Project 4 Scratching and Embossing
Exercise 1 Embossing
Embossing is a new technique for me, it is not something I have ever incorporated into my work. I wanted to use a variety of tools to create a range marks. Choosing tools such as the end of a toothbrush, paint brush, a screwdriver and a clay modelling tool. Then beginning of cartridge paper to work out what tools worked best to create the most defined marks and which tools made the most subtle marks. The firmer sharper tools like the modelling clay tool with a small sharp metaled point created the most defined and accurate marks. And then the larger more rounded based tool like tooth brush created more subtle marks.
Not only was it the tool that effected the marks, the pressure used with tools. Firm pressure created the more defined marks and the lighter pressure created the more subtle marks. There was a fine line between to much pressure and ripping the paper and being to gentle did not leave a visible mark. Not only on the side I was working on but the marks on the opposite side of the page showing the relief of the marks made.
Experimenting with a selection of other materials moving away from the cartridge paper. Looking a materials with different densities to experiment with the effects that could be achieved. Using a mixture of tools again, finding the sharper tools on the thinner paper was more difficult to work with. To much pressure would cause the papers to rip, but the more blunter tools did not create accurate marks even on the thinner papers. The best results came with the thicker materials with the sharp tools. I particularly like the effect on the black paper, the thickness was just right to produce the perfect relief work. Using a sharp and more accurate tool.
Developing my samples tried dampening some of the papers. I thought that this method would make the surface easier to emboss. I did not find this was the case I found the material became more fragile and liable to tear or cause the material to fluff up.
I next wanted to try more unconventional materials such as tracing paper, tin foil and cellophane. The only one that came out successful was the tracing paper the other materials were to flimsy to old the embossed marks.
Using shapes cut out from one the previous exercises I wanted to see if I could use them to emboss the shapes into the printer papers. Taking one of the sharp took and running it around the edge of the cut-outs. I feel this work really well and a technique that could be developed further in my work.
Trying to capture how the embossing felt in the form of a sketch. I thought for sometime how I could best represent what I was feeling. Then I realised when moving my hand over the raised marks, it reminded me of brail. This led to me creating the sketch below, using a blind drawing technique. Not looking at what I was drawing on the page, instead focusing on what I was feeling.
Wrapping the sheets of materials around items such as a jar, Lego bricks and a tennis ball. What a observed about this exercise was how fragile the material had become. The areas which had been scored ripped in some areas. And the paper that had been dampened became stiff and harder to manipulate and began to tear as pictured below.
Exercise 2 Scratching
I began this exercise with a similar approach as the previous exercise. Gathering materials to produce a selection of scratch marks. Using tools such as a fork, screwdriver, corn on the cob holder and other sharp and blunt tools.
Then taking the tools and scratching in one direction, scribbling, and scrubbing. Trying out the different tools to see the effects that could be created on the different materials.
Some were not as successful as I had hoped, the sharper tools slashing the materials rather than scratching. The materials that did allow for scratch created some really texturally interesting surfaces, materials like the watercolour paper. Although difficult to capture in a photograph, running your hand across the paper you can feel the different textures.
Once I had worked out which tools worked well with which type of surface. Now taking that to more unconventional materials like leaves, melted plastic from an earlier exercise and tracing paper. I found these were more successful and produced some visually interesting samples. I particularly like the destressed look created on the leaves.
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