Phipps - 2017 Annual Flora Project: Process
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Preliminary drawing
Drawing study for the flower, leaves, and fruit.
Drawing details for fruit
More detailed drawing of individual flowers.
Scratchboard: Flower & Leaves
Both flower drawings were combined in Photoshop, then printed out and transferred to a scratchboard to produce the final image. Scratchboard allows for very fine, detailed lines.
Scratchboard: Fruit
I drew the fruit separately, transferred to scratchboard, and produced the final image.
Final image
The scratchboard drawings were scanned, reversed in Photoshop for a black image on white background, then combined into one image.
Solarplate proof
I printed the final image onto a transparency and exposed the solarplate. The plate was printed using the intaglio inking process on an etching press.
Watercolor palettes
Now it's time to color the print with watercolor. Testing out colors for the flowers and leaves.
Watercolor palettes
Trying out different color mixes for the flowers, leaves and fruit.
Leaves color testing
Testing out colors for the leaves to reflect seasonal changes. Several semi-transparent color layers create luminosity.
Color test
This is a test print trying out the watercolor.
Second color test
I tried out a river landscape in the background with watercolor--I like it!
Scratchboard: Riverscape
I decided to make a new plate and add the river landscape. I made this scratchboard of the landscape.
Final image for plate
I repeated the process of scanning the scratchboard landscape and adding it to my image. I also changed the layout of the fruit.
Final Solarplate
Final solarplate exposed in my UV lightbox with a transparency printed from my final image in Photoshop.
Final print proof
Proof print using my final plate. Now I need to print a few more doing a cleaner wipe of the background. Then apply the watercolor!
Final print with watercolor
This is the final print with the addition of watercolor.
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