"Arizona Scenic #1" ~ Gum Dichromate Print

 This was a difficult print to make, with th severity of difference between the lower sky, along with the reflection in the mirror smooth water, and the rest of the image There isn't much to say about this printing beyond saying it entails ten print layers, using fourteen color mixes. I am no longer interested in 'making the print look "real", as in what would be seen by the viewer, however that would be seen in full color. My interest is shaping the print image to my version of the scene as I see it artistically. Nothing like the real life version. My primary interest is all about the light in the scene.

Also, in consideration to my choices of colors from the available palate, is that I am pretty much color blind in red/green. When I can "see" red, or green in a print, it's Red. Working with reds and green colors, made up of two or more primary colors printed in shear layers. Subtractive color theory, same as in a watercolor painting. Shear layers of various colors, as "washes". In gum printing a stack of color print layers. One of the controls of gum printing is the application decisions; evenly, over the entire image area, or locally, in a way that doesn't show it was locally applied. That is the tricky part.

I began making gum dichromate prints in 1982, with my early period quite differently from my current period of printing. There was a twenty year period of no printing, just life demands that overtake the best laid plans. Having begun printing again five years ago, give or take, my view of process is now different than in the past. I am not only looking at the process differently, but have had those years to think about that process, with all the variables that control the outcome. Paper, sizing, order of color printed, color choice, color density of mix, application considerations, print time, float time, and water temperature. Each of those alters the outcome in a visual way. Sometimes, in visually striking ways. All of these considerations become almost second nature after time. The thing that shapes those choices is the artistic perspective. Becoming comfortable with the direction being taken, the choices made. The ultimate question being "how do I want this scene, or subject to look in this print". No one else has to like the choices. Only the printer needs to be pleased.

Gum Dichromate Print

"Arizona Scenic #1" 8"x10"

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