Contrary to my usual opinion of forced creativity, I often find that holing myself up and waiting for inspiration to strike has its benefits. Sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes before I know it, I’ve been in the studio for twelve hours and have a prolific amount of work to show for it.
As is the case with this image. While unemployed a few years ago I got into a printing phase. At a local art store I found some foam printing sheets (a smooth, dense white foam with adhesive backing) that provided a cheap, easy alternative to the laborious wood blocks I seemed always to start and never finish. It was cheap enough (about $2.50 per 8.5″x11″ sheet) that I could experiment without breaking my budget (aka the change in my drawer), but also so versatile that I soon began using it to print on fabric and other materials.
Best of all, the only tools required are the foam sheet, a piece of cardboard (or wood for durability) and some sort of writing instrument to draw on the foam. A ball-point pen works fine; depending on the thickness of the line you desire. Because the foam is so pliable, it is easy to create multi-layered/ colored images by just cutting out the part you want to change (the feather, below) and using that as your new print block.
In this image, On the Wind, I was inspired by a feather that kept catching the wind so it looked like it was floating upwards.
Title: On the Wind Inspiration: nature; wind currents Medium: Foam block print on paper Dimensions: 4″x6″ Price: $20; multiple available.
The CER Project 