Rhythm is life, Life is rhythm.
Large format, hand-worked artist's print. Edition of 100 original prints on hand painted paper. Calligraphy and printmaking by Denis Brown. Size (approximately): 42” x 16.5” / 108 x 41.5 cm
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A print using custom hand processes. I paint thick brush strokes of gesso on to textured papers before making a fine print on top. There is more painting by hand after the print is made. The result is a unique artwork where every print is also an original.
More details of the process here.
The word "rhythm" is written twice around an abstract brushstroke. The patterns of repetition that define the rhythm are more complex here than in traditional writing, which aspires to a regular texture of evenly spaced, marching letters. Here it is a polyrhythmic dance rather than a march.
I dampen a sheet of paper for each print and it tape securely to a board. As it dries, the fibers contract, stretching the sheet to keep it very flat for subsequent processes. Next, I apply brushstrokes of thick white gesso in directions anticipating those of the image to be printed. These dry with an impasto relief effect. Then I coat the paper with a proprietary inkjet coating. This is invisible but facilitates crisp printing. When fully dry, I cut the sheet from its stretching board and print from a large format archival inkjet printer. With care and custom settings, I print over the thickly painted paper. (Warning: if you try this, you risk ruining your printer!) The print is made with Epson’s 9-color archival UltraChrome ink system at 2800 dpi for super fine detail, almost 10 times that of commercial print. After printing, I apply a UV protective spray. To finish, I sketch improvised lines with a pencil, paint extra details and throw a splash of ink; each adding more handmade character. By this time the paper is no longer mechanically flat but undulates just a little, as all original hand worked papers do, (not a problem for framing provided a slip in the frame holds the picture glass just away from touching the artwork, which is standard good practice). I trim the art at top and bottom by tearing along a straight-edge for a softer outline similar to deckle edges of handmade paper. The paper is Bockingford Cold Press 300gsm / 140lb. This is cut from a roll with the grain running parallel to the short side, thus facilitating shipping rolled in a manner that will be easier to flatten after delivery.
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