Block Printing on top

Kris Chatterson

Block Printing On Top

Two Layers of Visual Information

Top Layer is a Block Print

Minimum 5 Final Prints

Contrast between colors

Things to ask yourself:

Did I use contrasting colors to make the two layers of information discernible?
Is one layer dominate or are they fighting for visual tension?
Did I do something beyond the minimum requirements?
Did I make different choices on my under layer?

Use a Linoleum Block to Carve a Single Color Print

Design, carve, and print one test print of your linoleum block.

Carve one Linoleum Block

Your block print should use up half of the space

YOUR BLOCK PRINT SHOULD:

USE ABOUT HALF OF THE SPACE

HAVE LOTS OF NEGATIVE SPACE WINDOWS TO SEE THE LAYER OF INFORMATION THAT WILL GO UNDERNEATH

HAVE ENOUGH VISUAL INFORMATION AND DETAIL TO MAKE THE COMPOSITION INTERESTING

Watercolor Underprints

CREATE 4+ WATERCOLOR BACKGROUNDS FOR YOUR BLOCK PRINT

THE ABSTRACT COLOR SWATCHES UNDERNEATH ADD VISUAL INTEREST WITHOUT FIGHTING WITH THE TOP LAYER

SOME OF THESE HAVE TOO MUCH SPACE FILLED IN. SOME ARE TOO DARK.

THE WATERCOLOR LAYER SHOULD:

CONTRAST WITH THE BLOCK PRINT COLOR

EITHER BE SUBORDINATE OR DOMINATE, BUT NOT FIGHT FOR VISUAL DOMINANCE WITH THE BLOCK PRINT LAYER

CONSIDER HOW THE TWO LAYERS WILL INTERACT
- LEAVE SOME NEGATIVE SPACE SO THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF WHITE
- YOUR BACKGROUND CAN BE ABSTRACT
- THE COLORS USED CAN BE ARBITRARY - THEY DO NOT NEED TO CORRESPOND WITH OBJECTS OR PLACES IN THE WORLD

Screenprinting Underlayer

Use the screen as a monoprint surface and create 4+ backgrounds for your block print. You can create a stencil or apply ink sparingly in different areas of the screen to control color, flow, direction, etc.

THE SCREENPRINT LAYER SHOULD:

CONTRAST WITH THE BLOCK PRINT
- DON'T USE THE SAME COLORS IN BOTH LAYERS
BE MULTI-COLORED
- YOU CAN PRINT EACH COLOR SEPARATELY FOR MORE CONTROL, OR USE MULTIPLE COLORS ON YOUR SCREEN AT ONCE WITH LESS CONTROL OF THE OUTCOME
LEAVE SOME WHITE SPACE
- EITHER DON'T PRINT THE ENTIRE AREA OR USE STENCILS TO FORCE WHITE SPACES INTO THE PRINT
- CONSIDER RANDOMLY DROPPING SMALLER PIECES OF FREEZER PAPER