this marks a major breakthrough. In fact, it deserves its own round of art-twaddle. Involving the word ‘juxtaposition’. I can’t wait to read this on the wall of Tate Modern.
The juxtaposition of angry imagery on the white lace of a cake-plate paper d’oyley evokes the delicate transitory nature of the balance of societies in turmoil. The rage of the artist is drawn out by the symbolism of the dark animal nature of the subject.
How’s that? Can I have my MA in Fine Art now? (she says modestly).
Seriously, this was not only interesting and informative, it was also fun. Result!
Oh, and speaking of fun. I truly love making ‘flairs’ on Facebook. Here’s the top half of the image as a virtual badge or button. Sadly, the whole thing wouldn’t fit.
(Btw, I’ve made a few of these virtual badges into real ones on Cafepress. Go buy one!)
