Irises woodcut print hand coloured with watercolour
If you think you have just had a touch of deja vou it's because I was so unhappy with the photographs of my prints in the previous post I've deleted the post and started again, this time scanning my images.
Above is a woodcut print I have hand coloured with watercolour. Below is the one I posted yesterday, hand coloured with gouache.
Above is a woodcut print I have hand coloured with watercolour. Below is the one I posted yesterday, hand coloured with gouache.
Woodcut print with gouache
I'm happy with both for different reasons. I really like the flat colour field one can achieve with gouache, much as it would be if the colours were printed rather than painted. This is the style of printmaker Margaret Preston whom I greatly admire.
Now I'd like to know what you think.
Now I'd like to know what you think.
22 comments:
Oh dear, I've just managed to delete the post before the post I wanted to delete as well. I'm sorry I've lost all your comments. :(
It's been a long day.
These woodblock prints are really lovely!
Personally, my choice would be for the top version with the brighter colours. I think there is greater contrast with the black ink you are using. I think the gouache is more suited to the brown ink Margaret uses in her block prints an it gives a more 'country style' look to her prints. Yours are edgier and more suited to mdern urban settings. Is that too much information??
I think it depends on contrast, really. But its also personal choice - what do you like?
I like both versions, but my preference is for the watercolour as it gives more depth to the colour. The gouache does give a truer print feel to the piece, you're right.
I think you're on to a winner with either.
hmmm hard to choose. but I do prefer the top one because of the variations of purples in the petals. adds a bit more life to the print.
Hi Robyn!
I Love the woodcuts but am hard pressed to say which I like better. I tend toward the watercolor simplly for the variation in the colors of the petals ... Both are beautiful .. but I think I prefer the watercolor ...
Margaret Preston had a fabulous retrospective at the AGNSW maybe three years or so ago. She is amazing. I'm now sorry I didn't buy the catalogue.
I definitely prefer the top one with the watercolour. The transparency adds an additional dimension which you don't get with the gouache
BTW, if deleting posts I always find that if doing it within dashboard that the pause you get while they show you what you're deleting is really helpful. I now always make a point of going very slowly when deleting have done the same as you in the past.
Hmm...just back from a very long day of printmaking with several other printmakers.
The water colour version will definitely appeal to non-printmakers, while the gouache is more likely to "ring bells" for the printmaking fraternity.
Why? Well, I think because when printmakers began colouring their work, there was not the photographic quality available. In today's digital/scanning age we can do so much more.
For myself, having seen original Margaret Preston and Julie Haas prints*...I have to say that, for printmaking, I prefer the "flat" look.
But as a would-be water colourist, that's the print that wins.
So...horses for courses. The purchaser will ALWAYS be swayed by preference.
*I've been fortunate enough to see work by other artists.
good points there
I just slightly prefer the watercolour because of the variations within colours and the transparency - but I think both work.
Of course I didn't want you all to opt for the watercolour but I had to ask the question in order to discover what I really thought. Thank you all for your opinions.
My problem with the watercolour is that I might as well just paint a watercolour, because I got sucked into the detail as usual. Of course, I am grateful you all like the watercolour! It's just not what I was expecting.
Maybe it's a matter of choosing the right approach for each hand coloured print. I can already think of one that would lend itself to Gouache.
Wendy, unfortunately I was in Italy for the Margaret Preston show at the AGNSW. I didn't get a catalogue either! My daughter took my spirit there though. I have seen Preston's work at the National Gallery and on a few lucky' walls.
Katherine - I will be super careful deleting posts in future. The trap I fell into was that I had repetition of the gouache image in both posts and thought Blogger hadn't deleted the first :(
Dinah - Thanks for summing it all up perfectly. :)
As a non artist person...i like the watercolor best because of the depth and variety of the colors used...Jil
I really love both of them, but the gouache just pops off the page, so I guess that' my favorite. I'm definitely going to look up Margaret Preston on your recommendation - thanks for that!
Lovely work Robyn, and I also love the gouache version, I guess because of the bold colors but that is just me at the moment, other times I like the softer lovely transparencies of WC.
I can't choose. I like the flat gouche but also the typical watercolour tranparency. But maybe for this "style" of printing(like your latest post with the daisy, the flat colour suits it very well. Such beautiful work!I hope you're searching for a gallery...
ronell
Jil - I appreciate your opinion. Thank you.
Casey - Thanks :) I'll be interested to hear what you think of Margaret Preston.
Mary - You like both. That's a bonus. Thank you:)
Ronell - A gallery! I think your enthusiasm is outrunning my learning curve. But I love your thought. :)
I like them both, but I think I prefer the gouache one---the opacity of the gouache works well with the stark value contrasts of the woodcut and the more saturated colors balance all the darks in the middle- and foreground. Very lovely.
I think I lost my comment! Though I like both very much, I think the gouache is gutsy enough to stand up to the robust values and shapes of the woodcut.
Laura - Thank you. Thank you :)
I guess the next thing for me to try with these prints is flat areas of transparent watercolour.
I love these, Robyn! (Yet another thing I want to try now. You have inspired me so many times!)
They are both lovely, but I really think the bold gouache is the better match for your wonderful woodcut, especially when it's printed with the black ink.
Oh... and, hooray for springtime!
Liz - I would be extremely flattered to think I could inspire you , because I'm always in awe of your beautiful work.
As for Spring - I thought it was here but today we've woken up to snow!
simply GORGEOUS! it has an almost japonisme quality. the colors and lines are stunning. you've been doing such beautiful work Robyn, I'm sorry I haven't been better about keeping up
Lovely bold, strong design and colour. Work really well together as a print.
Neal
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