The Print Geek

We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art. "The Middle Years" from the character Dencombe

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

At the end of the Spring semester 2007 I was awarded an Undergraduate Research Grant to study Printmaking in South Africa. Part of the proposal was that I would study techniques used there and incorporate these new techniques into my existing vocabulary. In the Community Art Centers people off the street with no formal training are taught printmaking techniques as a way to give them skills in order to earn a living. Since they are very poor, they are not able to afford the expensive materials we are used to in this country. Often times their print matrix is composed from found materials. Their prints are very simple in construction and composition, but exhibit an amazingly strong presence. As a result for the Fall 2008 semester I simplified my own printmaking techniques in an attempt to get the same qualities so brilliantly achieved in the South African Art Community Centers.
This series deals with social issues, primarily global warming. The first print, which is also the simplest in technique is a salute to the the black artists who suffered through Apartheid, and is appropriately titled "Apartheid." The others in order are titled "Over Population," "Melting Polar Caps," and "Chemical Pollution."



posted by Nels at 3:40 PM 0 comments

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Name: Nels
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States

After a nearly four decade career as a railroad engineer for the BNSF railroad, I am retraining myself for a full time retirement career as an artist. The mediums that are resonating with me are printmaking and sculpture, and how to present them in new ways representing today's world.

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Inspiring Artists

  • Akiko Taniguchi
    • Krishna Reddy
      • Li Yanpeng
        • Zhao Haipeng
          • Li Xiu
            • Gustave Baumann
              • Karl Unnasch
                • Kirsten Skiles
                • Mediums I work In

                  • Intaglio
                  • Lithography
                  • Moku Hanga (Japanese Woodblock)
                  • Photography
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                    • The Great's Blog
                    • BC's Blog
                    • Jessie's Blog
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                    • Mai Chang's Blog
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                    • Becca's Blog
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                    • Seth's Blog
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                    Previous Posts

                    • This semester I presented to myself some significa...
                    • This semester's techniques included new ones such ...
                    • After "Standard Issue" (see next article) I meande...
                    • I was invited to Karl Unnasch's "Standard Issue" w...
                    • After Penland I headed for Grand Marais, MN on the...
                    • I had an absolutely awesome summer of art workshop...
                    • Lately I have been getting very interested in the ...
                    • This piece represents a new direction in which my ...
                    • At the end of the Spring semester 2007 I was award...
                    • Again this semester in printmaking, I am working o...

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