Printmaking 101

I made my first prints today!

I decided a month ago to take an art class at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD). My fab friend Chad and I both signed up for a class ... him: contemporary furniture design, me: printmaking. (I was inspired by a print I bought in Greece last summer of some caves in the Ionian islands).

I will post photos of some of my favorites later but for the time-being:

First print: Moroccan Mosque doorway. I found that using sandpaper on my collography plate didn't work as well as I had hoped. I believe next time I will use Gesso & sand mixed together for heavier texture. I had also hoped to use this print as a gift to some of my friends celebrating Eid Al Fitr tomorrow, but alas, I will not have them ready in time.

Second print: Tuscany-esque scene using willow leaves. I also used the recycled tissue packing paper from a crate and barrel box to create a natural hill effect which carried over quite nicely to the print. For the ink, I mixed together gold, copper, green, ochre ... and indian red. It mixed to a very deep natural greenish gold which looks nice. Next time I will use less ink.

that's all for now, my first blog ever.