REFLECT
My initial desire for this first screen print was to create a dynamic image that would read well in the print format. I interpreted this as a highly contrasted image paired with text. I chose a black-and-white photo of clouds that appeared monumental to me, and so I worked to pair the image with a fittingly monumental word.
But the image, to me, needed a dynamic hand-drawn quality. I drew a series of parallel lines in reference to the rays of sunlight that one sometimes sees on special days outside, and also in reference to stylized representations of rain storms. I played around a lot with different ways of arranging the lines on top of the photo, and ended up with one grouping “shining” down from the largest cloud and then another grouping appearing to “reflect” up again from the ground plane. The arrangement had much to do with both dynamic effect and finding a pleasing visual “balance” between light and dark elements in the image.
I chose the word REFLECT because it references a possible interpretation of the image, and because it’s a word that holds personal meaning for me on several levels. It serves as a visual reminder and memento. This next week I hope to print more of the same image, playing with ink and paper color.
-Adrienne