A Community Based Art Piece
America’s Honesty Identity was intended to be a thoughtful coffee-table centerpiece. My intention was to use printmaking and stationery as a vehicle for critical discourse. Within this project you’ll find truths and heart-stopping statistics contrasted by elegant printing techniques.
Through this process I have become highly inspired and motivated to transition from making traditional stationery (invitations, greeting cards) towards making pieces that embody culture, while also functionally serving the community and initiating conversations.
This technique is considered a blind-press, because ink is not used. Incorporating debossing techniques throughout was really important because I wanted to enhance the prints and bring attention to specific design elements. With texture being an important part of our interaction with art, I really wanted people to enjoy holding each piece.
However accomplishing this goal proved to be very difficult. In addition to determining which machine would be best, I had to test and retest. Packing and tympan had to continuously be calculated and changed.
Most of the statistics were derived from reputable books which I used as source material, such as The American Crisis: What Went Wrong. How We Recover, and
Adding texture for visual interest and calling attention to important information
planning, researching, and drafting initial design concepts
Ordering polymer plates: The plate image and text is in reverse so when mounted onto the base system in the press, it will be inked and print right-reading onto the paper.
@speakshavon on IG, shavon.thomp@gmail.com