Sketch for the day #1
I’m going to try to feature a new sketch with a brief description each day. Check back often to see if I manage to keep up with it. Full versions and archives are available in the gallery.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, CO during the summer of 2005. While there I took two week-long courses, one in screenprinting, the other in monoprinting.
The screenprinting course, taught by Brad Shanks of the University of South Florida, explained a number of techniques involving manipulating images in Photoshop, then using them to create multi-layered screen prints. In this way, you can make multicolored and even full color images in virtually unlimited quantity in a relatively short time. The process is fairly straightforward, and materials to get started can be acquired relatively inexpensively.
The monoprinting class, taught by San Francisco-based artist Kathryn Kaine covered quite a few simple methods by which highly unique prints can be generated. Using a printing press, it was possible to permanently affix multiple layers of paper and prints to each other, and various ways to use solvent to transfer the ink from one printed image to another. Most importantly to me, she explained how to treat a regular black-and-white photocopy so that it can be used as a lithographic matrix, meaning you can wet a xerox with water, roll ink onto it and print the xerox image onto another surface.
Additionally, she gave some tips on book-making and I was able to create two accordion-books illustrated with images I had drawn and then printed during the trip.
The Ranch features top-notch art facilities and living areas all situated in a valley surrounded by woods and mountains. Aspen is a short drive away, and the trip allowed for a great deal of exploration and adventure.
Tags: sketch