Relief Printmaking Reverse Image

Video Transcript

"Now a relief print is going to be the mere image of what you carve. Therefore, this transfer method will allow me to actually transfer the drawing in its mere image, and therefore when I print it, it's going to look much like my drawing is here; it is important to remember that aspect. If you draw directly onto your wood, when it prints, it's going to be the mere image. This is particularly important if you're going to use text, but it also is important for your idea of how the layout and the composition of the work is on the page. So working with it, and understanding how the reverse image once you print it, I think will give you a better idea about what that process is. Once I have transferred my image to my block of wood, then I can begin to start deciding how I want to carve it. For example, if I wanted to carve so that the lines of my drawings are going to be the lines that are printed, like I have done in this block. I will need to carve away the wood surrounding those lines, so that the only raised surface that's left is the lines of the drawing. Conversely, you can carve away the lines of your drawing, leaving most of the block available for inking, and the lines that you have carved will be the un-inked areas and the areas that don't print onto your print. This would start to make more sense as we get into printing the block itself."