09/10 - 29/10
Rocky
Research
Techniques I wanted to explore
- Paper Embossing
- Linocut
- Paper Making
Reflection
Initially, when I was researching for this project, I had my mind set on doing linocut and some form of paper making, so I turned to paper embossing. However, from my experiments, it was hard to differentiate the texture of the handmade paper from the embossed portions, lacking contrast.
Therefore, I continued researching for more ways to use linocut, and I came across an Instagram ceramic artist that combines both clay and print making techniques. From this post, I was heavily inspired and decided to center my work around these 2 techniques, linocut and paper clay making.
Initially, when I was researching for this project, I had my mind set on doing linocut and some form of paper making, so I turned to paper embossing. However, from my experiments, it was hard to differentiate the texture of the handmade paper from the embossed portions, lacking contrast.
Therefore, I continued researching for more ways to use linocut, and I came across an Instagram ceramic artist that combines both clay and print making techniques. From this post, I was heavily inspired and decided to center my work around these 2 techniques, linocut and paper clay making.
Conceptualization
Initial concept, forming the clay into a scroll then imprinting the words onto it.
3 harmful words laid out for tracing and carving.
Using Times New Roman Bold Italic on Procreate.
Using Times New Roman Bold Italic on Procreate.
‘Written in Stone’
When I thought about clay, I thought about hard objects, which in turn brought me to ‘rocks’. From there, I thought about linocut and what you can get from it, be it words or images. Then I thought about the idiom, ‘Written in Stone’.
From there, I thought about the meaning of ‘Written in Stone’, which means permanence. I decided to play with the direct meaning of the idiom, carving words onto lino blocks, then using clay as my ‘stone’. After consultation, I decided to scrap my original idea of forming a scroll, due to the difficulty of molding the clay and having it retain its form. Therefore, I decided to take a more literal approach, forming rocks from the paper clay, then imprinting it with the words. When thinking about words to carve, I thought about words that would leave a permanent impact on people, such as insults. I then decided to start with 3 words: ‘stupid’, ‘idiot’, and ‘ugly.
Paper Clay Creation
Together with Ray, we created the paper clay, following the recipe provided in the DMA slides. We tweaked the recipe accordingly and recorded our recipe on a piece of paper. Then we left the clay overnight in school, covered with cling wrap and a plastic bag.
(Tweaked) Paper Clay Recipe
- Glue 200g
- Flour 370g
-
Paper Pulp 20g
-
Putty 175g
-
Soap 2 tbsp
- Oil 3 tbsp
‘Written in Stone’
When I thought about clay, I thought about hard objects, which in turn brought me to ‘rocks’. From there, I thought about linocut and what you can get from it, be it words or images. Then I thought about the idiom, ‘Written in Stone’.
From there, I thought about the meaning of ‘Written in Stone’, which means permanence. I decided to play with the direct meaning of the idiom, carving words onto lino blocks, then using clay as my ‘stone’. After consultation, I decided to scrap my original idea of forming a scroll, due to the difficulty of molding the clay and having it retain its form. Therefore, I decided to take a more literal approach, forming rocks from the paper clay, then imprinting it with the words. When thinking about words to carve, I thought about words that would leave a permanent impact on people, such as insults. I then decided to start with 3 words: ‘stupid’, ‘idiot’, and ‘ugly.
Paper Clay Creation
Together with Ray, we created the paper clay, following the recipe provided in the DMA slides. We tweaked the recipe accordingly and recorded our recipe on a piece of paper. Then we left the clay overnight in school, covered with cling wrap and a plastic bag.
(Tweaked) Paper Clay Recipe
- Glue 200g
- Flour 370g
-
Paper Pulp 20g
-
Putty 175g
- Soap 2 tbsp
- Oil 3 tbsp
Linocut
Iteration 1
Description
I created this first batch of linocut prints, testing out sizing, carving pattern, and how the paper clay would take the imprinting and drying.
Result
The font size was too small for my liking, and I wanted to explore with the carving pattern.
Iteration 2
Description
For the second batch of linocut prints, I inversed the carving pattern and increased the font size.
Result
I did not like the inverted carving pattern, and I found the font size a tad too big.
Iteration 3 (Final)
Description
For the third (and last) batch of linocut prints, I used the carving pattern from the first iteration, with an increased font size.
Result
I liked this font size and carving pattern, so I decided to use this print in my final piece.
Learning Points
Do not roll the clay over the lino block without coating it with a layer of flour first!
The paper clay was too sticky to be imprinted without a layer of flour. The first time I tried to imprint it, my clay got stuck on the lino blocks and I had to peel them off.
Instructions
1. Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto the rolled out paper clay and lino cut slabs.
2. Using your fingers, coat the surface of the paper clay and the lino block evenly with flour. Make sure it coats the crevices of the lino block to ensure no sticking.
3. Lightly peel the clay off the lino block after imprinting to make sure the prints do not warp.
Rock Making
Description
To create the rocks, I first formed the paper clay into a rough shape using my hands and fingers. Then I decided on which face of the rock the words would be imprinted on. From there, I lightly pressed the paper clay onto the lino blocks. After separating them, I smoothed out imperfections using my fingers, water, and a brush. To make the rocks look more realistic and organic, I relied on my fingers, brush, pen knife, and a real rock to mark make and adjust the shape of the clay.
After it dried up, I painted the rocks using acrylic paint. I mixed a cooler shade of gray, using more blues. I also mixed more grays, some with more brown, yellow, and red. I also created a much darker shade of grey to create more depth on the rocks. This mixture of colours made the rocks look more realistic and organic. After the colours dried, I diluted white acrylic paint with water, then using a large brush, I flicked the diluted paint onto the rocks, with the intention to create some interesting textures and to make things more realistic. However, this did not really show up on the rocks after it dried. To finish things and prevent the paper clay mixture from rotting, I coated the rocks with a layer of Mod Podge.
I also created a rake out of paper clay to be part of my final piece.
Reflection
I enjoyed the creation of the rocks and making them realistic. The secret was to find some real rocks to reference the shaping and colours to. The paper clay functioned almost like real clay, reactivating and smoothing upon the application of water. I was lucky to finish forming my rocks early because due to the thickness of it, the clay took a few days to fully dry before I could paint them. I really liked the texture that the paper clay took on when they were nearly dry, forming a ‘cracked-like’ look which was extremely suitable for my creations
Description
To create the rocks, I first formed the paper clay into a rough shape using my hands and fingers. Then I decided on which face of the rock the words would be imprinted on. From there, I lightly pressed the paper clay onto the lino blocks. After separating them, I smoothed out imperfections using my fingers, water, and a brush. To make the rocks look more realistic and organic, I relied on my fingers, brush, pen knife, and a real rock to mark make and adjust the shape of the clay.
After it dried up, I painted the rocks using acrylic paint. I mixed a cooler shade of gray, using more blues. I also mixed more grays, some with more brown, yellow, and red. I also created a much darker shade of grey to create more depth on the rocks. This mixture of colours made the rocks look more realistic and organic. After the colours dried, I diluted white acrylic paint with water, then using a large brush, I flicked the diluted paint onto the rocks, with the intention to create some interesting textures and to make things more realistic. However, this did not really show up on the rocks after it dried. To finish things and prevent the paper clay mixture from rotting, I coated the rocks with a layer of Mod Podge.
I also created a rake out of paper clay to be part of my final piece.
Reflection
I enjoyed the creation of the rocks and making them realistic. The secret was to find some real rocks to reference the shaping and colours to. The paper clay functioned almost like real clay, reactivating and smoothing upon the application of water. I was lucky to finish forming my rocks early because due to the thickness of it, the clay took a few days to fully dry before I could paint them. I really liked the texture that the paper clay took on when they were nearly dry, forming a ‘cracked-like’ look which was extremely suitable for my creations
Paper Pulp Making
Description
When I was planning the layout of my final piece, I realised that I needed grass and brush elements.
Together with Ray, we created paper pulp by tearing up old pieces of white paper, soaking it in a green food dye mixture, then blending the mixture of paper and dye. Initially, we were going to make paper out of this, but after seeing the pulp, we decided to just use it as is, as the texture of the pulp was very organic looking.
I experimented and created 2 variations of bushes, one formed solely out of paper pulp, and the other formed by coating the outer surface of a clay ball with the green paper pulp.
Reflection
When the pulp bushes finally dried, I decided to scrap the bushes with the clay in it as it was perpetually wet due to the nature of the paper clay. They were also very badly discoloured and frankly, disgusting. It would have worked if I left it out to dry for a few more days but I did not have the patience nor the time to wait.
As for the bushes made out of pure paper pulp, they also lost their colour but not as much as the ones with clay. I decided to use those in my final piece after painting and sealing them.
Description
When I was planning the layout of my final piece, I realised that I needed grass and brush elements.
Together with Ray, we created paper pulp by tearing up old pieces of white paper, soaking it in a green food dye mixture, then blending the mixture of paper and dye. Initially, we were going to make paper out of this, but after seeing the pulp, we decided to just use it as is, as the texture of the pulp was very organic looking.
I experimented and created 2 variations of bushes, one formed solely out of paper pulp, and the other formed by coating the outer surface of a clay ball with the green paper pulp.
Reflection
When the pulp bushes finally dried, I decided to scrap the bushes with the clay in it as it was perpetually wet due to the nature of the paper clay. They were also very badly discoloured and frankly, disgusting. It would have worked if I left it out to dry for a few more days but I did not have the patience nor the time to wait.
As for the bushes made out of pure paper pulp, they also lost their colour but not as much as the ones with clay. I decided to use those in my final piece after painting and sealing them.
(Left to right)
Scrapped with paper clay, Bushes with only paper pulp, Top down view of painted and sealed paper pulp, Side view of painted and sealed paper pulp
(Left to right)
Scrapped with paper clay, Bushes with only paper pulp, Top down view of painted and sealed paper pulp, Side view of painted and sealed paper pulp
Assembly & Completion
Why Zen Garden?
- Way to draw emphasis and present my rocks
- The juxtaposition when presented together is interesting and playful, with insulting rocks versus the calm meditative nature of zen gardens
Reflection
Assembling the multiple elements along with the usage of sand was difficult, as I needed to find a way for the sand to be deep enough for marks to be left in it and raising the ‘rocks’ and ‘grass’ enough so that they are visible over the layer of sand. Therefore, I sawed down a strip of wood, further dividing them into small blocks, then used double sided tape and blue tack to secure the elements to the bottom of the box ,and also acting as a platform for them to be visible over the thick layer of sand. In turn, my sand layer further thickened, which was in my favour as deeper grooves in the sand would be visible when taking through the sand, making it more aesthetically pleasing.
Photographing the final piece was difficult for me and I struggled to capture the details of the rocks and the sand at the same time, due to their colour contrast. The acrylic box also hindered my phototaking abilities as it was blocking most of my shots. I took some detailed shots of the elements outside of the box, for example, pouring the sand on a flat piece of paper then taking close up photos of the grooves in the sand. However, for most of the final layout shots, I had to do alot of post editing for both the rocks and sand to stand out.
I decided to name this project ‘Rocky’ as it can be a link and focus to the paper clay rocks, and also embody the concept behind this piece. Rocky can be defined as ‘unstability’, which is similar to ‘difference’, and it references the final layout of having somthing vulgar and negative within a calm and meditative environment.
Assembling the multiple elements along with the usage of sand was difficult, as I needed to find a way for the sand to be deep enough for marks to be left in it and raising the ‘rocks’ and ‘grass’ enough so that they are visible over the layer of sand. Therefore, I sawed down a strip of wood, further dividing them into small blocks, then used double sided tape and blue tack to secure the elements to the bottom of the box ,and also acting as a platform for them to be visible over the thick layer of sand. In turn, my sand layer further thickened, which was in my favour as deeper grooves in the sand would be visible when taking through the sand, making it more aesthetically pleasing.
Photographing the final piece was difficult for me and I struggled to capture the details of the rocks and the sand at the same time, due to their colour contrast. The acrylic box also hindered my phototaking abilities as it was blocking most of my shots. I took some detailed shots of the elements outside of the box, for example, pouring the sand on a flat piece of paper then taking close up photos of the grooves in the sand. However, for most of the final layout shots, I had to do alot of post editing for both the rocks and sand to stand out.
I decided to name this project ‘Rocky’ as it can be a link and focus to the paper clay rocks, and also embody the concept behind this piece. Rocky can be defined as ‘unstability’, which is similar to ‘difference’, and it references the final layout of having somthing vulgar and negative within a calm and meditative environment.
Portfolio Making
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