Rustnstuff: 03/20

Sunday, March 29, 2020

"so is hope"

There have been many steps in the creation of this poster - much waiting for ink to dry and for paper to flatten; but today we got to print the words - "fear is real ... so is hope".

This poster was created to reflect what a lot of us feel at the moment - fear; and yet we need to balance that deep and at times dark fear with the bright light and promise of hope. It also reflects words or encouragement stencilled on a crumbling distressed urban wall.

Yesterday, with Fiona's help, I chose and set the type for the words. We chose letters from the wood type draws we refer to as our random and orphan letters - not a full set of any font. We chose to use these because we wanted the words "fear is real" to be like a ransom note - sister overtones. We chose to use the large Italian type for the word "hope" so that it would dominate and be strong.

The typewas set on the bed of the larger proofing press and the letters were held in place with strong magnets. It was left yesterday because there was not the time to print.

Today I printed - whilst I say I it really is about we. I chose the colours; but when printing an A3 poster with lots of ink and pressure it does require a couple of sets of hands. After a few proofing runs we were ready to print.

I was hoping for three quality prints on the five collagraphs I had printed; and in the end we got 4 really good prints and one good one - not bad given I was using large type and the fact that the Italian type is higher than the other wood type.

The posters will now dry for a few more days before being put under weights again. The will be marked with the Deckled Edge Press chop and editions as these posters will be for sale. Though I suspect a couple of the proofs will be gifted.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Hold fast to hope

I have been in the letterpress studio. as you can see. I used time to sort and number some collagraph prints from an early series called Urban Elements. I hope to get these mounted and maybe framed in the future.

Having got that task sorted and because the background collagraph prints to my A3 poster were not dry I decided to print a post card. Given the current times I thought a message of hope was appropriate to send out into the ether. Hope is so important at the moment. And whilst it is not a strategy without it what does the future look like.

I printed 20 in all - two were really just proofs. A few process photos follow.

There are 18 to send.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Colour and clear droplets in challenging times

I got my morning walk in today; though I did get rained upon. I knew it was a bit suspect when looking over the valley it was grey and full of cloud.

Still there is much beauty to behold. My eye was of course drawn to droplets.

But also the beauty of blossoms.

And how about the rich growth in the autumn veggie garden.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Collagraph backgrounds

©2020 Barry Smith - Collagraph background - bit industrial and a bit like a weathered wall - not sure if I will run it horizontal or vertical - the plan was vertical with the structured section at the bottom.

On Saturday I tried my hand at printing the collagraph board I had started on Friday. I intend to overprint the backgrounds with fairly large wood type. This is the first time I have done an A3 collagraph. I wasn't even sure how I would apply the printing ink to the plate given the size. In the past the biggest collagraph I had printed was smaller than A4. Still it is all about learning.

A few of the process shorts follow.

Once dry I will put the prints under weights for a week or so before doing the letterpress on them. I'm hoping for an edition of 5. I really should have used a heavier paper; but given it was my first go at an A3 collagraph print I thought I'd just use a lighter weight.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Inspiration and the beginning of execution

I have decided to do a series of A3 posters that, in general terms, reflect messages posted or grafitti on walls. I want to do letterpress over collagraph prints that are based on worn urban walls. The inspiration for this came from collagraphs that I did a few years ago that I referred to as an industrial-urban series. The opening photo is of some of those earlier prints.

The planning started with a cup of coffee and a Tim Tam whilst reading some books on poster prints.

The text of my first poster will focus on hope in dark times.

The collagraph will be based on a photo I took in 2013 with my iPhone.

A few of the process photos follow.

There is still a long way to go with this; but we will see how it progresses and then prints.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Bookending the day with valley views

It was a beautiful cool morning to walk this morning; but one truly knows that it autumn - even with a hint of winter.

The light has changed - I think we will soon get amazing pink and apricot colours in the valley at dawn - the photo below shows the promise of that.