Art in FocusChapter 14:
Early Medieval and Romanesque ArtAdditional Studio ProjectsWOODBLOCK PRINT OF AN IMAGINARY CREATUREComplete a woodblock print of a fantastic imaginary creature. Identify the positive and negative shapes in your design. Cut the negative shapes away, leaving the positive shapes to be inked and printed. Include a variety of rich, simulated textures in your final prints.
INSPIRATIONExamine the examples of Romanesque carving in Figures 14.22, 14.23, and 14.24. Note how Medieval artists often included fantastic creatures in carvings of this kind. What purpose do you think these creatures served? Describe their unusual features.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED- Pencil, sketch paper, and carbon paper
- Newspapers
- Piece of soft pine, approximately 8 × 10 inches
- Wood-carving tools (V- or U-shaped gouges with wooden handles)
- Water-soluble printer's ink
- Shallow pan, brayers
- White drawing paper or colored construction paper, 9 × 12 inches
WHAT YOU WILL DO- Complete several sketches of fantastic creatures, making each as unique as possible. You might wish to combine the features of several animals with those associated with a human form. Make your sketches on paper cut to the same size and shape as the wood block.
- Lay down sheets of newspaper to catch your shavings and ink. Transfer your best sketch to the wood block using pencil and carbon paper. Label the positive and negative shapes in your design.
- With the wood-carving tools, cut away the negative shapes. Make all cuts in the direction of the wood grain. The hand holding the wood block should always be kept away from the path of the carving tool.
- Check your design by placing a piece of paper over it and rubbing the surface with the side of a pencil.
- When carving is completed, squeeze a small amount of printer's ink from the tube into the shallow pan. Roll the ink with a brayer until it is spread evenly over the pan. Apply the brayer to the wood block, covering it completely with ink.
- Place a sheet of white drawing paper or colored construction paper over the inked wood block and rub it firmly with your fingers or the back of a large spoon. Before removing the paper, pull back a corner to see whether additional rubbing is needed. Re-ink your wood block for additional prints. Try printing on various kinds of paper for different results.
EVALUATING YOUR WORKDescribe What are the most unusual features of your creature? How did you arrive at the idea of using those features?
Analyze Did you clearly distinguish between the positive and negative shapes of your design before carving your wood block? Did you use a variety of simulated textures?
Interpret What adjective best describes your fantastic creature? What words do other students use to describe your creature?
Judge Evaluate your woodblock print in terms of its expressive qualities. Does your work succeed in communicating a particular idea or emotion?
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