Tuesday 14 June 2011

Japanese Relief Print Ready to Ship


It's been a bit of a rush, and working with paper I'm not used to, which has caused it's own problems, but at last I've got my prints completed, dried, and ready to ship.
With more time I would have corrected a few things, but generally I'm happy with how it turned out.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I've used 4 blocks, but with a second impression on the light grey block in a few areas to create some shading: on the bottom edge of the lighter branch on the left, and on the blossoms.
I was using paper I'd never tried before for this print, and despite plenty of proofing I was finding it hard to get a smooth, even spread of colour in some places. It was much more textured than I'm used to.
If you look closely at the black branch, you will find the Kanji characters for 3rd Month (March) and 11th Day hidden in the design, the date of the 9.0 earthquake. The blossom pattern matches the seismic data map for the 12th March of Japan. To me, the sparrow represents the strength of character of the Japanese people in the face of such a terrible event.

4 comments:

Annie B said...

It's very beautiful. And what a brilliant idea to use the seismic patterns for blossoms. I know how disruptive it can be to use a new kind of paper - hats off to you for making it work. Lovely print.

G. Jarvis said...

Respectful, appropriate, beautiful.

Flip Book said...

I like this picture too much because i like a nature. And here this picture represent the nature's beauty. Really so nice. wonderful.........
http://www.iloveflipbooks.com/want-in-on-the-action

Lizzie said...

Very lovely. Well done with the unfamiliar paper - it surprised me, when I began to learn printing, what a difference the paper type can make.
Your print is beautiful and I agree with the other commenters, that it was a lovely and respectful idea, to use the seismic pattern in the blossoms.
This print is so simple, yet so lovely.