Golden Sunset
11×14 inches
Monotype collage on cradled panel
©2018 Lucinda Howe
Last week I wrote about the pros and cons of doing a residency at home. This week I’ll tell you more about the work I did in my at-home residency.
My project was a continuation of experimentation I started at Wildacres in 2016. At that time, I was new to monoprinting using a Gelli Plate and spent much of my studio time learning the process… what kinds of paper to use, what kinds of paint, how much paint, how to incorporate stencils and masks. For subject matter, I was inspired by the mountains around my cabin, the owner’s garden, and the stone walls around the property. Links to posts about the Wildacres residency are at the bottom of this post.
For my project in October 2018, I wanted to expand my knowledge of monoprinting and to combine the prints into a composition. I focused on autumn leaves from the trees in my garden combined with grid or stone wall shapes to evoke the structure of a garden.
I was interested in using stencils and masks in my work but wanted to use my drawings and not commercial stencils to maintain a handmade look. In the past, I’ve cut stencils with an Exacto knife or a heat tool. Those methods work, but they are slow and tedious to achieve any level of detail. I got interested in a cutting machine and bought a Brother ScanNCut. It’s similar to a Cricut but has a scanner built in. I learned how to use it and made several stencils of stone wall patterns and grids. I also found that in printing leaves, I could use real leaves for printing if they would lie flat on the Gelli plate. Leaves with prominent veins or three-dimensional shapes didn’t work, but I could draw the shape and cut a stencil.
I made a big pile of prints in colors inspired by the autumn garden. The process allowed me to build a harmonious color scheme without being tied to the actual color of the object. I assembled collages of the work using grid patterns or parallel structures to suggest the hardscape that defines a garden. I mounted some of the collages on cradled panels and finished the edges to be ready for display without a frame.
A few monoprints selected from a big pile
Autumnal Twilight
11×14 inches
Monotype collage on cradled panel
©2018 Lucinda Howe
Here are links to posts about my residency at Wildacres…
Wildacres Walls http://lucindahowe.com/2016/07/wildacres-walls/
Laurel Fantasy http://lucindahowe.com/2016/07/laurel-fantasy/
Blue Hosta Love http://lucindahowe.com/2016/08/blue-hosta-love/