The work in Assignment 4 consists of a selection of work from the three projects that made up the coursework for PART 4 Introducing Collatype.
The work has been selected based on specific criteria. The work, along with the selection criteria are listed below in a logical order.
Task 1 (Project 11)
Present two prints of your textured collage test block. You may choose to print it on different types of paper or in different colours. Accompany the prints with a brief description of the materials you have used to create the block.
The first selection should include:
- your two prints of your test collage block
- your brief descriptive statement
To support these prints you will have notes from your learning log.
Two prints of your test collage block
Notes and extracts from sketchbooks related to this exercise are here.
Brief descriptive statement
Collatypes interested me a great deal because they combine relief printing with intaglio printing in a very creative and tangible process.
I carried out the printing at Kew Print Studio and was lucky enough to have the support of the print technician who was able to advise on how to ink the collatype block and experiment with rub-over inking.
I found the test prints very much a learning process. The way the ink was picked up from the collatype blocks was not what I expected and much of the success of the final prints was in how the ink was applied and wiped.
This exercise opened my eyes to the possibilities this medium can offer as well as the unpredictability of the final results.
A list of the materials used in the collatype block and the objectives I set myself can be found here.
Task 2 (Project 12)
Present three versions of your collatype collage block print exploring a representational theme and a variety of collage techniques. You may use a variety of coloured inks and inking processes and papers to print your series. Accompany your prints with your sketches and notes as well as a critical statement about your choice of subject and the way you have translated it into print.
The second selection should include:
- your series of related collatype collage block prints
- your critical statement
Series of related collatype collage block prints
Notes sketches and extracts from sketchbooks related to this exercise are here.
Critical statement
I continued with the commuter theme as the subject for this print. I was interested in working as close to the final print as possible and drew the design directly onto the mountboard block.
Using some of the textures and experiences learned from the test prints I created the collage block. This was a relatively quick process and I liked the very tactile way of working using a scalpel, glue, grit, texture wallpapers and different gauges of netting.
The printing was done on the large press in Kew Studio. I created five different versions of the print in an 8-hour booking. During that time I was able to experiment with single colour and multi colour inking.
As with the test prints, the results varied considerably with a certain level of unpredictability.
It was very interesting to me that when I presented a couple of the prints from this exercise to the Thames Valley Study Group, they preferred them to some of the relief prints. This was the opposite of what I was expecting. They particularly like the use of colour and texture in the prints.
This has made me re-evaluate the ideas and techniques I was planning to use in PART 5.
Reflection
Personal assessment
The following assessment is my judgement of how I’ve performed against the Printmaking 1 Assessment Criteria including observations and areas for improvement
| Printmaking 1 Assessment Criteria | My assessment |
| Demonstration of Technical and Visual Skills – materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills | Collatype collage block prints was experimental and very much a suck-it-and-see experience.
I used the press and facilities at Kew Print Studio to make the prints and I felt that I was still very much in a learning mode for both exercises. |
| Quality of Outcome – content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts,communication of ideas | I continue to use my Learning Log to record the thinking, development and processes leading to a final outcome for each exercise.
I am careful to present each exercise as a logical progression and I’ve tried to make the content accessible and clear. |
| Demonstration of Creativity – imagination, experimentation, invention, development of a personal voice | It feels to me that the work I’ve developed in PART 4 is somewhat of a development of the drawing style developed during PART 3, although I don’t think I’ve yet got a firm grip of the collatype process so I’m not sure how much of this made it through to the final prints. |
| Context – reflection, research, critical thinking (learning log) | I continue to reflect on the successes and challenges of each exercise.
After a positive experience sharing my work at the Thames Valley Study Group I’ve made a enquiry to OCA to find out how to set-up a study group in or around my current location. It would be great to get tutor input from either the Visual Communications or Fine Art disciplines. |
Illustration 