I find that making abstract landscapes builds design skills in a fun and responsive way.
Composition can be a daunting skill to “learn.” But I think it is a skill that is honed over time. It is part instruction and rules and part instinct and ideas.
This combination leads to unique style and expression.
I think testing out concepts like:
- value change
- division of space
- rule of thirds
leads to an understanding of what you like and don’t like in your artwork. This can lead to more confident self expression.
This kind of experimentation with design concepts is one of the reasons I like gelatin printmaking so much. Gel printing is fast and I can pull several prints that are very similar quite quickly.
And yet often my gut says I like one a lot more than the others. My design skills and preferences are guiding my gut. I can see how:
- a slightly different division of space is more pleasing, or
- how a strong dark mark makes a print pop, or
- how just the right amount of white space gives the viewer space to rest.
This type of comparison and slight variations is possible because I work on lots of prints at the same time. If I get a couple of really pleasing prints in one session of printing, then I call that a success.
Often the keepers are a combination of:
- skill and knowledge,
- evolution of prior prints and
- happy circumstance
If you would like to explore this type of approach to gelatin printmaking and skill building, then join us in Monochromatic Mountain Scapes, online workshop. This focused approach will take your gelatin printing to a new level.