Printmaking

This art project was by far the most tedious; encompassing many, many steps.  It was the most time consuming as well. We were first to create a design for our prints.  I came up with the idea of a man blowing a conch shell....a latte stone and a replica of Nan Madol, Pohnpei in the background.  These represent both Saipan and Pohnpei, the two places I come from.  I then took my mental design and transferred it onto tracing paper.  I continued to work on the design until I was happy with the outcome.  (I still feel, however, that I could've done better :/ ) After the design was complete, we used carbon paper to transfer the design onto the linoleum block using a pen to trace and carbon paper to solidify the transfer.  The next step includes carving out the "white" areas of the design to ensure that the "black" parts are printed onto paper accurately.  It was a bit of a confusing concept to grasp, but once I began to carve with the tools, I began to understand more and more.  I, at first, hated the carving/cutting part of the project because I had a few scabs in the beginning.  But, it became easier and easier with every stroke.  After the cutting was done, I used black ink to roll on the block with a brayer (spelling?).  There was a certain technique we had to learn for the rolling on of the ink. We had to use a flat surface to get an even coat of ink on the brayer and thus onto the block.  We had to roll up and down in different directions until we heard what sounds like velcro.  The ink is now ready to be transferred onto the block.  It took about three prints and three times going back to the block to cut out and fix things that had printed that shouldn't be there.  It then took another 10+ tries to get five (somewhat) exact prints.  Again, this was a very tedious assignment.  It gives me a better understanding and appreciation for the printmakers of our past and just how much work they had to endure to spread knowledge and art all over the globe.  :)