Block Print
Inspiration
Planning
Planning consisted of choosing which mickey to draw. I began sketching Minnie mouse as my original idea was to portray the sexualization of young girls. After some sketches and ideas I realized it wouldn't work with the medium I was using. The next idea was the Mickey Mouse figure to represent capitalism along with a gun to show the wide acceptance of guns in the US based on how often they are shown. The ideas and sketches didn't plan out and I felt I was trying to say to much in one piece. I decided to focus on the Mickey Mouse portrait. My final sketches were just trying to decide how Mickey would look. The money signs for eyes didn't come till the final sketch and they turned out to be my favorite part of the piece.
Process
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Experimentation
My experimentation began with single prints to view the quality of my print. I printed around five single prints to get used to the process and get a good idea of how much ink was needed to get a good print. The speedball block print ink I was using was older and had a lower viscosity, which caused my first couple prints to turn out with low amounts of detail and unintended white spaces. Once I started printing multiple prints on the same page it became more difficult to get an even print because I wasn't putting enough pressure on the barren. Another thing that was making the printing process more difficult was I was using a metal barren to be able to apply more pressure. I learned the bamboo barren glides smoother and gives a more detailed print. The last part of my experimentation was switching from regular paper to watercolor paper. The water color paper gave an interesting texture to the prints. It also was easier to print on water color paper as it was harder to overuse the ink, the paper soaked up more ink.
Compare and Contrast
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Reflection
The block print process was fairly simple to learn but difficult to execute. The carving process got easier as I went because I learned techniques along the way. Such as: holding the tool at an angle to create wider lines, and less pressure is better. In the end I was pleased with my final carved plate. The easiest part was the stars put in at the end. Using the techniques I learned earlier in the process I was able to utilize the shape of the tool to easily carve the stars. Printing was far more difficult. Getting one clean print with high detail and contrast was hard, but getting four nice prints on one sheet of paper was extremely difficult. One or two prints would turn out detailed and high contrast and the next would turn out terribly. In the end after switching to the bamboo barren and increasing the viscosity of my ink, the prints came out better. My final piece turned out very well. Doing the project again I would've made the ears line up to make perfect circles and carve out the face more to make it a cleaner print. Otherwise I am pleased with the high contrast and simple detail.
ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Andy Warhol inspired the aesthetic and repetition in my work with the repetition of simple imagery. Warhol also inspired the mass media consumer based meaning behind my work.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
People in the United States especially have become inherently consumer based. They will buy into any big name company without knowing what that company does.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I was looking for artists with simple high contrast techniques and imagery in their work.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Andy Warhol inspired the aesthetic and repetition in my work with the repetition of simple imagery. Warhol also inspired the mass media consumer based meaning behind my work.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
People in the United States especially have become inherently consumer based. They will buy into any big name company without knowing what that company does.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I was looking for artists with simple high contrast techniques and imagery in their work.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?