Rolling on masks

 

Realised I had to complete the masking section before lino blocks.
I used the same fir tree mask I had made previously and cut out a thin paper mask with a knife. I rolled the paint but a bit too thin I think - the image wasn't very clear and I had to roll several times to get into the corners which mean't that the paint soaked through the paper and stuck to the card I had decided to use. I think this was mainly due to the card I printed onto which was quite fibrous.
Next I decided to create the same mask using an acetate sheet so that there was no problem with soaking and sticking of the mask to the card. I also cut this using a knife on a board to get a good clear image. I also used thicker paint because there didn't seem to be enough on the first image.
I was pleased with the clearer image and also the texture given by the roller with thicker paint, however the roller didn't roll as such - rather it just pushed the ink across the mask so maybe the ink was too thick afterall.
1. Materials and preparation.
2.  Image using paper mask, thin paint on card.
3. Thinly rolled paint.
4. Acetate sheet ready to draw mask onto.
5. Negative cut out of acetate sheet.
6. Image 2 with thicker paint, pushed across with roller.
7. Texture created by roller on image 2.

Masking

This is the remainder of work I had to do for project 1: masked monoprints. Here I have used acrylic paints - much easier to work with than oils as they can be thinned with water. I also decided to use linen as my canvas because I intended for my degree course to be in textile design.
First I drew freestyle onto cardboard, cut out with scissors to create a positive mask and used a bunched up sponge to apply the paint - I liked the texture this gave but it bled out under the mask making the outline not so clear (image 1).
I then decided to use a paintbrush imagining that this would give a cleaner outline but it actually seemed to come out worse (image 2).
This made me realise that cardboard is probably too thick as a mask - the mask needs to be very close to the canvas so that paint cannot seep underneath so I tried paper but this time I also chose paper for my canvas and decided to try the negative mask method by painting around the cut out. I used the sponge again and then the paint brush (image 3 left and right respectively). The outline on both of these was quite clear (apart from the bottom where I tried to lift away the mask).
The next part of the masking project was to create a two colour masked piece - I decided to add a second lighter colour green by mixing with white to put some lights on the tree. I made a positive mask from paper and a hole punch and dabbed the medium on with the paint brush (image 4). The outcome was ok - maybe the paint was a little too thick (image 6) - something to think about if I attempt this again.
Image 5 shows my negative and positive masks made from cardboard and paper.

If I decide to do mask work on fabric in the future I will try to use a mask made from acrylic sheeting and also on thinner fabric. The material I used here was old hand woven linen so was heavy with an uneven slub weave and hard to iron so probably didn't help in getting a clean outline to the image.

Pink

Ok, been a little while but I have completed my first assignment and had it returned a few weeks back. I need to do a few things I'd missed for masking techniques which I'll hand in with my next assignment.
Creating the monoprints for my first assignment wasn't all that much fun - it seems too straight forward. The results were ok but not fantastic - I wasn't expecting to be doing something so basic - more like linocuts and screen printing.
Before I start my next assignment I need to do 'positive and negative masked monoprints' and 'two coloured masked monoprints'. I think I will enjoy doing the masking effect. The teacher has suggested using a slightly less textured paper this time which I will do with oil paints and I would also like to do the same on fabric with fabric paints. The colours I have in mind are my favourite at the moment (similar to below) shades of rose pink inspired by the traditional colours used in Japan from plant dyes.
For the fabric I may hand dye it one shade and mask/paint the second shade.
I am not sure what the shape will be yet but I've had in mind for a while to create some pieces with just a simple circle so it will be along those lines.