Project: Fighting Entropy

In my last post I described and demonstrated multi-plate etching: layering plates to create complex outcomes. This post relates to building monoprinted imagery which combines with these etched plates.

**Entropy is described by www.dictionary.com as (noun, definition 4): a state of disorder, or a tendency toward such a state; chaos.

So, as my artwork is entitled Fighting Entropy my goal is for an organised, structured, exacting piece, with a sense of order and planning. I designed 4 simple stencils with this in mind.

Using the circles design as a template I also created an engraving on drypoint plastic.

My trials roughly follow the colour wheel starting from yellow and working through orange, red, purple, blue, green and returning to yellow. A large piece of 1.5mm perspex provides the matrix where I roll ink before applying the stencils and masks, where necessary, before running through the etching press.

As these prints are to be affixed to a carrier sheet they have been produced on either wet-strength tissue or 40gsm calligraphy paper. They can get quite creased during the process but can be ironed once the ink has fully dried. Photos shown here are prior to ironing and provide my own personal record of which prints may be used, which discarded, what order they might appear and possible orientation. Many are incomplete and are worked on further but they suffice to give an overview of the process.

Stencils are used both positive and negative, on an angle and overlaid.

The circles stencil has been used in different ways to create multiple effects. On the right combined with the engraved plate.

2 layers of circles in a similar colour scheme, printed on tissue, have been overlaid.

Other colour choices and overlaid blocks.

Masks were also created using simple strips of paper placed on the inked perspex before placing the print paper over the surface and running through the press.

In all, around 120 prints were pulled for this stage. They were laid out in colour order, some immediately discarded, some selected as complete and many left to work on further.

The next stage concentrates on combining some of these prints with the etched plates previously shown.