by documentation of work
One day last week, I took our SLR digital camera and tripod to the printmaking studio in order to do the photo documentation of my year’s work. I’m an amateur photographer, so it’s always an interesting challenge for me, and I’m learning. Fortunately, as of last summer, the studio finally has daylight spectrum lighting, so that’s no longer a problem. We have a good spot on one wall with even and indirect lighting, so there’s minimal glare on the works that have a shiny transparent layer. Some readers may remember my mentioning past struggles with this.
Checking the downloaded images later, I think they have worked out well, but I’m only just beginning to process them – the usual checking for colour (the Raw versions seem better), contrast, light and dark levels, and cropping.
I’m also struggling to come up with a title for the series of ‘studies’ that I did last fall. I find the word ‘studies’ rather dull and over used, and doesn’t quite reflect the playful explorations in creating this little series. I like ‘sketches’ but these aren’t drawings, they are unique uneditioned prints. Hmm… vignettes? traces? reflections? meditations? These will have the series title first, such as this: “Silent Messengers: Vignette I (II, III to X). What do you think, dear readers, any suggestions?
Another part of the documentation process is to check the prints in each edition, select the best ones and also select the artist’s proof, shop proof and any decent trial proofs, and sign them all with edition and proof numbers, title and artist’s signature. Then I record all the information about the process, the paper type and size, print size, and the edition numbers on a special print documentation form, one for each edition, which I then keep in a binder with all my other documentation forms. The shop gets a copy of the documentation sheet along with the shop proof. This is fairly standard practice in printmaking shops. I find the records very useful and I can make copies for any gallery or purchaser if requested.
Now I have to get back to work editing, but here’s one of the small layered pieces I did, and will tentatively title ‘Silent Messengers: Vignette I’. There’s just a little bit of glare in the middle, but not bad, I think.
UPDATE MARCH 29th, 2007: Thank you everyone for your imput, which has helped me chew on the title some more! I’ve finally decided to call these one-of-a-kind little pieces Silent Messengers: Assemblage I to X. I’ve removed the image that was posted here, adjusted it closer to what the original is, and given it its own post.
March 27, 2007 in Being an Artist, Printmaking by Marja-Leena
I love this. It is difficult to tell how good the photo is, of course, not seeing the original, but I just love the whole image. When you say layered do you mean that this shows one final printed layer, or that two layers are physically in the original? Sorry if I’m being dense about this.
I think you should title them Silent Messengers: Explorations I, II, etc. Vignette is such a dinky word for such powerful work – it deserves straightforward honesty I think.
I like so many many aspects of this piece, but the element which attracts me most of all is the drawing of the folks in boats that also look like eyelashes!
Olga, Thank you so much for your always perceptive comments! Explorations – yes, I like that much better and I think I’m going to use it! I’m sorry my descriptions of the layers haven’t been clear. The bottom layer of all the pieces in this series are collagraphs printed on paper. The layer attached over each collagraph, with a bit of adhesive along the top edge, is an archival inkjet print on transparent film (that’s the shiny part).
Marja, you could also call them message,aka Message 2 That way it’s tie to the series title.
When I think of messengers, I think of somebody delivery a message to me. Which in a way you are doing with your artwork,you are trying to tell audience something.
Now hopeful they give a postive answer;)
“Exploration” does seem to have just the right connotations. It conveys playfulness, for example, much better than “vignette.”
Cathy and Dave, thanks much for your imput! I’m still not quite sure about the title and still open to suggestions. I’ve developed a headache from editing photos (not these ones) and struggling with an application form that won’t allow me to edit it properly, grr. That’s what I get for leaving things close to the deadline. I’d rather distract myself with these fun pieces instead.
I love this image too – the earth colors, the mark-making that looks so authentic, the background textures. Seems very successful.
Beth – thank you for your positive comment!
Yes, thanks for answering my daft question – daft because you have been printing the Silent Messengers on mylar and paper, and I should have remembered. I did as soon as I checked out the series again. It’s difficult, however, to get my visual understanding round those two layers when presented with the flat computer image. It’s the old problem of representing 3D with 2D. But this is my favourite Silent Messenger so far.
Olga, your question was not daft! I truly appreciate your interest and always great comments. I certainly agree that the computer, or any small reproduction, can’t compeletly convey the original. These layered pieces are barely 3D, unless you see the film layer curl and capture glare – as you can see from the group shot I’d posted last fall (link above).
One thing though, these small pieces are being shown relatively large here, so you can see more details. This piece is 35.5 x 29 cm. I brought these home yesterday so I can compare the colour accuracy of the photo and note the sizes. I think this image is just a little washed out – but I’ll repost it when I finally decide on the title. Thanks again, Olga!
The librarian in me likes to hear the details of your documentation process, even artists have to face the housekeeping sometimes.
Perhaps you could do an experimental series called Marjanals?
Hey Anna, thanks for the chuckle, and maybe a seed! Marjanals will probably now implant itself in me somewhere, and one day a whole new series will pop out involuntarily!