Mixed Media

    My Mixed Media works vary with the materials I use. I frequently use: polyurethane for texture, body and as an adhesive, lightweight spackling and plaster for body and texture as well. Performix brand Plasti Dip which is a liquid rubber coating that is flexible, non-conductive, and resists weather, chemicals, and abrasion. For paints I use oil, acrylic, latex, inks, and powdered pigments. I also use epoxy, fiberglass, dammar, and other resins to ensure longevity.

    My work involves a lot the process of timing, layering, contemplation, and a knowledge base for the materials I use. I enjoy working hands on, problem solving, and working with textures. I like to conceptualize a piece to completion before I start working on it so I know the steps I need to take, but i still work with the piece in determining where it wants to go. I also try to work with themes and concepts such as figure ground on figure ground, 3-dimensional impressionism or expressionism, etc..
Printmaking

With printmaking there are several print processes that I use.

Block Printing

    Traditionally block prints are wood cuts. Wood cuts are relief carved into wood, inked up, and pressed onto paper. Linoleum is often used as well and rightfully called a linograph. I have found that polystyrene insulation works well with a soldering iron and makes for a durable enough plate.

Intaligo

    This process has many techniques that employs the use of copper plates.

    Predominately a  hard ground is used, usually asphaltum, to cover the plate and then the images is drawn into it. The plate is then baked in acid where the exposed copper is etched. After the ground is removed, the plate is inked up and ran through an etching press.

    A soft ground is pretty much the same process except that the ground used is softer and textured materials are used to make impressions in the ground when ran threw the press. the plate is then baked, cleaned, and printed the same as the hard ground.

    A mezzo-tint does not use a ground or acid. The plate is rocked with a tool that textures it to produce an even black. A scraper and burnisher are then used to flatten selected areas of the plate to produce light values.

Lithography

    This process is based on the principal that oil and water do not mix. Traditionally this is done on a flat piece of limestone. The image is drawn with a grease pencil wetted with water and inked up. Nowadays polyester pronto plates replace the heavy stones and make for a comparable alternative. They also pick up toner and are thin enough to fit through a laser printer. This contemporary product allows for the merging of the different disciplines, computer graphics, photography, and traditional printmaking.

Stenciling

    With stenciling takes cut shapes and take objects to creat edges while airbrushing or spray painting.