Litho prints DONE!

This week I have prepared my stone, drawn on my image, etched my image into the stone, proofed it and printed it :) Finally got my 10 prints done this morning so next week I can play around with the remaining prints. It was quite tough because you can't leave your stone dry, you have to have some one working with you at all times. Like the buddy system! Lithography isn't one of my favourite processes in printmaking but I wouldn't mind doing it again, as long as over 10 other people weren't trying to do it at the same time. It can get crowded in that workshop. Here is one of my proofs and one of my final prints. 

Research

I've finally picked my concept. The structure and form of DNA :) I've been researching it and researching it and researching it. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) forms chains of genetic material organised into chromosomes. So basically it holds the genetic instructions used in the developing and functioning of human beings. DNA is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life, or so I've read. I've gathered some images of strands of DNA to be inspired by and to work from. 

Lithography

Lithography. Don't really know how to explain it to be honest? I've never done it before and it's is a very long process. We're just after a 2-3 day workshop which with other printmaking processes would only take up the morning. It's tough to take it all in I need to keep referring back to my notes to figure out what's happening next. So next week we have to prepare our stones and draw on our images. All I have to do is decide on a final composition, since it's not something you can rub out or change last minute. I was going to try and describe how to litho print but it's too long to try and explain especially since I don't fully understand it myself. :/ So let's get back to the sketchbook.

Brainstorming Session

Right. So I have a few ideas. Obviously the first thing that came to my head was architecture, but I wanted to go a bit deeper than that! I've been researching algebraic structures, crystal structures and more. I'm thinking about the body and it's different kind of structures like muscles, bones, skin, organs.. and the millions of other things within the body also. Deeper again I'm thinking about human cells and the different components that make up the cell like the cell wall, chromosomes, the nucleus, ribosome's and the rest. I'm also looking at the structure of DNA. How it's formed, how it functions and how it replicates. It's really fascinating to be honest going into so much detail about it. Now to pick ONE!

Second Year is finally here :D

So I made it into second year. Yay me :D The class met our new tutor Sejan Sahin. Never had him before but he definitely knows his stuff after studying all over the world nearly. Our class has been divided into two with two separate projects for the next couple of months. I got project #2 which is titled 'Spaces, Structures and Systems', and of course the most striking thing about that to me is structures. So it's time to brainstorm :)