PROJECT_ONE
The first project focused on the processing of color separation for a chosen image. The subject matter was to be, in part, visuals generated by artificial intelligence; namely Dall-E and MidJourney. Rather than using these to spit out ready-made images, we instead used historical and stylistic knowledge to create prompts that would formulate our concepts in a given artist's or era's style. Below are those used.
Left above: "a wild-west gunslinger duel between a man and a computer, a Frederic Remington american painting"
Middle above: "an atomic weapon bashes particles apart leaving destruction and ruin its wake of waves, a surrealist painting by salvador dali"
Left above: "a young cosmic cowboy defeatedly rides an illuminated temporal stream towards infinity in a nebula, a surrealist painting by max ernst"
At the time of this project, various forms of Artificial Intelligence were beginning to make waves and leave some in their wake.
To use this tech, which felt potentially threatening to visual artists, felt like an infidelity of sorts. This notion, however, informed my process; I chose to portray the strange, otherworldly technology of the present in a way which was mirrored in a fictitious state of the past.
After finalizing my composition, using pieces of the original products, I applied a halftone and color separated the image; seen above.
Below is the digital conglomeration, followed by the screenprinted results (full color and otherwise).
PROJECT_TWO
For this endeavor, we were tasked with creating a functional repeat pattern that could be screenprinted, but also live on physical textiles. Multiple colorways and coordinate variations were also considered. Being relatively open-ended outside of the aforementioned pieces I decided to bring in a favorite musical artist of mine: Smino.
Above is the digital reference image, illustrated elements, and colorway lockup.
Below is the corresponding screenprint & experimental extensions and secondary prints
Lastly, the production print of the pattern applied to a cotton textile at the scale of the original screenprint.
PROJECT_THREE
This stage was based on experimental practices and mediums; exploration was central. Personally, I had always been highly interested in cyanotype exposures and the effects that were possible to achieve using such, as well as the methods which could alter visual consistency.
For subject matter, I chose to focus on aspects of mushrooms as phytomedicine; personal experience with consumption of funguses has been entirely beneficial in terms of cognitive performance / health. Thus, my collection of prints portrays the forms of Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, & Reishi mushrooms which are accompanied by the mythos that have surrounded them for millenia.
Roughs above
Latter versions below
Reishi // Ganoderma Sichaunense
"Otherwise known as Lingzhi or Spirits mushroom, consumption of this fungus was connected to boosting of the heart Qi, supplementing the center, snd prolonging life.
The Mushroom of Immortality."
Cordyceps // Cordyceps Sinsensis
"The chinese word describing this fungus, 'Dongchongxiao,' translates to: Winter Bug Summer Grass. Consumption of this endoparasitoid is thought to strengthen the lungs and kidneys, and
Improve One's Essential Vitality."
Lion's Mane // Hericium Erinaceus
"Also known as the mountain-priest mushroom, it was traditionally believed to fortify the spleen, nourish the stomach,
& Tranquilize the Mind."
Expanding, compounded was the experimental nature of the project by way of a second printing style being added to the composition. For this tranche, I introduced spray paint in the form of stencil application. Stenciling was executed using laser printing.
Loosely but intentionally adhering, originally, the transparency positives for blurred cyanotype exposure, I decided to lean into the imperfect, weathered visual by loosely adhering also the stencils to achieve a similar spray paint application. Below are the final manifestations using the techniques discussed.
