Hello World.: Print Long into the Night

"Litho", for short, is ridiculous.

My reasoning behind this bold opinion:

>> We spend hours preparing the limestone to create a drawing surface

>> We then, measure out a very specific etch (Consisting of nitric acid and gum arabic) and work it into the stone in a very specific pattern to insure the image stays in the stone

>> Without missing a step, we are ready to print the image after hours of preparation

Now, it doesn't sound all that bad in my brief bullet list, but once you try it, you'll see.

Ooooh, will you see. Especially! if you embark on the treacherous journey of reductive work and color layers. Where you would print layers upon layers of colors, planning out the color choice to avoid an awkward palette for the end piece, working reductively into the image, and making sure the stone is perfectly registered for each layer to avoid blurred lines (in no reference to song...please and thank you).

Apologies for the extensive rant, after these past couple weeks working on this one project, I've become a tad...unhinged

This print was indeed purposefully posted:

The printing lab is a communal lab and is open twenty-four/seven

>> Late nights-early mornings are a regular thing for print-makers <<

Project: Self Portrait

Totem

Eagle: Healing, intuitive and creative spirit, illumination of spirit

Dolphin: gentleness, resurrection, friendship, purity of the heart, playfulness

Coyote: playfulness, adaptability, inventiveness, transformation, resourcefulness

Deer: In touch with inner child, sensitive, gentleness, ability to move through life's obstacles gracefully

Myself: All the above + probably a couple more things.

The being of most importance is usually placed at the top of the totem.

At the bottom of the totem is usually where you would see a human because we are of least importance.

The totem is generally associated with shamanistic religions but that's not my reasoning behind using it as a depiction of myself for this self-portrait project.

I enjoy the concept of having the human represented with the least of importance because unique traits and characteristics are given to us to be shared with the world around us.

When we humble ourselves, we are able to offer the people around us more than when we focus on our own needs and wants.

I've found that living for a purpose bigger than myself is an undeniably remarkable way to use this life I've been given.

The giving of myself (ie. time, energy, investment, etc) to those in need is far more rewarding than using this life attempting to fulfill my own desires at any cost.