Corn Snake Prints

Well, I'm a print maker, and I decided to focus my last few projects on snakes using my own snakes as the subject matter!!

The first project was a woodblock cut / relief print, but that one was halted due to my accident. I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to finish that one up, but I'm excited for it! The block was actually IN the accident (I got ran over by a bus during dead week) with me and totally survived. ..actually made it out much better than I did!

Anyway, that was a side track. Right now I'm working on my first intaglio print. It's dry point, so basically I scratch out a drawing in a copper plate and then print it..

Here is (a terrible scan of) my print!!



The project entails taking the print through 4 stages. Here is my 3rd stage. Almost done, I'm actually going to be off to the studio to finish up soon. Can anyone guess whats going to be in the wall opening?!!



Dry point is sensitive, and the print gets "softer" every time you print.. so I'll have to touch things up before I make my editions. These are just proofs so far. I'm pretty excited though! MUCH less time consuming than woodblock, I think I've found my niche!

Also, this is the picture that the snake featured (my Pewter Oak!!) is based off of. The rest is referenced from random google images and drawn free hand.


Hope you like! If anyone's interested I'll try to upload a picture of my woodblock in progress. It's only on its first layer though, and with a full time schedule I don't know when I'll get around to it.

You're so talented!! Yes please, keep updating us on progress!

Oooh what's going to be in the wall, I don't know...!

That is so cool! I remember making a print in art class in high school. One of my more favorite things to do in art. That and watercolor paintings on untreated canvas.

That looks great! I like it .

Awww, thanks guys!! Glad there are some other art fans here!!!

Here is a cool picture that I took of the actual copper plate.

The process of printing is, etch into the copper with an etching needle, ink the plate, rub the ink into the groves, but off of the rest of the surface, wet the paper, put the paper over the plate, then run it through the press.

When you're done printing you clean off the plate with mineral spirits. This is my finished plate, and I thought it looked really cool with the mineral spirits on it.
Promise, I'll scan a picture of the final print soon and post it here!! I just didn't think many people were actually that interested..



I LOVE Intaligo. It's my new favorite form of pint making!

Oh, and because I want to make sure I correctly site my sources, I would like to say that I used this Evanescance cover as a reference for the eye and thorns.



It's funny, I was never really a big fan when they were popular (are they still popular?!), but I recently acquired a very LARGE collection of music (horray for 1tb hard drives!), and they were on it. I remembered a collaboration they did with Linkin Park that I vaguely liked and put the album it was on on my iPod.

and vuala, inspiration!! Oh, and I decided that Evanescence wasn't half bad! lol :noevil:

I am ashamed to say I'd never even heard of Intaligo before. Love it.

Hey, I hadn't heard of it until I got into print making classes!

I started with Screen Printing, which is pretty fun, went to relief printing (wood block carving, then printing), and now Intaligo! It's fun and pretty easy. It's definitely the most enjoyable creative process in my life right now!

Alright, here is the finished dry point image.. I JUST NOW finally got around to scanning it..




And.... I just finished my first etching!! I'm going to add an aquatint to it, so basically shade the snake and hands little, but I'm pretty excited with what I have so far!!
Keep in mind this is a terrible scan..



I'm very happy with it so far! it's based off of this photo..

Gulf Coast Girl said:

Very nice!!! You are very talented.... I can't even draw stick people right

Click to expand...

Haha im with you. Great job your awesome!!!! but yea I mess up on stick people lol

Your etching is amazing. I especially love the work you did on the snake's face and head markings.

I was going to say the same thing about the etching. It must've taken you so long to get the detail on the head perfect and draw in every teeny tiny scale.. If you do any more work to it remember to show it off!

Thanks guys!!! This project has been great. It was kind of a long process making the scales. I'm glad I did though, because I think it really makes a difference. The head really didn't take too long. The scales took longer!

Yesterday I shaded the snake and the hands a little, and then did something cool to the background. It looks AWESOME, but unfortunately I'm off to school in a few minutes, and I won't be able to scan it until later today/ tonight.

Hrm, actaully, the school has a better scanner than my home scanner, so maybe I can get a better image there. I'm VERY excited about how it's turned out. Thanks to those who have responded, it means a lot to me when people comment on my art. :cheers:

Wow is all I can say! It must feel so awesome to have the talent to draw. I'm a total can't draw a decent stickman person.

You know what's weird.. I feel like I'm much better at print making than drawing. Drawing is okay, but print making just feels better, and I seem to be better at drawing into the copper.

Anyway, here is my print so far! I have a little bit more work to do, I decided to fill in those white spots in between the fingers. I left those blank because I didn't want that space getting to dark, but I think it will make the head pop even more.

I'm VERY happy with how the background aquatint worked.

Also, turns out the school's scanner is MUCH better then the one that is built into my HP printer. (lol, DUH!)



:cheers:

That background looks awesome!