Process: Searching for Unicorns

 

In case anyone was wondering how I produced my illustration for 'Searching for Unicorns', or just how to mono print, you can check out the video below. 

 

It's the most simple process, and every print is unique. All you need is:

• A sheet of something smooth. I have an old glass table top, but you can use thick acetate too - just stick it down to the table so that it doesn't move.
• Two rollers. A 'messy' one for the ink, and a 'clean' one for rolling the paper.
• Printing ink. Paint won't work, it's not gloopy enough. Oil based inks have a lovely glean to them, but I opt for acrylic ink as it dries faster and can be clean up with water and a sponge!
• Paper. I prefer to mono print with layout paper, so that I can see the ink through it and make sure I'm rolling the details in well.

Then what you do is up to you. You can use paper cut outs like I do here, stencils, or draw/write into the ink. Try taking off excess ink with bubble wrap or something textured to give different effects. This is really a medium to experiment with, so just go for it and be surprised by the results!

Searching For Unicorns

These are the illustrations I made for my latest Rhythms article 'Searching for Unicorns'. The article was about how beliefs in the magical properties of animal parts are leading to the extinction of those animals. You can read the article here. 

I haven't done any mono printing since moving to the farmhouse, but I finally dug them out and it was great to be using them again. I'm going to post a process video at some point next week so make sure you check back!

Calming the Storm

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 4:35-41

Hard at Work

I've been in the print room (a.k.a my cellar) all day long. Well, not entirely. Chantelle and I popped out to Datchworth to check out the tea rooms there because the sun was out for the first time in two months! Very cosy, very good cake. But I did get a lot of printing done. I'll post the finals soon!

Jonah

"But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

Jonah 1: 17

Have you ever shirked your responsibilities? Run away from your work? Hidden from uncomfortable situations that you fear to face? Jonah did. I do too. I find excuses, procrastinate, get easily distracted... But when Jonah did finally step up to the plate, he had good results, he shouldn't have been so afraid in the first place. And maybe we shouldn't either. We need to stop putting things off, and embrace them instead. So today, be brave. 

"The engulfing waters threatened me,

the deep surrounded me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head. 

To the roots of the mountains I sank down;

the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But you brought my life up from the pit,

Oh LORD my God. "

Jonah 2: 5-6