Memory Dump…
Well that’s school done till next year! Gives me almost a month to have an art land memory dump, lets see if that turns out anything interesting.
"The Flawed System" - Cliche Verre- 4x5" B&W negative exposed via fire (micro explosions) to a plate consisting of Carbon, alcohol, ink, steel, glue and film
Just keep it simple…
Currently going through some writing to finalise the statement for the "Time and Space" project. I generally avoid saying Artist Statement outside of formalities if I can. The idea of the "artist statement" is fine if you keep it genuine. Give the viewer an explanation, a bit of background on what they are looking at. Unfortunately for the most part "Artist Statements" are an incoherent diatribe of art speak and confusion that not even the writer really understands, but does know that their final year Uni professor would have loved it, and so it must be good. A way to make the lifeless, boring images of your work come to life! Sorry mate you can't go on about the meaning of the cosmos and then present the visual of a ruler in a dusty corner .......
Anyways, here is an image that may end up in the series.
"Can the Void Burn?" - Cliche Verre- 4x5" B&W negative exposed via fire (micro explosions) to a plate consisting of Carbon, alcohol, ink, steel, glue and film
Too Cold too cold!
So I was thinking about doing some work in the darkroom but it is absolutely FREEZING in there right now, and having the heater and hot water running for hours will cost a small fortune!
So i't a good time to go through the "Space and Time" series and start to get it organised, think of wanky titles etc to put up on the website.
"Galaxy in Semblance" Cliche Verre - 4x5" B&W negative exposed via fire (micro explosions) to a plate consisting of Carbon, alcohol, ink, steel, glue, engraving and film
Never enough time…
Sadly I haven't been able to create much new work over the last months as I have been neck deep in studying Mechanical Engineering at uni. Definitely a good reminder of how my sanity requires my creativity. Just a two more finals and I will have some spare time to crank out a few ideas.
In the meantime here is a print created from a solarised 4x5" b&w negative.
Cliche Verre - 4x5" B&W negative exposed via fire (micro explosions) to a plate consisting of Carbon, alcohol, ink, steel, glue, engraving and film and then solarised.
Cliche … with and without the Verre ……
You gotta watch out, skulls are sooo cliche. But what about a skull, with a gear, lightning, with crease and etching marks? I really don't know, nor do I care because it works for what I am going for.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to layered plates
Productive….
A productive morning yesterday @edinburghprintmakers doing some photo-plate lithography printing. I was very happy with black and white results and looking forward to trying some layers in the near future.
All together now…
Now here are all three of the versions I have posted of this particular image. I guess you could say steps but each one has it's own individual unique qualities.
From left to right - (L) - Cliche Verre/Sun Print - Ilford Fiber Glossy Paper exposed to a plate consisting of Carbon, alcohol, ink, engraving and film
(C) - Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to layered plates
(R) - Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to etched layered plates
Part three of three
And this is the final version of this image .... or is it? I swear every time I look at it there is a part I wan't to change.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to layered plates
Part two of three
So this is an image I have been working with for a while now, and this is the second "usable" version out of several. I always end up doing multiples of the same image because there is always something I wan't to change, enhance or remove. For the most part it is a combination of removing one part only to add another. Such as etching which removes material and image from the base but adds the texture and mark marking of etching.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to layered plates
Past, Present, Future Unknown
So here we have the original Image I made several months ago that I then used to create a photo plate lithography print that I shared the other day. The "base" of this image is a vintage portrait I purchased as part of a job lot years ago, and what caught my interest in it was that it looks ALOT like me in my early 20's if I had a comb over haircut lol. So no relation, a portrait that is over 100 years old, and a total chance that I came to own it, just an intriguing thing.
This was made by directly exposing a four layer plate to a 4x5" colour negative (think it was Kodak Portra)
Did a thing….
So this past weekend I took a 3 day photo plate lithography course at Edinburgh Printmakers. It was a great class and I really enjoyed learning a new process. I have been looking for a way to make limited edition hand made prints and this may be it! Anyways here are some of the results of that course, enjoy!
It Will Destroy You
So I generally struggle with titles, and tend to avoid them rather than force them. If it comes naturally and fits then I am all for it otherwise I stick with more of a sequence of descriptions, dates or numbers in a series. And don’t try to give me that shit about anything is a “title” bullshit, save it for art school. Anyways this one has a title and a bit of writing I did that suits it, so if you feel like delving into the dribble of a madman then knock yourself out.
There is a common idea, misconception, stereotype whatever you want to call it about mind alteration and art. But like many stereotypes and misconceptions there does lye a glimmer of truth. The tortured artist, however in reality the artist is ultimately tortured by themselves. There are many different ways in which the "torture" occurs, but what I'm going to say is solely about the torture that is inflicted through substance abuse.
Are you more creative when under the influence? The answer is pretty hypothetical, and probably includes a heavy dose of narcissism. However the effects of your chosen poison do “loosen” your mind and your reality. I will not say frees your mind as many would, because freedom implies escape. And while the substance may seem to provide an escape it is really just providing a cage outside of your current perceived cage. Freedom also implies an escape from consequences. And I think we all know by now that freedom isn't "free" there is always consequences.
And consequences are what ultimately tortures the artist with regards to substance abuse.
With whatever it is you are on, you probably find yourself more "creative", for a while at least. Your inhibitions are laxed, your perception of morals, good, bad, what's up and what's down are all in flux as you are no longer constrained by the anxiety of over thinking. So yes for a time you are more creative, you are outside of your box. And I say your box because it is exactly that, it is your box, it is your life, and everyone has their own box.
And the thing about your box is that you have a symbiotic relationship with it, it Is your life and you need it to survive as much as it needs you to exist.
So the longer you are outside of your box the more everything within it suffers. Your relationships, your dreams, goals and your mind. Ideas flow free and great ideas come and go but as time goes on you find yourself forgetting more than you are remembering. And while your inspiration may come from being outside of the box your art lives in your box. So it too sufferers, and in the end along with your mind will die.
So yes the torture is consequences, so while your substance may grant you a heightened sense of perception or a creative edge temporarily, and it is temporary, in comparison with your lifespan. In the end the consequence is that it will destroy you.
It Will Destroy You - Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to three layered plates
Some things change, some things don’t
Around 18 years between these two photos. Left 2022, right 2004 (ish), a total lifetime of changes and experiences between the two for me personally. For the building .... not so much .... and the graffiti is still pretty shite lol.
Meh, nothings perfect….
Been working on this one for a while, not perfect but I don't think it ever would be ... so here it is.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to three layered plates
Cosmic….
Was messing about in the darkroom on Tuesday and ended up with this. I have no idea what I was going for just wanted to try a few things out that had been on my mind. It has a definite cosmic vibe, and a world within the shattered void comes to mind.
4x5" Colour negative, alcohol, india ink, and agate slice exposed via micro explosion
Get on with it…..
Of two minds today, one saying "get writing about the work, say stuff, important stuff, but in 200 words or less cause thats the rules for this one" Other mind "Just shut up and make something"
Think I am going to go with the second mind.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to three layered plates
Quiet time…
Managed to get back to Street Level Photoworks for a quieter view of the 2022 open. It was great to just take my time and take it all in, and there is allot to take in. Here is my work along with several other amazing artist photographers.
The good and the bad….
It has taken the good, the bad and the ugly events in your life to get you where you are today. Then you have to rethink it, relive it and re imagine it. To get it into a shape or form that you can then print.
Cliche Verre print created from a 4x5" colour negative exposed directly to three layered plates
Remember, Remember….. Go to the show!
Happy to say I will have a couple images on display at the annual Street Level Photoworks show along with many other amazing artists and photographers.
