James Whistler and Printing
Yellow Daffodils
In the gallery...This was a different session for many reasons. I think the group surprised me (in a good way) during the gallery conversation. For the past couple sessions I've been trying to introduce everyone to a method of conversation where everyone participates by breaking off into smaller groups for discussion before rejoining the larger group. The method has been well received and my greater goal for this group is for the participants to develop relationships or friendships with each other. I began our gallery conversation by quickly introducing the exhibit and artist James McNeill Whistler. Since it was a works on paper gallery and each artwork was a small print I first focused on the printmaking technique. I asked the group how they thought the artwork was made and if anyone has heard of the |
the technique dry point or etching. To my surprise no one knew what printmaking was other than something that goes through a press. I brought with me two copper plates (an etching and drypoint) that I made during my undergrad. I passed around the two plates and encouraged everyone to touch the lines and talk with one another about how they imagined the lines were carved into the plate. After I explained to everyone the drypoint and etching process.
We were a larger group this session so I couldn't ask everyone to leave their chairs and stand in front of one piece of artwork. So instead, I printed out a picture of the prints shown on the walls for everyone to see. The minute I passed out the print people began having individual conversations about the artwork with the people around them. I tried to ask the whole group what they were thinking about the artwork but no one would listen... It was amazing! Usually I have to give guided instruction about how to look at the artwork and what questions to ask each other. I was so happy that everyone wanted to have personal conversations that analyzed the artwork all by themselves. It was a wonderful time for the participants to get to know one another better and socialize.
When everyone was done talking about the artwork I helped the group move into one large conversation and talked about Whistler's butterfly signature. I passed out pictures of his signature and asked everyone what they thought. I then read to them a poem written by Whistler's mother, Anna, titled The Butterfly. The last topic we covered before transitioning into the studios was the images Whistler chose to portray in his artwork. The group came to the conclusion that Whistler likes to illustrate everyday scenes. I asked the group, "If Whistler was alive and making artwork based |
on everyday scenes of today, what do you imagine he would create?" The participants answered, "road construction!" "Tulsa!" "Trees and plants!" "People walking or driving cars!" "Daffodils!" (every spring Tulsa is covered in yellow daffodils) "Tall buildings!" "People with cellphones!" "Highways!" ...
In the studio...
During our gallery time we looked at two different methods of printmaking. So to continue that conversation I wanted to create artwork that involved a similar printmaking process, however without scratching a scriber into a copper plate and waiting around for a couple hours after submersing the plate in a bath of acid... Instead we created additive mono prints.
Mono prints...
| 5. After, take newsprint paper and pile them on top of each other creating a blotting station. Take the paper you soaked in the water tub and blot it inside the newsprint papers by pressing and rubbing the top. Make sure your paper is damp but has no wet beads on the surface. 6. Place your damp paper on top of your plexi with your painted image and press on the back of the paper |
covering all edges. (The reason we wet our paper is because the ink will dry on your sheet before it's time to print. The water moistens the ink allowing it to be lifted off the sheet and onto the paper.)
7. Carefully lift the paper off your image and admire your beautiful print!
7. Carefully lift the paper off your image and admire your beautiful print!
In the past I had tried to focus our art activity on group work and individual creativity. However, for this session I decided focus the art activity on experimentation with new art materials. Going through the printmaking process step by step I demonstrated how to create a mono print. That morning I picked daffodils from my garden for the participants to look at and touch in case they did not want to trace an image laid out on the table. I tried to encourage everyone to make their print their own by adding a unique background or different colors to flower petals. However, only I a handful of people responded to the suggestion. Everyone was fascinated by the print process. |
When the image was ready to be printed participants crossed their fingers and held their breathe hoping the image would come out alright. When the image came out beautifully they cheered and when it came out fuzzy or half of the flower was left on the plexi, they were encouraging and tried to imagine what the fuzzy or half printed image could be other than a flower.
I did not hear people talk about personal experiences or see them converse about what the artwork in the galleries or art making reminded them of, however what I did see was a day full of new friendships blooming. Participants were laughing with one another and encouraging each other in the studios. In the galleries they were having very interesting conversations about the artwork filled with questions like, "I wonder why he's wearing a top hat... What do you think that woman is thinking?" At the end of the day I had some participants come up to me and say that this was their favorite Art Focus yet and that they were so satisfied with their conversations and artwork made. Overall I learned a lot from this session and I'm thrilled that everyone seemed to really enjoy the company of others.