Part 2: Research Point: Block Printmaking Artists

On the 9th Jan I wrote the following paragraph in my blog post “Tate Modern: Matisse’s Cut Out Exhibition”

“I feel that the reason that Matisse’s cut outs have so much impact is that his wealth of knowledge around effective colour and tonal contrast, as well as his awareness of the conventions of composition, are so well established from his years of painting experience. His subtle hints at the nuances of the human form keep me highly engaged, both in the quality of the outcome as well as the use of the medium, especially given his physical condition at that time in his life.”

I’d like to add the above image the better to illustrate my point. The parallels between his cut outs and the effect a cut piece of lino has on white paper is clear from looking at these “Blue Nudes”. They are also faintly reminiscent of white on blue Wedgewood Jasperware ceramics, Though clearly the figures are less classic in design, the impact of the colour combination reminds me of these pieces.

Moving on,

Caroline Macey

Rock and a Hard Place

I love this work, not only due to its subject matter of the hardship inherent in a life on the periphery of survival. I like it because it attempts to tell a story about the challenges of life lived in a sometimes harsh and uncaring society. The bold contrasting elements in black against bleak white illustrates life’s struggles well. This artist does a lot of her prints in this stark black on white way. Her work is distinctive and often seems apocalyptic in nature. Her figures appear to be animated in a symbolic manner, rather than evocative in a decorative way, such as those in an Angela Harding print, for example. I had trouble showing an example for comparison, though Angela Harding’s website is well worth a visit. Her combined lino cut and silk screen print “Salt Path” is a wonderful example of this, having been created to complement a book with a bitter sweet storyline.

I like the above image of “Rock and a Hard Place” so much that I have ordered a print. I feel that, due to her individuality, this artist is definitely one to watch.

Shelley Burgoyne

This artist has inspired me to work more fully with my drawing practice alongside printmaking. Her use of near-abstract forms using pen and ink, in her work “memory of the blanket story” for example are stimulating in that I feel myself drawing something, if not similar, then certainly something in response to having viewed it. Or, at least to dig work I have already produced out of my Drawing 1 portfolio and to rework it further using the impetus inspired by Shelley’s work.

Morgan Doyle

Again, viewing this artist’s work leads me to a hunger for more personal exploration of my own. This is particularly true in the area of mixed media collage techniques. The urge to cut up the imperfect prints I have produced as well as the packing paper I have used to protect surfaces in my studio, is strong. Though I have yet to give in to this urge, due to the limitations I place on my time as well as my own fear of failure, having viewed these artists’ work, I shall do so very soon.

References:

Sh elley Burgoyne – Memory of the Blanket Story (no date) SHELLEY BURGOYNE. Available at: http://www.shelleyburgoyne.co.uk/memory-of-the-blanket-story.html (Accessed: 24 February 2021).

admin (no date) ‘IMG_0605-Chinese-Landscape-500h | MORGAN DOYLE RE / Aritst Painter / Printmaker’. Available at: http://www.morgandoyle.com/img_0605-chinese-landscape-500h/ (Accessed: 24 February 2021).

Angela Harding | Linocut Print | Salt Path for Raynor Winn (no date). Available at: https://angelaharding.co.uk/products/salt-path?variant=29697060634737 (Accessed: 16 February 2021).

Caroline Macey (no date). Available at: http://carolinemacey.co.uk/ (Accessed: 16 February 2021).

Tate (2014) Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs – Exhibition at Tate Modern, Tate. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/henri-matisse-cut-outs (Accessed: 13 January 2021).