I sorted out the stencil prints. I want to say I sorted them today for narrative points, but it was a couple of days ago.
I took an A3 sheet of paper, and registered the cut acetate roughly to the center. This didn’t have to be surgical, because the lino layer will play the largest part in how the final print is weighted. I plan to trim them once they’re all finished to get them all to sit right.
For the sake of the editioned print, I went for this gorgeous sunset-looking blend of pink and yellow. These are Antonia’s absolute namesake colours: she reminds me of sunsets and fireworks. When I make some more of these prints – and I will – I’ll be able to use whatever colours I want, and create some cool designs.
I took seven white prints, and two on black with the intention of printing a white layer on top for fun. The two extra prints are my error margin – or, with good luck, I will simply be able to choose the best five of the bunch to submit as my edition.
Critique, I hear you ask?
Really pleased with how these layers came out. It took bloody ages sitting there, getting the paint to distribute evenly and smoothly, while still lightly enough that it didn’t blot under the acetate edges. This ended up looking like building a couple of lighter layers up to get that real depth of vibrant colour. The best moment was going on with a tad of pure yellow on the tips right at the end once the rest was mostly dry, and watching the gradient come to life.
Honestly, with the care I took over this and the practice I’d had before, I have little I’d improve on for this work. I kept my space clean and organised, I used a matrix so all of my sheets were exactly registered, I took the time over my work and it paid off.
I had a very vivid daydream while I beat the paper up with a sponge over and over and over – about walking into a small meeting room with Entropy, and sitting across from It to strike a bargain.
You tell It you want to create – say – some clean stencil prints, and go head to head with entropy to try and create this ordered edition. It replies that this is possible, but warns you that this won’t be a fair fight. When you ask what that means, It replies that it will be a bit like a wrestling match, but Entropy will have a metal chair, and this is considered perfectly fine.
You ask It if people will at least understand how much effort goes into taking clean, high-quality prints, and It starts laughing, like, rudely hard.
SEASIDE ILLUSTRATION 