April 20, 2020
Metallics I
For the last few months, my investigations into the individual processes within printmaking have led me towards the use of metallics.
This work began with a desire to create new decorative elements or embellishments for use in traditional collagraph prints. These large, torn pieces or smaller fragments would be made by bonding faux metal leaf to textured printmaking paper. The pieces would be heated using an electric paint stripper gun. Earlier experiments had revealed that, in particular, the chemical composition of faux copper leaf reacted very strongly to heat, producing vivid, iridescent colours on the metallic surface. However, as the first pieces were made, it soon became clear that this making process could itself produce an intriguing outcome – metallic works on paper, which I now refer to as ‘Metallics’.
Above: faux metal leaf is glued to printmaking paper
Above: paper and metal leaf heated, producing vivid colours
Above: the application of heat on faux metal leaf only lightly glued to the surface produces a patina featuring raised creases
After heating, the delicate paper pieces give the impression of having been ‘forged’ or dipped on liquid metal. Further, I noticed that by singeing the edges of the paper, the whole piece would look as if it had been created out of the fire itself, not merely affected by it. In its entirety, the making and subsequent treatment of these Metallics has provided me with many possibilities for further study and the production of new works.
Sinclair Ashman, April 2020
