LITHO PROJECTS - SPRING 2000
General
All prints to be at least 15 x 22 inches (half sheet).
Black and white only.
Suggested papers: BFK Rives, Arches Cover, Strathmore 2 or 4 ply Bristol, Basingwerk
Heavy.
1. Marks-Points, Lines and Otherwise
Having seen the obsessive mark making of artists such as Dubuffet, make an abstract
composition exploring mark making. Use Tusche only, prepared as in the class
demo. Apply the tusche by brush, offset(stamping) or stippling.
Consider the rhythmic and textural quality of these design elements to create a visually compelling image without identifiable objects.
References:
Kandinsky, Wassily. Point and Line to Plane. New York: Dover. 1979.
Klee, Paul. Pedagogical Sketchbook . New York: Praeger, 1953.
Dubuffet
2. Light
As we saw in the examples shown, the use of black and white in the print
can create startling contrasts evoking light, either realistically or symbolically.
Limiting yourself to litho crayon and pencil, make a print in which light plays
a central role. Explore the range of values possible through this medium.
Objective: to show the transformative nature of the medium
References:
Odilon Redon
3. Poster
Having viewed prints by artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, and Posada,
we see how the poster has had an important role in the history of printmaking
particualarly with the lithographic. For this assignment, make a poster on a
subject of your choice. Use any of the techniques we have learned so far in
the class.
Objective: to create an artistic poster, that is, a work which simultaneously communicates the message of the poster and has an aesthetic impact.
References:
Henri Toulouse-Lautrec
4. Final Project: Edition
Definitions of the prints emphasize the reproducibility of the medium. The edition
(a series of identical prints) is usually considered the technical objective
of the printmaker. For your final project you may choose any subject and use
any technique (alone or in combination) , however, your aim is to make an edition
of five prints. These prints are to be as identical as possible. They are to
be "presentation" quality: no smudges, creases, etc.
You should be prepared to speak about the subject of your print and its relation to your artistic investigation.
One of these prints will be handed in to keep by the professor.
Objective: to master the process of editioning.