During this weeks session we were split into groups of three and did an open question exercise to figure out a problem or question we had about our work. During the 6 minutes we had to write down the problem I wrote so many that by the time I had to tell the others what my problem was I didn't quite know where to start! I'd written:
Using new printmaking techniques - are they working?
Not sure how my visualisation of my end piece is going - I seem a bit stuck
Hand stitch or machine stitch?
Worried it's all going to look like a mish-mash
Not sure how to get started actually 'making' my piece for the interim exhibition
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities and not having enough time
Previously made editions and I'm now trying to do something completely different - AAAH!
Need to figure out exactly what I'm trying to communicate with the interim piece
What came out the of discussion was simple but brilliant!
To get started on the visualisation use photocopies as test pieces - WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS???!!
What would it look like if it was unfinished? BRILLIANT!
I've now photocopied some of the prints and used them on several test pieces so I'm starting to get a much clearer idea of what it may look like and what I like and dislike. The idea of not panicking if it's unfinished is also fantastic - I'd been visualising having all the paper being the main thing with just a bit of hidden support behind it, but actually what about making the support (scrim) more visible. Maybe it doesn't matter if there are gaps? Maybe I just make as much as I can and do it well and leave some of it empty. The more I think about that the more it actually echoes the forest - the cleared out parts that have been recently harvested, they're bare!
I've tested out some ideas and popped them onto scrim:
I much prefer the hand stitching to the machine stitching, but it takes much, much longer. I want more layers so have printed onto tissue as well as thicker paper to allow this.
Here is a small section hung from a slanted ceiling and then against glass so the hanging effect can be seen.
The rough edge of the scrim will need hemming very subtly, just to make it match. I may need a long dowel or something along the top to make it hang straight. I think I need to make the patchworks as pieces in their own right and then attach everything, after laying it all out.
I've also now got a wealth of new inspiration to look at thanks to the chatting exercise. I think giving my group such a practical problem has meant I have a wealth of solutions and ideas that they've generated. I wish I could be so helpful to them!