The works below started with sheets of printmaking paper that I soaked in ink wash. I then ran them through a printing press where I linoleum printed my “stage.” Then painted with an airbrush and finished with inked illustrations.
Keep scrolling down for more details about my technique and conceptual thought process.
Also: Check out these Square Collages!
I gave myself permission to draw on my prints.
I was trained as a printmaker but some aspects of it’s practice never really “took”. The main thing was that imagery came out of me too fast to be able to commit to one thing. In other words, what am I going to make a plate about? I always have been interested in using plates more than once, but to make new images each time. Today, I use traditional printmaking techniques like etching, relief and monoprinting, along with loose ink-wash, drawing and painting to compose my work.
These works are freeing for me. I don’t follow traditional printmaking guidelines where every print from the set is exactly the same. Instead I use printmaking to create my “stage” and other methods to flesh out the finished work. My philosophy is to use the print as a point of departure – something to work within and fight against. When I’m cutting a new block I’m thinking about what will be fun to draw on / over later.
I think about my point of view when making these. What does it mean to look out of my eyes? How is it different to look out of your eyes?
There are alot more of these. In fact I showed this work at Clackamas Community College’s Alexander Art Gallery, 39 of these drawings hanging from a wire, laundry line style…
I also did these square collages…https://www.donolsen.com/projects-2/drawings/square-collages/