Some insight into my creative process as a screen printer, work in progress and the finished illustration. This is my submission for Amelias Magazine 10th Anniversary Limited edition artists book. The open brief was ‘That which we do not understand’. This project is supported by Kickstarter.
The theme of my illustration is Spirit animals, they are our guides to assist us on our journeys through life, providing encouragement and inspiration to help you navigate through life’s challenges and transitions.
“If you talk to the Animals they will talk with you and you will know each other, if you do not talk to them you will not know them. What you do not know you will fear, what one fears, one destroys.” Cheif Dan George
After researching my inspiration, brainstorming, sketching concepts, photo editing and them compiling the artwork, I move onto screen printing the artwork. First step mixing the colours……
Then its the colour base layers, this design had 5 base colours, some screen printed and some hand painted to add extra texture. I experiment with different paper types and colours.
Screen printing the detailed layer of the artwork with black ink, drawing the ink through the silk screen with a squeegee. The artwork is transferred to the silk screen using photographic emulsion and exposure to UV light.
Native American tradition states: a person is assigned nine animal guides to provide spiritual direction. I do not know my spirit animals, but chose those which I was lucky enough to encounter and photograph during my recent years living in Canada. We can shapeshift into our Power animal to see through their eyes and hear with their ears. Our power animal lives within us, the wild creature that you are deep down. I chose the Raven as my power animal as it features throughout my creative career as an emblem. Symbolism plays a big part in my illustration practice, the significance of specific spirit animals and what they represent really interests me. The Raven can represent playfulness, creativity, a divine balance between light and dark, comfort in solitude, stillness and quiet.
Test print of the detailed layer in black ink.
Almost finished, three more colours to print on top of the print now to add the colourful leaves to the trees.
The finished illustration…..
I received the great news that my illustration submission ‘Guiding the way’ has made the cut to be included in Amelia’s Magazine 10 year Anniversary Gold Foil Artists Book. This is very exciting news as its a project i’m very inspired by, and can’t wait to see the finished book. Below is the revised version of the print to include even more gold foil, which I think finishes off the print perfectly.
Amelias Magazine Book Launch
Book launch event and exhibition for Amelia’s Magazine ‘That Which We Do Not Understand’, it was held at Tatty Devine shop on Brick Lane, London. It was so lovely to finally meet Amelia Gregory and all the other contributors to the book and of course see the book in print…..
The gold leaf cover of the Limited edition artists book to celebrate 10 yrs of Amelias Magazine.
And of course the most exciting bit….seeing my illustration in print!!
I then decided to develop ‘Guiding the Way’ into a limited edition screen print, here is a sped up video of me doing just that…
The finished and framed ‘Guiding the Way II’ available in the shop
