Printmaking Process | Upon the Mountains

I thought I'd fill you in on what this summer has looked like in the studio for me and introduce you to my first Norway inspired print and the process behind it.

Below is a page from my sketchbook with photographs I took in Norway earlier this year. I was drawn to the earthy tones in the natural elements and I've used these as a basis to inform my prints inspired by the trip. I started by gathering a selection of papers and pigments to test and experiment with different colour combinations and opacity. 

For this particular print, I settled on a beautiful high quality fine art paper - Somerset velvet in newsprint grey, which has a subtle texture to it.

This print has gone through a few changes along the way after some initial proof printing, so once I was happy with it, it was time to expose the collage on a screen and get printing the edition, beginning with the first layer, pictured drying on the rack below.

Bergen is known for being the rainiest city in Europe, which has inspired the puddle shape of
'Upon the Mountains'.

Next I printed the imagined landscape that I created from my photographs taken in Norway, in a rich brown colour, continuing the use of hues I witnessed in the fjords and mountains. 

And finally I finished with a lighter brown pigment moon, using the negative space to embody the calmness experienced being outdoors in nature and a space to pause, which also emanates the Japanese concept, 'ma' - negative space is seen as a positive, creating serenity and balance. This concept extends from zen gardens, the space between objects as light and shadows to sound and silence.

Upon the Mountains
Screenprint with pigment and ink on
280gsm Somerset velvet newsprint grey paper with a deckled edge
42 x 56cm
Limited edition of 5

I’m really pleased with the finished edition (more pictures and info (here), and I'm looking forward to getting back in the print studio to work on more prints for this series.

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