visual art journal 2011...A
...a work in progress...all the images have been opened for public viewing...I just have to go back to each one and write what the image is about...these images show the process of the native Bush Juice printing process stage 1 and 2...my most recent method is not loaded up...NOTE...THESE STYLES OF PRINTING ARE NOT WATER FAST...I need to explore how to use mordants...
While I was making paper pulp bowls and handmade paper described in my first
“visual art journal 2011...a”
the technique to create these unique Jarrah leaf prints slowly emerged.
I wanted the paper pulp to be coloured by whatever native vegetation I was crushing up and including in each paper pulp mix or handmade paper batch.
Banksia and Sheoak leaves were my first experimenting mix as I had those mature trees growing in my front garden that I had planted over 10 years ago.
Once I had observed what could happen with these leaves and twigs I then wanted to try my most loved Jarrah tree leaves.
Due to the longest, hottest and driest summer I have ever known here on the west coast of Australia a large number of young Jarrah trees died in and surrounding my local Samson Park.
As I would not remove any of these branches or leaves from within the park its self, I could remove as many Jarrah tree leaves and branches that had fallen on the street verge.
Each morning as I was heading home from my dawn walks around Samson Park, I would collect a bundle of these dead Jarrah leaves and branches and carry them home. Yes I did get a lot of strange looks and many individuals asking me was I going to burn them. “NO.” I would loudly explain. “I am using them to create art.”
My first step to create the Jarrah paper pulp mix was to first soak the Jarrah leaves and sticks to get the coloured water to mix with the paper pulp to give it that beautiful red tannin colour. As this process softens the leaves and small twigs it made it very easy to blend them in the food processor when adding to the tannin coloured paper pulp mix before sculpting the bowls or making the paper.
As I also intended to sew fabric and leaves together as I had done on many prior occasions, with other kinds of native leaves, I thought I would dye the scrap fabric and the threads I would be using in the same buckets of Jarrah leaves and sticks.
While the fabric and threads were brewing away in the buckets and the paper pulp bowls where drying I set about pulling a whole pile of Jarrah branches to pieces to see what forms and shapes were hidden within them.
As I had gone through this process with the Melaleuka branch (details in my Flickr set “Visual Art Journal 2011...a) from my back yard on my return from Melbourne last November. I was quite surprised how subtle the differences and similarities where between these two native plants reduced structures.
It is now very clear that whatever plant material I choose to work with will dictate what shape each art piece will eventually form.
I have taken images of this entire process which are included in the beginning of this set.
I have a complete photographic record also of the creative journey that slowly emerged over the past months in discovering this printing process using Western Australian native vegetation. I now call this mix my "Native Bush Juice"
This unique printing process that has emerged as I followed the creative guiding realms instructions that led me to discover this printing technique has to be respected and revealed to others in a particular way. I do not own this printing process as I believe it was channelled through me, empty reed is all I am, but I do have to honour and respect the process and continue to be obedient to the creative instructions. I have prayed and reflected deeply to be able to be guided to the right understandings on how and why this process has been revealed now and through me.
After many hours of reflection and prayer on these questions it appears that the answers are all about the plight of the remnant ancient forests here on the West coast of Australia and around the rest of this ancient sacred country.
As I refine this printing process and begin to understand the exact reason it works the how to reveal it will become clearer.
completed framed Jarrah print is
100% recycled artwork
scrap fabric, thread and string
Jarrah sticks leaves and nuts
hand sewn, embroidery
hand printed by "Native Bush Juice" wick method.
size of printed fabric 500cm x 200cm...
(frame not included in this size)
